Finding Basis for Subspaces of R4

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The discussion focuses on finding bases for the subspaces W and U in R4, where W is defined as sp{(a-b,a+2b,a,b)|a,b∈R} and U as sp{(1,0,1,1),(-6,8,-3,-2)}. The basis for W is determined to be {(1,1,1,0),(-1,2,0,1)}. The intersection W∩U yields a basis of (-0.5, 4, 1, 1.5), while the sum W+U is incorrectly assumed to span R4, as the vectors are not linearly independent. The final query addresses the existence of a non-zero vector orthogonal to all vectors in U+W, which is not possible since W+U spans the entire vector space R4.

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Dell
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i am given 2 subspaces of R4
W=sp{(a-b,a+2b,a,b)|a,b[tex]\in[/tex]R}
U=sp{(1,0,1,1)(-6,8,-3,-2)}
and am asked to find:
a homogenic system for W- system for a vector (x,y,z,t) belonging to W

i see the basis for W is : a(1,1,1,0)+b(-1,2,0,1),, i put these vectors into an extended matrix with (x y z t) on the other side, and after a series of elementary operations, i get
x+t-z=0
y-z-2t=0

next i am asked to find
a basis for W+U and W[tex]\cap[/tex]U

forW[tex]\cap[/tex]U
i find a homogenic system for U, and compre it with the system i found for W which comes to
x+t-z=0
y-z-2t=0
y+8z-8t=0
3t-4z+x=0
and i come to
t=1.5z
z=z
y=4z
x=-0.5z
so for W[tex]\cap[/tex]U i get a basis (-0.5, 4, 1, 1.5)

for W+U i take the basis of each and check independace of all of them together, in which i get that all4 are independent, therefore the basis for W+U={(1,0,1,1)(-6,8,-3,-2)(1,1,1,0)(-1,2,0,1),}
if i perform elementary colum operations on them i can get to (1000)(0100)(0010)(0001), doesn't this mean that W+U is the whole vector space R4 ??

the final question is
find a vector other than the zero vector which is orthagonal to all the vectors in U+W
is this possible, since i found that W+U is the whole vector space R4 (supposing i was correct there)??
 
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for W+U i take the basis of each and check independace of all of them together, in which i get that all4 are independent, therefore the basis for W+U={(1,0,1,1)(-6,8,-3,-2)(1,1,1,0)(-1,2,0,1),}
if i perform elementary colum operations on them i can get to (1000)(0100)(0010)(0001), doesn't this mean that W+U is the whole vector space R4 ??
Yes it does. In fact a certain theorem tells you that if you can find a set of n linearly independent vectors spanning R^n then that set is a basis for R^n. EDIT: I just checked it and I realized that the vectors are in fact not linearly independent. You need to re-check that part.

the final question is
find a vector other than the zero vector which is orthagonal to all the vectors in U+W
is this possible, since i found that W+U is the whole vector space R4 (supposing i was correct there)??
EDIT: As above the vectors are not linearly independent.
 
Last edited:
If W [tex]\cap[/tex] U [tex]\neq[/tex] {0} then the set {basis of U} [tex]\cup[/tex] {basis of W} must be linearly dependent.
 

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