Chapter 4.

Vector Space
Vector spaces with real scalars are called real vector spaces and those with
complex scalars are called complex vector spaces. For now, we will be concerned
exclusively with real vector spaces.
4.1 Real Vector Spaces
Let V be a nonempty set of objects, on which two operations are defined:

a) Addition, b) Multiplication by scalars

With the following properties:

1. If u⃗ and ⃗v are elements in V, then u⃗ + ⃗v is in V. (V is closed under addition)

2. u⃗ + ⃗v =⃗v + ⃗u, for all u⃗ , ⃗v in V. (holds Commutative Law)
3. u⃗ + ( ⃗v +⃗w )=(⃗u + ⃗v )+ ⃗
w (holds Associative Law)
4. ⃗
There is an object 0 in V, called the zero vector for V such that
O+ u⃗ =⃗u +O=⃗u ,for each u⃗ in V. (have Additive Identity)
5. For each u⃗ in V, there is an object −⃗uin V, called a negative of u⃗ , such that
u⃗ + (−⃗u )=−⃗u + u⃗ =O. (have Additive Inverse)
6. If k is any scalar and u⃗ is any object in V, then k u⃗ is in V. (Closed under
Scalar Multiplication).
7. k ( u⃗ + ⃗v )=k u⃗ + k ⃗v
8. (k + m)⃗u=k u⃗ + m u⃗
9. k (m u⃗ )=(km)⃗u
10.1u⃗ =⃗u (have Multiplicative Identity)

then V is called a vector space and the objects in V are vectors.

Example 1: Let V =R 2={( x , y ) ; x , y ∈ R }, prove that V is a vector space under the

usual operations of addition and scalar multiplication defined by:
u⃗ + ⃗v =( u1 , u2 ) + ( v 1 , v 2 ) =(u 1+ v 1 , u2 + v 2)

k u⃗ =k ( u1 ,u 2 )=(k u1 ,k u 2)

Solution:

1. V is closed under addition. (as defined)

2. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) , ⃗v =( v1 , v 2 )
 u⃗ + ⃗v =( u1 , u2 ) +(v 1 , v 2)= ( u1+ v 1 ,u 2+ v 2 )

¿ ( v 1+u 1 , v 2 +u2 ) =( v1 , v 2 ) + ( u 1 , u2 )=⃗v + u⃗

3. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) , ⃗v =( v1 , v 2 ) , ⃗
w =( w 1 , w 2 )
w=( u1+ v 1 ,u 2+ v 2 ) + ( w 1 , w 2 )
(⃗u + ⃗v )+ ⃗
¿ ( u1 + v 1+ w1 ,u 2+ v 2 +w 2)
¿ ( u1 +(v 1 +w 1), u2+(v 2+ w2 ) )
¿ ( u1 , u2 ) + ( v+ w1 , v 2 +w 2)

4. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) , 0⃗ =( 0 , 0 )
¿ u⃗ + ( ⃗v + ⃗
w)

u⃗ + 0⃗ =( u1 , u2 ) + ( 0 , 0 )=( u1 , u2 ) =⃗u

5. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) ,then there exist −⃗u =(−u1 ,−u 2 ) ,

u⃗ + (−⃗u )=( u 1+ (−u1 ) ,u2 + (−u 2 ) )=( u1−u1 ,u 2−u2 )= ( 0 , 0 )=0⃗

6. V is closed under scalar multiplication. (as defined).

7. k ( u⃗ + ⃗v )=k ( ( u1 ,u 2) + ( v 1 , v 2 ) )
¿ k ( u1 + v 1 , u2 + v 2)
¿ ( k u1 + k v 1 , k u2 + k v 2 )
¿¿
¿k ¿

8. ( k + m ) u⃗ =( k +m ) ( u1 ,u 2)
¿ k u⃗ + k ⃗v

¿(k u1+ mu1 , k u2 +mu 2)

¿ ( k u1 , k u2 ) + ( m u1 ,m u2 )
¿ k (u1 , u2 )+m(u1 ,u 2)

9. k (m u⃗ )=k ( m ( u 1 , u2 ) ) =( km u1 , kmu2 )
=k u⃗ + m⃗u

¿ km ( u1 ,u 2) =km (u⃗ )

10. 1 ⃗u=1 ( u1 ,u 2 )=( u1 , u2 )=⃗u

As the set V satisfies all the properties, so V is vector space.

