Subspace & Basis: Proving and Understanding

In summary, the conversation is about a problem with multiple parts, specifically parts a and c. The conditions for proving a subspace are discussed and it is shown that 0 is in S and U+V and fV are in S for certain forms of U and V. The conversation also briefly touches on part b and how it involves setting a matrix equal to a sum of matrices and factoring out the letters. The conversation ends with a question about how to approach part c.
  • #1
pyroknife
613
3
The problem is attached.
I'm having problems with parts a and c, well maybe not part a (probably just need to check if I did this part right. I'm just not sure if I'm wording part a right.

Anyways for part a I must prove it's a subspace so I must satisfy 3 conditions:
1) 0 is in S
2) if U and V are in S, then U+V must be in S
3) if V is in S, then fV is in S for some scalar f.for 1)
By inspection if a=b=c=0 then 0 is in S

for 2)
if U is of the form:
a1-b1 a1
b1+c1 a1-c1
and V is of the form:
a2-b2 a2
b2+c2 a2-c2
then U+V=
a1+a2-b1-b2 a1+a2
b1+b2+c1+c2 a1+a2-c1-c2

Thus U+V is in S. <<< Can I say this?

for 3)
fV=
f(a2-b2) f(a2)
f(b2+c2) f(a2-c2)

Thus fV is in S. <<< Can I say this?

For part c, I don't even know where to begin. Can someone give me a hint?
 

Attachments

  • Untitled.png
    Untitled.png
    6.1 KB · Views: 390
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
pyroknife said:
The problem is attached.
I'm having problems with parts a and b, well maybe not part a (probably just need to check if I did this part right. I'm just not sure if I'm wording part a right.

Anyways for part a I must prove it's a subspace so I must satisfy 3 conditions:
1) 0 is in S
2) if U and V are in S, then U+V must be in S
3) if V is in S, then fV is in S for some scalar f.for 1)
By inspection if a=b=c=0 then 0 is in S

for 2)
if U is of the form:
a1-b1 a1
b1+c1 a1-c1
and V is of the form:
a2-b2 a2
b2+c2 a2-c2
then U+V=
a1+a2-b1-b2 a1+a2
b1+b2+c1+c2 a1+a2-c1-c2

Thus U+V is in S. <<< Can I say this?

for 3)
fV=
f(a2-b2) f(a2)
f(b2+c2) f(a2-c2)

Thus fV is in S. <<< Can I say this?

For both of those I would suggest a little more. For example, for 3 I would multiply the f into the expressions and then add: Let a = fa2, b =fb2, c =fc2 and show you get the form given in the problem.
For part b, I don't even know where to begin. Can someone give me a hint?

Set the expressions in the given matrix with a,b,c 's equal to the given matrix and see if the equations are consistent. You have four equations in 3 unknowns so it may or may not work.
 
  • #3
LCKurtz said:
For both of those I would suggest a little more. For example, for 3 I would multiply the f into the expressions and then add: Let a = fa2, b =fb2, c =fc2 and show you get the form given in the problem.

I skipped a step in there (factored) because I was being lazy about typing it out on here.
for 3)
fV=
fa2-fb2 fa2
fb2+fc2 fa2-fc2
=
f(a2-b2) f(a2)
f(b2+c2) f(a2-c2)
which is of the same form as S.

On one of my previous assignments, this is what I said (applied to the context of this problem):

For 2) Since a1 and b1 are both in R, then a1, b1, c1, a2, b2, c2 are in R, then a1+a2-b1-b2, a1+a2, b1+b2+c1+c2, a1+a2-c1-c2 is still in R.

For 3)

since a2, b2, c2 are in R, then fa2-fb2, fa2, fb2+fc2, fa2-fc2 is still in R.

LCKurtz said:
Set the expressions in the given matrix with a,b,c 's equal to the given matrix and see if the equations are consistent. You have four equations in 3 unknowns so it may or may not work.
Sorry, I meant I didn't know how to do part "c" not part "b."
 
  • #4
pyroknife said:
I skipped a step in there (factored) because I was being lazy about typing it out on here.
for 3)
fV=
fa2-fb2 fa2
fb2+fc2 fa2-fc2
=
f(a2-b2) f(a2)
f(b2+c2) f(a2-c2)
which is of the same form as S.

Technically, no, it isn't. The first one is if you let a = fa2, b= fb2 and c =fc2

On one of my previous assignments, this is what I said (applied to the context of this problem):

For 2) Since a1 and b1 are both in R, then a1, b1, c1, a2, b2, c2 are in R, then a1+a2-b1-b2, a1+a2, b1+b2+c1+c2, a1+a2-c1-c2 is still in R.

For 3)

since a2, b2, c2 are in R, then fa2-fb2, fa2, fb2+fc2, fa2-fc2 is still in R.Sorry, I meant I didn't know how to do part "c" not part "b."

