# Linear Algebra-Subspace Functions

1. Apr 2, 2013

### FinalStand

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Consider w= {f $\in$ F($\Re$|f(-x)=f(x) for all x $\in$R
Use the subspace test to verify W is a subspace of F(R)

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

0 is in W obviously

(f+g)(x) = (f+g)(-x) = f(x) +g(x) = f(-x)+g(-x)

I am confused how to verify closure under scalar multiplication

af(x) = af(-x) = (af)(x)=(af)(-x)?

2. Apr 2, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
You should use the definitions of the addition and scalar multiplication operations. They are of course (f+g)(x)=f(x)+g(x) and (af)(x)=a(f(x)). So when you check closure under addition, it should look like this: (f+g)(x)=f(x)+g(x)=f(-x)+g(-x)=(f+g)(-x). Can you do the same for scalar multiplication?

3. Apr 2, 2013

### FinalStand

I see that is more easy to understand. So it is (af)(x) = a(f(x))=a(f(-x))=(af)(-x)

4. Apr 2, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
Yes, that's exactly right.

5. Apr 2, 2013

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
You say "0 is in W obviously". Why is that obvious? If I were your instructor, I would want to be sure you understood exactly what "0" is in this case.

6. Apr 2, 2013

f(-0)=f(0)

7. Apr 2, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
This is very wrong. Looks like Halls was right to ask, and I was wrong not to.

8. Apr 2, 2013

### FinalStand

then how do you do it? f(x)=0 f(-x)=0?

9. Apr 3, 2013

### FinalStand

So f(x)=f(-x)=0?

10. Apr 3, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
You need to start by explaining which member of F(ℝ) is the zero vector. Once you have done that, you can start thinking about whether it's a member of the subset W or not.

11. Apr 3, 2013

### FinalStand

So I have to show examples?

12. Apr 3, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
No, you just have to correctly identify which one of the members of F(ℝ) is the zero vector. Once you have done that, it's easy to verify that it's a member of W.

13. Apr 3, 2013

### FinalStand

I actually have no idea how to find which one is the member...I am lost now. And confused on what you mean by "members"

14. Apr 3, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
Are you perhaps more familiar with the term "element"? As in "2 is an element of the set {1,2,3}". "Member" is an alternative term for "element". So 2 is a member of the set {1,2,3}. The members (i.e. elements) of a vector space are also called "vectors".

Do you understand what a zero vector is? Suppose that X is a vector space, and suppose that z is a member of X. What is the property that z must have in order to be considered the zero vector of X.

15. Apr 3, 2013

### FinalStand

X + z = x?

16. Apr 3, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
That's the right idea, but you need to include the words "for all". The correct statement is "For all x in X, we have x+z=x". So you do know what a zero vector is. Now, is there any member of F(ℝ) that has that property?

Did you type an uppercase X by accident, or did you mean something different from x+z=x?

17. Apr 3, 2013

### FinalStand

I was typing on a phone so it autocorrects it to capitalized letter for the start of the sentence. f(x+0)=f(-x+0)?

18. Apr 3, 2013

### Fredrik

Staff Emeritus
No. You seem to be ignoring the definition of F(ℝ). How is F(ℝ) defined again?

Also, when you make a statement that's supposed to be part of a proof, you need to make sure that every variable is assigned a value, or is part of a "for all" or "there exists" statement. For example:

Good: Let X be a vector space. Let z be the zero vector of X. For all x in X, we have x+z=x.

19. Apr 3, 2013

### micromass

Staff Emeritus
Maybe you should start by actually giving some examples of elements in the "vector space"?? Right now, the definition is pretty abstract. So can you give two or three examples of elements?

20. Apr 3, 2013

### FinalStand

I actually hav eno clue what the definition is, I kind of skipped the entire lecture on the vector space part, all I know it is similar with subspaces and etc. So I guess I have to just let this question go with marks taken off because it is due in 5 hours and its 4 am over here. Linear Algebra is more abstract than I like.

I need sleep. THanks for the help. I will come back tomorrow to try to understand the problem. I will just put random guesses for the question for now :P.