Example 2: Let V =R 3, prove that V is a vector space under the usual operations of
addition and scalar multiplication defined by:
 u⃗ + ⃗v =( u1 , u2 ,u3 ) + ( v 1 , v 2 , v 3 )=(u1 +v 1 ,u 2+ v 2 ,u 3+ v 3)

k u⃗ =k ( u1 ,u 2 , u3 ) =( k u1 , k u 2 , k u3 )

Example 3: Let V =R 2, under the usual operations of addition defined by:

u⃗ + ⃗v =( u1 , u2 ) + ( v 1 , v 2 ) =(u 1+ v 1 , u2 + v 2)

And if k is any scalar number, then define

k u⃗ =k ( u1 ,u 2 )=(k u1 ,0)

The addition operation is standard one on R2, but the scalar multiplication is not.

Check whether V is vector space or not?

Solution: All properties of addition are satisfied. (Check it by yourself)

Let’s check the properties of scalar multiplication.

6. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) in V, then k u⃗ =k ( u1 ,u 2 )=( k u 1 , 0 ) ∈V .

7. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) , ⃗v =( v1 , v 2 )
k ( u⃗ + ⃗v )=k ( ( u1 ,u 2) + ( v 1 , v 2 ) )
¿ k ( u1 + v 1 , u2 + v 2)
¿ ( k u1 + k v 1 , 0 )
¿¿
¿ k u⃗ + k ⃗v
8. Let k and m be real scalars and u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2)
( k + m ) u⃗ =( k +m ) ( u1 ,u 2)
¿ ( ( k +m ) u1 , 0 )
¿ ( k u1 +m u1 ,0 )

¿¿

¿ k u⃗ +m ⃗u
9. Now k (m u⃗ )=k (m ( u1 ,u2 ) )
¿ k ( m u1 ,0 )=( k mu1 , 0 )
¿ ( k m u1 ,0 )=km u⃗
10.1 ⃗u=( u 1 , 0 ) ≠ ⃗u

As the 10th property does not satisfy, so it’s not a vector space.

Example 4:
Check whether V is vector space or not?
V =¿The set of all pairs of real numbers of the form (x , 0) . i.e. { ( x , 0 ) ; x ∈ R }

with the standard operations on R2.

u⃗ + ⃗v =( u1 , u2 ) + ( v 1 , v 2 ) =(u 1+ v 1 , u2 + v 2)

k u⃗ =k ( u1 ,u 2 )=(k u1 ,k u 2)

Solution:

1. u⃗ =( u1 ,0 ) , ⃗v =(v 1 , 0) ∈V

( u⃗ + ⃗v )=(u1+ v 1 , 0)∈V

V is closed under addition.

2. ( u⃗ + ⃗v )=( u1 , 0 ) + ( v 1 ,0 )
¿ ( u1 + v 1 , 0 )
¿(v ¿ ¿ 1+u1 , 0)¿
¿ ( v 1 , 0 ) +( v 1 , 0 )
¿ ⃗v + u⃗

3. w )=( u1 , 0 ) +( ( v 1 , 0 ) + ( w1 ,0 ))
u⃗ + ( ⃗v +⃗

¿ ( u1 , 0 ) +(v 1 +w 1 , 0)

¿(u1+ v 1 +w 1 , 0)

¿ ( u1 + v 1 , 0 ) + ( w 1 , 0 )

¿(⃗u +⃗v )+⃗

w

4. u⃗ + 0⃗ =( u1 , 0 ) + ( 0 , 0 ) =( u1 , 0 )=⃗u
5. u⃗ + (−⃗u )=( u1 , 0 ) + (−u 1 , 0 )
¿ ( u1−u 1 , 0 ) =( 0 , 0 )= ⃗0

6. u⃗ =( ⃗u1 ,0 ) ∈ V

Then k u⃗ =( k u1 , k 0 )=(k u1 , 0)∈ V

7. k ( u⃗ + ⃗v )=k ( ( u1 ,0 ) + ( v1 , 0 ) ) =k ( u1 + v 1 , 0 ) =(k u1+ k v 1 , 0)

¿ ( k u1 , 0 ) + ( k v 1 ,0 )=k ( u 1 , 0 ) + k ( v 1 , 0 )

¿ ( k u⃗ + k ⃗v )

8. ( k + m ) u⃗ =(k + m) ( u1 , 0 )
¿ ( ( k +m ) u1 , 0 ) =(k u 1+ mu1 , 0)

¿ ( k u1 , 0 ) +(mu 1 , 0)

¿ k ( u1 , 0 ) +m ( u1 , 0 )=k u⃗ + m u⃗

9. k ( m ⃗u )=k ( mu1 , 0 )=(km u1 ,0)

¿ km ( u1 , 0 )=(km)⃗u

10.1 ⃗u=1 ( u1 , 0 )=( u1 , 0 ) =⃗u

So V is a vector space.

Example 5: Check whether V is a vector space or not.

V = set of all pairs of real numbers of the form (x , y ), where x ≥ 0 , i.e.

V = {( x , y ) ; x ≥ 0 , y ∈ R }

With standard operations on R2.

