Is the Proof for a Complex Inner Product Space Correct?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on proving properties of complex inner product spaces as outlined in Schaum’s Outlines of Linear Algebra, 6th Edition (2017). The user demonstrated that for vectors u and v, the conditions a and d must be real positive, and b is the conjugate of c. The solution requires proving that a.d - b.c is also positive. The discussion emphasizes the importance of the inner product properties, particularly the conjugate symmetry and positive definiteness of the associated matrix A.

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hsazerty2
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Summary:: Inner Product Spaces, Orthogonality.

Hi there,
This my first thread on this forum :)

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I encountered the above problem in Schaum’s Outlines of Linear Algebra 6th Ed (2017, McGraw-Hill) Chapter 7 - Inner Product Spaces, Orthogonality.
Using some particular values for u and v, I proved that a and d must be real positive, and b is the conjugate of c. The solution indicates that a.d-b.c must also be positive, but i can't figure that out.

thanks for your help.

[Moderator's note: Moved from a technical forum and thus no template.]
 
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---------------
Definition (Inner product) Let V be a vector space over IR.
An inner product ( , ) is a function V × V → IR with the following
properties
1. ∀ u ∈ V , (u, u) ≥ 0, and (u, u) = 0 ⇔ u = 0;
2. ∀ u, v ∈ V , holds (u, v) = (v, u);
3. ∀ u, v, w ∈ V , and ∀ a, b ∈ IR holds
(au + bv, w) = a(u, w) + b(v, w).
------------
Your estimate meets above 1. How about 2. and 3. ?

EDIT
As pointed out in #3 for conjugate inner product
2. (u,v)=(v,u)*
 
Last edited:
anuttarasammyak said:
---------------
Definition (Inner product) Let V be a vector space over IR.
An inner product ( , ) is a function V × V → IR with the following
properties
1. ∀ u ∈ V , (u, u) ≥ 0, and (u, u) = 0 ⇔ u = 0;
2. ∀ u, v ∈ V , holds (u, v) = (v, u);
3. ∀ u, v, w ∈ V , and ∀ a, b ∈ IR holds
(au + bv, w) = a(u, w) + b(v, w).
------------
Your estimate meets above 1. How about 2. and 3. ?
We're dealing with a complex inner product here.
 
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first check the condition ##(u,v)=\overline{(v,u)}##

Theorem. A function ##f(u,v)=u^TA\overline v,\quad A=(\overline {A})^T,\quad u,v\in\mathbb{C}^n## is positive definite iff the characteristic polynomial of the matrix ##A## has the form
$$\sum_{k=0}^n a_k\lambda^k,\quad a_k\in\mathbb{R},\quad a_k\ne 0,\quad\mathrm{sgn}\, a_{k}=-\mathrm{sgn}\,a_{k+1}$$
 
Last edited:
hsazerty2 said:
Summary:: Inner Product Spaces, Orthogonality.

Hi there,
This my first thread on this forum :)

[Moderator's note: Moved from a technical forum and thus no template.]
Hello, @hsazerty2 !
:welcome:
 
@wrobel, Thanks for the reply, but i need to find a solution that does not involve the notion of characteristic polynomial or eigenvalues.
Is the below proof right ?

if f(u,v) is a scalar product, then f(u,u) must be positive for all u in C2, which means that the above matrix A must be positive definite, and for that its determinant should be positive. and i already proved that the above matrix is hermitian. So all the conditions are : a and d real positive, b is the conjugate of c, and the determinant is positive. Conversely, if all the above conditions are satisfied, then the matrix is hermitian and definite positive, so f(u,v) is a scalar product.
Right ?
 

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