Write out your matrix$$
\begin{bmatrix} a-b & a\\b+c & a-c \end{bmatrix}$$as the sum of matrices, where the first one contains only the a terms, the second only b terms and the third only the c terms. Then factor the letters out of each and see whether the matrices you have are linearly independent.
 
  • #5
oops
 
  • #6
LCKurtz said:
The first one is if you let a = fa2, b= fb2 and

Sorry, what do you mean by that?


Thanks.
 
  • #7
pyroknife said:
I skipped a step in there (factored) because I was being lazy about typing it out on here.
for 3)
fV=
fa2-fb2 fa2
fb2+fc2 fa2-fc2

=
f(a2-b2) f(a2)
f(b2+c2) f(a2-c2)

which is of the same form as S.

LCKurtz said:
Technically, no, it isn't. The first one is if you let a = fa2, b= fb2 and c =fc2

pyroknife said:
Sorry, what do you mean by that?


Thanks.

I mean if you let a = fa2, b= fb2 and c =fc2 in your matrix above in blue, it will be in the form
$$
\begin{bmatrix} a-b & a\\b+c & a-c \end{bmatrix}$$
but the one in red wouldn't be. Additionally, when writing up your argument you should have it written that fV = the red one = the blue one, in that order and then note the blue one is in the right form.
 
  • #8
LCKurtz said:
I mean if you let a = fa2, b= fb2 and c =fc2 in your matrix above in blue, it will be in the form
$$
\begin{bmatrix} a-b & a\\b+c & a-c \end{bmatrix}$$
but the one in red wouldn't be. Additionally, when writing up your argument you should have it written that fV = the red one = the blue one, in that order and then note the blue one is in the right form.

Yeah I i screwed that order up, but I am still not sure why the blue, rather than the red, resembles the original form more. Like if I were to look at the given S it seems that red would be more intuitive.

On second thought, I can see the blue resembling it pretty closely as well.

But how do you decide which one is better? It seems other one would work. Would it have been wrong if i had it in the red form where the f is factored from the terms?
 
  • #9
pyroknife said:
I skipped a step in there (factored) because I was being lazy about typing it out on here.
for 3)
fV=
fa2-fb2 fa2
fb2+fc2 fa2-fc2

=
f(a2-b2) f(a2)
f(b2+c2) f(a2-c2)
which is of the same form as S.

LCKurtz said:
I mean if you let a = fa2, b= fb2 and c =fc2 in your matrix above in blue, it will be in the form
$$
\begin{bmatrix} a-b & a\\b+c & a-c \end{bmatrix}$$
but the one in red wouldn't be. Additionally, when writing up your argument you should have it written that fV = the red one = the blue one, in that order and then note the blue one is in the right form.

pyroknife said:
Yeah I i screwed that order up, but I am still not sure why the blue, rather than the red, resembles the original form more. Like if I were to look at the given S it seems that red would be more intuitive.

On second thought, I can see the blue resembling it pretty closely as well.

But how do you decide which one is better? It seems other one would work. Would it have been wrong if i had it in the red form where the f is factored from the terms?

I would certainly take points off for that. Look at the upper left element. In the blue example it is a difference of two things. In the red one it is a product of two things. While they represent the same number, they are not the same form of expression. In fact, it is the crux of the argument that when multiplying the matrix by f, which multiplies into each element and gives the red matrix, it can be rearranged by the distributive law to get the blue matrix, which gives the correct form to be an element of the subspace. That step should not be glossed over or misunderstood.

You should also note that although I have used (3) in our discussion, many of the same criticisms apply to your proof for (2) and also need attention.
 
Last edited:

1. What is subspace?

A subspace is a subset of a vector space that satisfies the properties of a vector space. This means that it is closed under addition and scalar multiplication and contains the zero vector.

2. How do you prove that a set is a subspace?

To prove that a set is a subspace, you must show that it satisfies the properties of a vector space. This typically involves showing closure under addition and scalar multiplication and that it contains the zero vector.

3. What is a basis?

A basis is a set of vectors that can be used to represent all other vectors in a vector space. It is a linearly independent set of vectors that span the entire vector space.

4. How do you prove that a set of vectors is a basis?

The easiest way to prove that a set of vectors is a basis is to show that they are linearly independent and span the entire vector space. This can be done by solving a system of equations or using other methods such as the rank-nullity theorem.

5. Why is understanding subspace and basis important?

Understanding subspace and basis is important because they are fundamental concepts in linear algebra and are used in many applications, such as physics, engineering, and computer science. They also provide a way to simplify and represent complex vector spaces, making them easier to work with and analyze.

Similar threads

  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
17
Views
2K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
644
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • Thermodynamics
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • Quantum Interpretations and Foundations
2
Replies
38
Views
4K
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
0
Views
449
  • Calculus and Beyond Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
Back
Top