- #1
Combinatus
- 42
- 1
Homework Statement
My book states as follows:
---
If u and v have the coordinate vectors [tex]X[/tex] and [tex]Y[/tex] respectively in a given orthonormal basis, and the symmetric, linear map [tex]\Gamma[/tex] has the matrix [tex]A[/tex] in the same basis, then [tex]\Gamma(u)[/tex] and [tex]\Gamma(v)[/tex] have the coordinates [tex]AX[/tex] and [tex]AY[/tex], respectively. This gives:
[tex]\Gamma(u) \cdot v = (AX)^t Y = (X^t A^t) Y = X^t A^t Y = X^t AY = X^t (AY) = u \cdot \Gamma(v)[/tex]
---
I'm a bit confused about the [tex]\Gamma(u) \cdot v = (AX)^t Y[/tex] part. Why isn't [tex]\Gamma(u) \cdot v = (AX) Y[/tex], thus rendering the operation undefined (assuming that X and Y are row vectors with at least two rows)? After all, as far as I could figure, a symmetric, linear map would only yield that [tex]A = A^t[/tex], not that [tex]AX = (AX)^t[/tex].
[tex]X^t (AY) = u \cdot \Gamma(v)[/tex] bestows similar confusion upon me as well. It seems to me as if the vectors are just casually transposed for the dot product to "work out", although that probably isn't it.
I'm probably missing something very trivial. I've looked around for alternative proofs to no avail.
Last edited: