A question about orthgonal/orthonormal basis

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the confusion regarding finding an orthogonal basis for a vector space represented by W, which is depicted as an upside-down T. The user mistakenly interprets the orthogonal basis for W's orthogonal complement (W^{\perp}) as needing to find vectors perpendicular to W^{\perp}. The correct interpretation is that an orthogonal basis consists of vectors within the vector space that are mutually perpendicular. The user is advised to clarify the definition of W to proceed with finding the orthogonal basis.

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transgalactic
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i added the question in the link

http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img8282ef1.jpg

my problem with this question starts with this W(and the T shape up side down) simbol

it represents a vector which is perpandicular to W

so why are they ask me to find the orthogonal(perpandicular) basis
to that perpandicular to W vector??(its already perpandicular to W)

so my answer should be the vectors of W
but in the answer they extract the vectors
from the formula and look for a vector which is perpandicular
to both vectors of Wif there were only W then i whould exract the vectors of the formula
and using gramm shmit
i would find the orghonormal basis(which includes in itself orthogonality)

but i was ask to find the orthogonal vectors of this W (upsidedown T)

i don't know what is the formula of its vectors??
 
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Can you find vector(s) such that any and all vector(s) orthogonal to W can be expressed as a linear combination of these basis vectors?
 
transgalactic said:
i added the question in the link

http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img8282ef1.jpg

my problem with this question starts with this W(and the T shape up side down) simbol

it represents a vector which is perpandicular to W

so why are they ask me to find the orthogonal(perpandicular) basis
to that perpandicular to W vector??(its already perpandicular to W)
You seem to be interpreting "orthogonal basis" for W^{\perp} as meaning vectors perpendicular to W^{\perp}! That's not correct. An "orthogonal basis" for a vector space, V, consists of vectors in V that are perpendicular to on another. For example, if the overall vector space is R3 and W is the z-axis, then W^{\perp} is the xy-plane. An "orthonormal" basis for that is {(1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0)}.

so my answer should be the vectors of W
but in the answer they extract the vectors
from the formula and look for a vector which is perpandicular
to both vectors of W


if there were only W then i whould exract the vectors of the formula
and using gramm shmit
i would find the orghonormal basis(which includes in itself orthogonality)

but i was ask to find the orthogonal vectors of this W (upsidedown T)

i don't know what is the formula of its vectors??
We can't answer that without knowing precisely what W is.
 

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