Is it possible that a subspace is not a vector space

In summary, a subspace is a subset of a vector space that follows the closed under addition and closed under multiplication rules. However, it must also inherit the other axioms from the parent space, otherwise it cannot be considered a subspace. Additionally, there are cases where a set may be closed under addition and multiplication but not be a subspace according to standard terminology.
  • #1
tze liu
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<Mentor's note: moved from general mathematics to homework. Thus no template.>

Prove subspace is only a subset of vector space but not a vector space itself.
Even a subspace follows closed under addition or closed under multiplication,however it is not necessary to follow other 8 axioms in vector space.
if some subspace follow closed under addition or closed under multiplication but don't follow Distributive axioms of c(x+y) = cx + cy(mean they cannot be added in this way),then it is a subspace but not vector space.
thank
right?
 
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  • #2
You said for a subspace ##U## with ##x,y \in U## and ##c \in \mathbb{F}## you have ##c\cdot x\, , \,x+y \in U##.
With this, can you say something about ##cx+cy##? And why is ##c(x+y) \neq cx +cy## impossible?
 
  • #3
If the subspace is a subspace of a vector space, then it has to inherit the other axioms from the parent space.
Otherwise: subspace of what?
 
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  • #4
tze liu said:
Prove subspace is only a subset of vector space but not a vector space itself.
then what is a subspace by definition?
tze liu said:
Even a subspace follows closed under addition or closed under multiplication,however it is not necessary to follow other 8 axioms in vector space.
I can imagine such a set but it is not called subspace in accordance to standard terminology.
I mean that even in ##\mathbb{R}## there are subsets those are closed under + but they are not subspaces of the one dimensional vector space ##\mathbb{R}##
 
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  • #5
zwierz said:
I mean that even in ##\mathbb{R}## there are subsets those are closed under + but they are not subspaces of the one dimensional vector space ##\mathbb{R}##
Well, there are the two trivial ones that are subspaces.
 
  • #6
##\mathbb{Z}## is not a subspace
 
  • #7
Who is talking about Z?
{0} and R are.
 
  • #8
fresh_42 said:
You said for a subspace ##U## with ##x,y \in U## and ##c \in \mathbb{F}## you have ##c\cdot x\, , \,x+y \in U##.
With this, can you say something about ##cx+cy##? And why is ##c(x+y) \neq cx +cy## impossible?
what is the reason that closed under addition and closed under multiplication lead to the conclusion that c(x+y) = cx + cy?

x+y=y+x closed under addition
c(x+y)=c(y+x) closed under mutiplication
cx+cy is closed under add / muti
but these 3 properties does not give the conclusion that c(x+y)=cx+cy?
 
  • #9
zwierz said:
then what is a subspace by definition?

I can imagine such a set but it is not called subspace in accordance to standard terminology.
I mean that even in ##\mathbb{R}## there are subsets those are closed under + but they are not subspaces of the one dimensional vector space ##\mathbb{R}##
subspace is a subset of vector space that follows the closed add/muti rule.
 
  • #10
mfb said:
Who is talking about Z?
it is just an example of a subset that is closed under + but it is not a subspace of the vector space ##\mathbb{R}## (over the field ##\mathbb{R}##)
tze liu said:
subspace is a subset of vector space that follows the closed add/muti rule.
seems that you use not standard definition
 
  • #11
tze liu said:
subspace is a subset of vector space that follows the closed add/muti rule.
Correct.
tze liu said:
but these 3 properties does not give the conclusion that c(x+y)=cx+cy?
How could they be different (in the subspace) and simultaneously equal (in the vector space)?
 
  • #12
tze liu said:
what is the reason that closed under addition and closed under multiplication lead to the conclusion that c(x+y) = cx + cy?
You inherit the definition of multiplication and addition from the parent space.@zwierz: Your earlier post, taken literally, claimed that no set closed under addition is a subspace of R. That is wrong.
There are sets closed under addition that are not subspaces, sure, but that is a weaker statement than you made.
 
  • #13
mfb said:
Your earlier post, taken literally, claimed that no set closed under addition is a subspace of R. That is wrong.
which post do you mean? cite it please
 
  • #14
This is a homework thread and the discussion drifts away from any help to the OP. Instead it is very likely starting to confuse him as wrong statements already have been made. The only purpose here is to help @tze liu and not to argue about vector spaces and its subspaces.
 
  • #15
fresh_42 said:
Instead it is very likely starting to confuse him as wrong statements already have been made
which wrong statements do you mean cite them please
 

1. Is it possible for a subspace to not satisfy the vector space axioms?

Yes, it is possible for a subspace to not satisfy the vector space axioms. This can happen if the subspace does not contain the zero vector, does not have closure under addition or scalar multiplication, or if it has a non-empty intersection with another subspace.

2. Can a subspace be considered a vector space on its own?

Yes, a subspace can be considered a vector space on its own as long as it satisfies the vector space axioms. This means that it must contain the zero vector, have closure under addition and scalar multiplication, and have linear independence.

3. What is the difference between a subspace and a vector space?

A subspace is a subset of a vector space, whereas a vector space is a set that satisfies the vector space axioms. A subspace must also be closed under addition and scalar multiplication, and contain the zero vector. Additionally, a subspace must inherit the same operations and properties as its parent vector space.

4. Can a subspace be infinite?

Yes, a subspace can be infinite. Just like a vector space, a subspace can contain an infinite number of vectors as long as it satisfies the vector space axioms.

5. How can one determine if a subspace is a vector space or not?

To determine if a subspace is a vector space, it must satisfy the vector space axioms. This means that it must contain the zero vector, have closure under addition and scalar multiplication, and have linear independence. Additionally, it must also inherit the same operations and properties as its parent vector space.

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