Solution:

As V = { ( x , y ) ; x ≥ 0 , y ∈ R }

1. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) , ⃗v =(v 1 , v 2)∈V

( u⃗ + ⃗v )=( u1 +u1 , u2 +v 2 ) ∈V

Because u⃗1 + ⃗v 1 ≥ 0. So, V is closed under addition.

2. u⃗ + ⃗v =⃗v + ⃗u (Easy to verify)

3. u⃗ + ( ⃗v +⃗
w )=(⃗u + ⃗v )+ ⃗
w¿ (Easy to verify)
4. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) , u⃗ + 0⃗ =( u1 , u2 ) + ( 0 , 0 )=( u 1 , u2 ) =⃗u
5. Let u⃗ =( u1 ,u 2) , Then there doesn’t exist −⃗u =(−u1 ,−u2 ) because u⃗1should be
positive.
5th property fails, So V is not vector space.
Example 6: Show that the set of all pairs of real numbers of the form (x ,1) with
the operations

( x ,1 ) + ( x ' ,1 ) =(x + x ' ,1) &k ( x ,1 ) =( k 2 x , 1 )is not a vector space.

Example 7: Determine whether the set of all triples of real numbers with standard
vector addition but with scalar multiplication defined by
2 2 2
k ( x , y , z )=(k x , k y , k z )

is a vector space or not.

Axiom 8 fails.

Example 8: Determine whether the set of all pairs of real numbers of the form
(1 , x) with the operations

( 1 , y )+ ( 1 , y ' )=(1 , y+ y ' )

k ( 1 , y )=(1, ky )

is a vector space or not.

Example 9: Determine whether V is a vector space or not.

V= the set of all triples of the form ( x , y , z ) with the operations

( x , y , z )+ ( x ' , y ' , z ' ) =(x + x ' , y + y ' , z + z ' )

& k ( x , y , z )=(kx , y , z)

Example 10: Let V be the set of all 2 ×2 matrices with real entries and take the
vector space operations on V to be usual operations of matrix addition and scalar
multiplication i.e.

u⃗ + ⃗v =
[ ][
u11 u12 v 11 v 12
+
][
u +v u +v
= 11 11 12 12
u 21 u22 v 21 v 22 u21 + v 21 u 22+ v 22 ]
 k u⃗ =k
[ u11 u12 ku
= 11
][
k u 12
u21 u 22 k u21 k u 22 ]
Determine whether V is a vector space or not.

Solution:

1. V is closed under addition.

[ u
2. u⃗ + ⃗v = u u + v v
11

21
12

22
11

21
u12

22
][ v v
]
¿
[ u11 + v 11 u12+ v 12
u21 + v 21 u 22+ v 22 ]
¿
[ v 11 +u 11 v 12+ u12
v 21+u 21 v 22+ u22 ]
¿ ⃗v + u⃗
3. u⃗ + ( ⃗v +⃗
w )=(⃗u + ⃗v )+ ⃗
w¿

[ ][ ][ ]
u 11 u 12 0 0 u11 u12
4. u⃗ +0= u u + 0 0 = u u =⃗u
21 22 21 22

[ ][
u
11

21
12

22
11

21
]
u
5. u⃗ + (−⃗u )= u u + −u −u
12

22
−u −u

¿
[ u11 + (−u 11 ) u12+ ( −u12 )
u21 + (−u 21) u22+ ( −u22 ) ]
¿
[00 00]=0⃗
You can prove all the properties of scalar multiplication, so V is a vector space.

Example 11: Let V =R n and define operations on V to be the usual operations of

addition and scalar multiplication.
u⃗ + ⃗v =( u1 , u2 ,u3 , … , un ) +(v 1 , v 2 , v 3 , … , v n)

¿(u1+ v 1 ,u 2+ v 2 , … , un + v n)

& k u⃗ =(k u 1 , k u2 , ku3 , … , kun )

Then V is vector space.

Example 12: Let V be the set of polynomials of the form

n n−1
P ( t ) =an t + an−1 t +…+ a1 t +a 0 .
Determine whether V is a vector space or not under the usual operations of
addition and scalar multiplication?

THEOREM 4.1.1
Let V be a vector space, u a vector in V, and k a scalar; then:
(a) 0 u=0
(b) k 0=0
(c) (−1 ) u=−u
(d) If k u=0, then k =0 or u=0.

Exercise 4.1

True-False Exercises
In parts (a)–(e) determine whether the statement is true or false, and justify your answer.
(a) A vector is a directed line segment (an arrow).
(b) A vector is an n-tuple of real numbers.
(c) A vector is any element of a vector space.
(d) There is a vector space consisting of exactly two distinct vectors.
(e) The set of polynomials with degree exactly 1 is a vector space under the operations defined in
Exercise 12.