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Vector Space: Definition Various Examples of Vector Space Properties of Vector Space

This document covers the concepts of vector spaces and subspaces in linear algebra, including definitions, properties, and examples. It outlines the axioms that must be satisfied for a set to be considered a vector space and provides various examples, such as zero vector space, real-valued functions, and matrices. Additionally, it includes exercises for students to verify whether certain sets are vector spaces based on defined operations.

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ShriVardhan Sharma
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14 views6 pages

Vector Space: Definition Various Examples of Vector Space Properties of Vector Space

This document covers the concepts of vector spaces and subspaces in linear algebra, including definitions, properties, and examples. It outlines the axioms that must be satisfied for a set to be considered a vector space and provides various examples, such as zero vector space, real-valued functions, and matrices. Additionally, it includes exercises for students to verify whether certain sets are vector spaces based on defined operations.

Uploaded by

ShriVardhan Sharma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Applied Linear Algebra: MAT3002

Module 2: Vector Spaces and Subspaces


Vector Spaces and Subspaces, Linear Independence and Dependence, Basis and Dimension, Row,
Column and Null Spaces, Rank and Nullity, Bases for Subspaces.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++==++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Contents to be covered
 Vector Space: Definition
 Various Examples of Vector Space
 Properties of Vector Space

Introduction
Linear algebra is concerned with two kinds of mathematical objects: “Matrices” and
“Vectors. The set of all real numbers can be viewed geometrically as a line. It is called the
real line and is denoted by R.

Definition (Vector Space)


Let V be an arbitrary nonempty set of objects on which two operations are defined: addition,
and multiplication by scalars. By addition we mean a rule for associating with each pair of
objects u and v in V an object 𝒖 + 𝒗, called the sum of u and v; by scalar multiplication
we mean a rule for associating with each scalar k and each object u in V an object ku, called
the scalar multiple of u by k. If the following axioms are satisfied by all objects u, v, w in
V and all scalars k and m, then V is called a vector space and the objects in V are called the
vectors.
Remark 1. A vector space is a set of "vectors" together with rules for vector addition and
for multiplication by real numbers.
Remark 2. If 𝑽 is a vector space over a field 𝐹, then it is denoted by 𝑉(𝐹).

Remark 3.

To Show that a Set with Two Operations is a Vector Space


In the examples that follow, we use four basic steps to show that a set with two
operations is a vector space.
Step 1. Identify the set V of objects that will become vector space.

Step 2. Identify the addition and scalar multiplication operations on V.

Step 3. Verify Axioms 1 and 6; that is, adding two vectors in V produces a vector in V,

and multiplying a vector in V by a scalar also produces a vector in V. Axiom 1 is called

closure under addition, and Axiom 6 is called closure under scalar multiplication.

Step 4. Confirm that Axioms 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 hold.

Various Examples of Vector Space


Example 1. (Zero Vector Space) V= {𝟎} ≠ 𝝓
Example 2. (𝑹𝒏 is a Vector Space). 𝑹𝒏 = 𝑹 × 𝑹 × … up to n terms.

Example 3. (A Vector Space of 2 × 2 Matrices): 𝑴𝟐×𝟐


Let 𝑉 be the set of 2 × 2 matrices with real entries, and take the vector space
operations on 𝑉 to be the usual operations of matrix addition and scalar
multiplication; that is,
𝑢11 𝑢12 𝑣11 𝑣12 𝑢11 + 𝑣11 𝑢12 + 𝑣12
𝒖 + 𝒗 = [𝑢 𝑢22 ]+[𝑣21 𝑣22 ] = [ 𝑢21 + 𝑣21 𝑢22 + 𝑣22 ],
21
𝑢11 𝑢12 𝑘𝑢11 𝑘𝑢12
𝑘𝒖 = 𝑘 [𝑢 𝑢22 ] = [ ]
21 𝑘𝑢21 𝑘𝑢22
Determine whether the given set 𝑉 is a vector space or not?

Solution. Hint:

Example 4. (A Vector Space of m × n Matrices): 𝑴𝒎×𝒏


Example 3 is a special case of a more general class of vector spaces.

