11.

2MH1 LINEAR ALGEBRA

EXAMPLES 2: VECTOR SPACES AND SUBSPACES

– SOLUTIONS

1. (a) Let S a00 3 a .

Suppose u v S and .
Then u a1 0 0 and v a2 0 0 for some a1 a2 .
Now u v a1 0 0 a2 0 0 a1 a2 0 0 S
and u a1 0 0 a1 0 0 S.
Hence S is a subspace of 3 .
(b) Let S a10 3 a .
0 0 0 0 S, so S is not a subspace of 3 .
(c) Let S a 3a 2a 3 a .
Suppose u v S and .
Then u a1 3a1 2a1 and v a2 3a2 2a2 for some a1 a2 .
Now u v a1 3a1 2a1 a2 3a2 2a2 a1 a2 3a1 3a2 2a1 2a2
a1 a2 3 a1 a2 2 a1 a2
S
and u a1 3a1 2a1 a1 3a1 2a1 a1 3 a1 2 a1 S.
Hence S is a subspace of . 3

(d) Let S xyz 3 x2 y2 z2 1 xyz .

Take u 1 0 0 and v 0 1 0 . Now u v S
but u v 100 010 1 1 0 and 12 12 02 2 so u v S.
Hence S is not a subspace of . 3

a b
2. (a) Let S M22 a b c d .
c d
1 1 1 1 1
1 1 2 2
Then S but 1 1 S
1 1 2 1 1 2 2
Hence S is not a subspace of M22 .
(b) Let S A M22 A At .
Suppose A B S and .
Then A B t At Bt (property of matrix transpose)
A B since A B S
so A B S
Also A t At A, so A S.
Hence S is a subspace of M22 .
(c) Let S A M22 detA 0 .
1 0 0 0 1 0
Let A B then A B
0 0 0 1 0 1

1
 Now detA detB 0, but det A B 1.
Hence A B S, but A B S.
Hence S is not a subspace of M22 .
3. (a) Let S a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3 a1 a2 a3 .
Suppose p x q x S and .
Then p x a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3 and q x b1 x b2 x2 b3 x3 for some a1 a2 a3 b1 b2 b3 .
Now, p x q x a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3 b1 x b2 x2 b3 x3
a1 b1 x a2 b2 x2 a3 b3 x3
S
Also, p x a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3
a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3
S
Hence S is a subspace of P3 .
(b) Let S a0 a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3 a0 a1 a2 a3 a0 a1 a2 a3 0 .
Suppose p x q x S and .
There exist a0 a1 a2 a3 b0 b1 b2 b3 such that
px a0 a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3 where a0 a1 a2 a3 0
qx b0 b1 x b2 x2 b3 x3 b0 b1 b2 b3 0

Then p x qx a0 a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3 b0 b1 x b2 x2 b3 x3
a0 b0 a1 b1 x a2 b2 x2 a3 b3 x3
Now,
a0 b0 a1 b1 a2 b2 a3 b3 a0 a1 a2 a3 b0 b1 b2 b3
0 0
0
So p q S.
Also px a0 a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3
a0 a1 x a2 x2 a3 x3
Now, a0 a1 a2 a3 a0 a1 a2 a3
0
so p S. Hence S is a subspace of P3 .
4. (a) Let S f V f 0 0 .
Suppose f g S and .
Then f g 0 f 0 g0
0 0 since f g S
0
So f g S.
Also f 0 f 0 0 (since f S) so f S.
Hence S is a subspace of V .
(b) Let S f V f 0 1 .
Take f x 1 x and g x 1 x2 . Now f 0 g0 1 so f g S, but f g 0
f 0 g0 2. Hence f g S and therefore S is not a subspace of V

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 (c) Let S f V f is continuous
Suppose f g S and .
Then, as was discussed in the first year calculus course, f g and f are continuous and
so lie in S. Hence S is a subspace of V .
(d) Let S f V f is differentiable .
Suppose f g S and .
As was shown in the the first year calculus course f g and f are differentiable and so
lie in S. Hence S is a subspace of V .

5. (a) 0 u 0u 0 0 u
0u
0u 0
Hence 0 u 0.
(b) u u u u
0
0
Hence u u.
(c) Suppose u v 0
1 1
Then u v
1 1
so u v (vector space axiom)
hence 1u 1v
and so u v (axiom)

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Examples of a Proof for a Subspace
You should write your proofs on exams as clearly as here. If something in your proof remains unclear,
I cannot grade it.

1. Proof That Something is a Subpace

Consider the subset of R3 :    
 x1 
L = x = x2 | x1 = x2 + x3 .
 
x3
 

Prove that this is a subspace.

Let us check three conditions:
(1) The zero vector belongs to L. This follows from 0 = 0 + 0.
(2) The subset L is closed under vector addition. In other words, if
   
x1 y1
x = x2  , y = y2  ∈ L, then x + y ∈ L.
x3 y3

Indeed, we have: x1 = x2 + x3 , and y1 = y2 + y3 . Adding these equalities, we get:

 
x1 + y1
x1 + y1 = (x2 + y2 ) + (x3 + y3 ), so x + y = x2 + y2  ∈ L.
x3 + y3

(3) The subset L is closed under scalar multiplication. In other words, if x ∈ L, and c ∈ R, then
cx ∈ L. Let  
x1
x = x2  ∈ L,

x3
then x1 = x2 + x3 , and multiplying this by c, we have: cx1 = cx2 + cx3 , so
 
cx1
cx = cx2  ∈ L.

cx3

2. Proof That Something is Not a Subspace

Consider the subset of R2 :
   
x1
L= x= | x1 = x2 or x1 = −x2 .
x2

Then this is not a subspace of R2 , because it is not closed under vector addition. Indeed,
     
1 1 2
x= , y= ∈ L, but x + y = ∈
/ L.
1 −1 0