Proving the Subspace Property of U + W

[Warpenguin]

Homework Statement

Let U and W be subspaces of a vector space V
Show that the set U + W = {v ∈ V : v = u + w, where u ∈ U and w ∈ W} is a subspace of V

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I understand from this that u and w are both vectors in a vector space V and that u+w is a vector in a vector space V but I'm not sure how to apply the rules to this problem in order to show that U + W is a subspace of V

 

[HallsofIvy]

Remember that the definition of "subspace" is a subset that is closed under vector addition and scalar multiplication. If x is in U+ W, then there exist vectors u in U and v in V such that x= u+ v. Similarly, if y is in U+ W, then there exist vectors u' in U and v' in V such that y= u'+ v'. Can you say the same thing about x+ y? x+ y is equal to the sum of what vectors in U and W? What about ax where a is a scalar?

 

[Warpenguin]

Well if x and y are vectors in U + W then x+y will be a vector in U + W. x + y = u + w + u' + w' = (u + u') + (w + w')? u + u' is in U and w + w' is in W. Therefore x + y is in U + W. So U + W is closed under addition. Is this right?