Gram-Schmidt Q: Orthogonalizing v1 & v2 -Help Appreciated!

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of the Gram-Schmidt procedure to orthogonalize the vectors v1 and v2, which include complex components. The original poster is reviewing material from a textbook and seeks assistance in identifying an error in their calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to apply the Gram-Schmidt process by defining u1 and calculating u2, but questions their result when checking for orthogonality. Participants engage by pointing out a potential oversight in the calculation of the inner product involving complex conjugates.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively discussing the calculations, with one providing clarification regarding the inner product. There is an acknowledgment of a mistake, but no consensus on the overall approach or resolution has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions that this exercise is not for a class but is derived from textbook material, indicating a self-study context. The discussion is currently focused on just two of the three vectors provided.

astropi
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Homework Statement


First off, this isn't for a class, I'm just going over some material, however this does come from a textbook, so I figure this is a reasonable place to ask the question! Here's the question:

Use the Gram-Schmidt procedure to orthogonalize the following vectors:

v1=[(1+i),1,i]
v2=[i,3,1]
v3=[0,28,0]

Homework Equations


Let's not even worry about v3 right now. Let's just orthogonalize v1 and v2.

The Attempt at a Solution


First off, we let v1=u1 = [(1+i),1,i]

Now, we can find u2 by: u2 = v2 - \frac{<u1,v2>}{||u1||^2}u1

The norm of u1 is 2, therefore squaring that we get 4.
When I took <u1,v2> I got 4. Therefore 4/4 = 1.
This leaves us with u2 = v2 - u1 = (-1,2,1-i)
HOWEVER, u2 dot u1 = 2
and of course if they were orthogonal they should equal 0.
Not sure where I made a mistake... so if anyone can help that would be appreciated!

cheers,

-astropi
 
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(-1,2,1-i) dot ((1+i),1,i) is equal to zero. Not 2. I think you forgot a complex conjugate when you did the inner product.
 
Dick said:
(-1,2,1-i) dot ((1+i),1,i) is equal to zero. Not 2. I think you forgot a complex conjugate when you did the inner product.

Yes, indeed...
my mind has been meandering around Hilbert space too long ;)
Thanks!
 
astropi said:
Yes, indeed...
my mind has been meandering around Hilbert space too long ;)
Maybe you can be my tour guide :smile:
 

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