What Is the Intersection of Subspaces U and V in R^3?

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on determining the intersection of two subspaces U and V in R^3, defined by specific equations. The user initially substitutes the parameters of U into the equation for V, resulting in a tautology (0 = 0), leading to confusion about whether the intersection is the entirety of R^3. However, it is clarified that since both U and V are 1-dimensional subspaces, their intersection must be either 1-dimensional or 0-dimensional, not R^3. A calculation shows that a non-zero point from U also satisfies the equation for V, confirming that U and V are indeed equal. Thus, the intersection of U and V is U, which is also V.
loli12
I have 2 subspaces U and V of R^3 which
U = {(a1, a2, a3) in R^3: a1 = 3(a2) and a3 = -a2}
V = {(a1, a2, a3) in R^3: a1 - 4(a2) - a3 = 0}

I used the information in U and substituted it into the equation in V and I got 0 = 0. So, does it mean that the intersection of U and V is the whole R^3 which has no restrictions on a1, a2 and a3 (they are free)? Or do the original restrictions on both the original subspaces still being applied to the intersection?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The intersection of U and V cannot possibly be all of R³. How could the intersection of two sets be bigger than both of the sets? Both subspaces are 1-dimensional, so the intersection is either 1-dimensional or 0-dimensional. Can you find a non-zero point that is in both U and V? If so, then the intersection of U and V is U and is also V (i.e. U = V). A point in U takes the form (x, x/3, -x/3). Would such a point be in V?

x - 4(x/3) - (-x/3) = x - (4/3)x + (1/3)x = 0

so the answer is "yes."
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 97 ·
4
Replies
97
Views
16K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
11K