Question about vector space intersection properties

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of vector space intersections, specifically whether intersection distributes over addition in vector spaces. The example provided demonstrates that for subspaces A, B, and C of ℝ², where B and C are the x-axis and y-axis respectively, and A is the line y=x, the equation A ∩ (B + C) = A ∩ B + A ∩ C does not hold. The conclusion drawn is that while A ∩ (B + C) equals A, the sum of the intersections A ∩ B and A ∩ C results in the zero vector, indicating that intersection does not distribute over addition in this context.

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raymo39
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Its been a while since I've done this stuff, and I don't have a text handy. I know that for sets, intersection distributes over union, I don't remember if the same will hold for vector spaces over addition?

for example does A [itex]\cap[/itex] (B + C) = A [itex]\cap[/itex] B + A [itex]\cap[/itex] C
 
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Suppose ##A,B,C## are the following subspaces of ##\mathbb{R}^2##: ##B = \{(b,0) : b \in \mathbb{R}\}##, ##C = \{(0,c) : c \in \mathbb{R}\}##, and ##A = \{(a,a) : a \in \mathbb{R}\}##.

Then ##B + C = \mathbb{R}^2##, so ##A \cap (B + C) = A##.

But ##A \cap B = \{0\}## and ##A \cap C = \{0\}##, so ##(A \cap B) + (A \cap C) = \{0\}##.
 

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