Finding a basis for null(T) and range(T)

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Homework Statement


Let Y:P3(R) onto P2(R) is defined by T(a0+a1z+a2z2+a3z3)=a1+a2z+a3z2. Find bases for null (T) and range (T). What are their dimensions?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Well, I am assuming the range is the a1+a2z+a3z^2, so it has dimension of 3, and basis (1, z, z^2). As for the null (T) I'm guessing it has dimension 1, since P^3 has dim = 4, and range (T) has dim 3, so 4-3 = 1.
As for the basis of null(T) I'm not sure. I'm guessing it is when a1+a2z+a3z^2 = 0. But I'm not sure how you would solve it or really how you figure these out when they are polynomials and not vectors or matrices. Thanks.
 
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tehme1 said:

Homework Statement


Let Y:P3(R) onto P2(R) is defined by T(a0+a1z+a2z2+a3z3)=a1+a2z2+a3z2. Find bases for null (T) and range (T). What are their dimensions?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


Well, I am assuming the range is the a1+a2z+a3z^2, so it has dimension of 3
According to what you wrote, the range is two-dimensional. Was this a typo?
a1+a2z2+a3z2
Every degree-three polynomial gets mapped to a polynomial that consists of a constant + a squared term. There are no terms in x or in x3 in the range.
tehme1 said:
, and basis (1, z, z^2). As for the null (T) I'm guessing it has dimension 1, since P^3 has dim = 4, and range (T) has dim 3, so 4-3 = 1.
As for the basis of null(T) I'm not sure. I'm guessing it is when a1+a2z+a3z^2 = 0. But I'm not sure how you would solve it or really how you figure these out when they are polynomials and not vectors or matrices. Thanks.
 
yes, it was typo. I made an edit so now the question is as it should be. Thanks
 
tehme1 said:
Well, I am assuming the range is the a1+a2z+a3z^2, so it has dimension of 3, and basis (1, z, z^2). As for the null (T) I'm guessing it has dimension 1, since P^3 has dim = 4, and range (T) has dim 3, so 4-3 = 1.
As for the basis of null(T) I'm not sure. I'm guessing it is when a1+a2z+a3z^2 = 0. But I'm not sure how you would solve it or really how you figure these out when they are polynomials and not vectors or matrices. Thanks.
Start by finding out what T does to the individual functions in a basis for the domain function space.
T(1) = ?
T(x) = ?
T(x2) = ?
T(x3) = ?

That might give you some understanding of what exactly gets mapped to 0 in the range.