Is the Defined Complex Scalar Product a Valid Scalar Product?

[SoapyIllusion]

Homework Statement

This is what we are given in the assignment:

Recall a definition of scalar product on complex numbers. Let A = [[3,1],[1,2]]. Prove that the product as defined by:

* => dot product

u * v := u^T * A * conjugate(v)

( = Sum from i,j=1 to 2; u_iA_ijconjugate(v_j) )

is a scalar product on C according to the definition.

Homework Equations

We are give that the following equation will be useful:

2(ac) >= -a² -c² for all a,c as elements of R

The Attempt at a Solution

There are many of us working on this and we were not even sure exactly how to start this problem. It is trivial to prove the Sum given is equal to u^T * A * conjugate(v). But from there we weren't sure exactly what else to prove.

Any help would be extremely appreciated

 

[HallsofIvy]

Have you written out the computations?
For
u= \begin{bmatrix}u_1 \\ u_2\end{bmatrix}
v= \begin{bmatrix}v_1 \\ v_2\end{bmatrix}<br /> <br /> The product is <br /> u*v= \begin{bmatrix}u_1 & u_2\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}\overline{v_1} \\ \overline{v_2}\end{bmatrix}= (3u_1+ u_2)\overline{v_1}+ (u_1+ 3u_2)\overline{v_2}<br /> <br /> Now what are the requirements for a scalar product- what is the definition? Does this satisfy those requirements?

 

[SoapyIllusion]

Have you written out the computations?
For
u= \begin{bmatrix}u_1 \\ u_2\end{bmatrix}
v= \begin{bmatrix}v_1 \\ v_2\end{bmatrix}<br /> <br /> The product is <br /> u*v= \begin{bmatrix}u_1 & u_2\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}3 & 1 \\ 1 & 2\end{bmatrix}\begin{bmatrix}\overline{v_1} \\ \overline{v_2}\end{bmatrix}= (3u_1+ u_2)\overline{v_1}+ (u_1+ 3u_2)\overline{v_2}<br /> <br /> Now what are the requirements for a scalar product- what is the definition? Does this satisfy those requirements?

<br /> <br /> Yes I got this far, my only problem is that I don't see any logical next step, I may be missing something very obvious, but even after reading more about the definition of scalar product I don't understand what more there is to prove<br /> <br /> And I also do not understand the purpose of the matrix A