Example 5. (Vector Space of Real-Valued Functions)


Let V be the set of real-valued functions that are defined at each x in the interval
(−∞, ∞). If f = 𝑓(𝑥), and g = 𝑔(𝑥) are two function in 𝑉, and if 𝑘 is any scalar,
then define the operations of addition and scalar multiplication by
(𝐟 + 𝐠)(𝑥) = 𝒇(𝑥) + 𝒈(𝑥)
(𝑘𝐟)(𝑥) = 𝑘𝒇(𝑥)
Determine whether the given set 𝑉 is a vector space or not?

Example 6. (A Set That Is Not a Vector Space) 𝑹𝟐 or 𝑹𝟐 , 𝑹𝒏 or 𝑹𝒏


Determine whether the given set 𝑉 is a vector space or not?

Solution.

The first nine vector space axioms are satisfied. However, Axiom 10 fails to hold for certain
vectors.

Example 7. (An Unusual Vector Space)

Determine whether the given set 𝑉 is a vector space or not?

Solution.

Properties of Vector Space

Theorem 1.
Example 8. (For Students). Let V be the set of all ordered pairs of real numbers, and consider
the following addition and scalar multiplication operations on 𝒖 = (𝑢1 , 𝑢2 ) and 𝒗 = (𝑣1 , 𝑣2 ):
𝒖 + 𝒗 = (𝑢1 + 𝑣1 , 𝑢2 + 𝑣2 ), 𝑘𝒖 = (0, 𝑘𝑢2 ).
(a) Compute 𝑢 + 𝑣 and 𝑘𝑢 for 𝑢 = (−1, 2), 𝑣 = (3, 4) and 𝑘 = 3.
(b) In words, explain why 𝑉 is closed under addition and scalar multiplication.
(c) Since addition on 𝑉 is the standard addition operation on 𝑅2 , certain vector space
axioms hold for 𝑉 because they are known to hold for 𝑅2 . Which axioms are they?
(d) Show that the axioms 7, 8, and 9 hold.
(e) Show that Axioms 10 fails and hence that 𝑉 is not a vector space under the given
operations.

Exercise Questions for Regular Practice (For Students)

1. Let 𝑉 = {(𝑥, 1) ∶ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅}. For any 𝑢 = (𝑥, 1), 𝑣 = (𝑦, 1) ∈ 𝑉, and 𝑘 ∈ 𝑅, define the
following operations:
𝑢 ⊕ 𝑣 = (𝑥 + 𝑦, 1)
𝑘 ⊙ 𝑢 = (𝑘𝑥, 1).
Verify that V is a vector space over R under these two operations.

2. Let 𝑉 = 𝑅3 . For any 𝑢 = (𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , 𝑥3 ), 𝑣 = (𝑦1 , 𝑦2 , 𝑦3 ), and 𝑘 ∈ 𝑅, define


𝑢 ⊕ 𝑣 = (𝑥1 + 𝑦1 , 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 , 𝑥3 + 𝑦3 )
𝑘 ⊙ 𝑢 = (𝑘𝑥1 , 𝑘𝑥2 , 𝑥3 ).
Verify that 𝑉 is not a vector space over 𝑅 under these two operations. Which of the
axioms of a vector space are not satisfied?
3. Let 𝑃 be a subset of 𝑅3 that passes through the origin, i.e,
𝑥
𝑃 = {(𝑦) ∶ 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 0},
𝑧
and let the vector addition and scalar multiplication are defined as:
𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑥 𝑘𝑥
(𝑦1 ) + (𝑦2 ) = (𝑦1 + 𝑦2 ) and 𝑘 (𝑦) = (𝑘𝑦).
𝑧1 𝑧2 𝑧1 + 𝑧2 𝑧 𝑘𝑧
Verify that V is a vector space.

4. Consider 𝑃3 = {𝑎0 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎1 𝑥 2 + 𝑎3 𝑥 3 ∶ 𝑎0 , … , 𝑎𝑛 ∈ 𝑅}, the set of polynomials of


degree three or less (here we’ll take constant polynomials, including the zero polynomials,
to be of degree zero). Show that 𝑃3 is a vector space under the operations:

***

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