Solving Vector Subspace Questions: A & B in V

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In summary, the conversation discusses the concepts of vector subspaces and their intersections and unions in a vector space. The intersection of two subspaces, A and B, is the set of elements that are in both A and B, while the union is the set of elements that are in either A or B. The questions are to determine whether or not the intersection and union of two subspaces are also subspaces themselves, and to provide a proof for the answer. The strategy discussed is to find a counterexample to show that the intersection and union are not subspaces.
  • #1
flon
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Hey guys this is the question

. Let A and B be vector subspaces of a vector space V .
The intersection of A and B, A ∩ B, is the set {x ∈ V | x ∈ A and x ∈ B}.
The union of A and B, A ∪ B, is the set {x ∈ V | x ∈ A or x ∈ B}.
a) Determine whether or not A ∩ B is a vector subspace of V . Prove your answer.
b) Determine whether or not A ∪ B is a vector subspace of V . Prove your answer.


My strategy for this is to find two subspaces in V and find a counter claim so that the union of A and B is not a subspace and similarly for the intersection of A and B would this be strategy be enough to answer the question?

thanks so much.
 
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  • #2
for the union pick arbitrary elements a in A, b in B, is a+b in A U B?
 
  • #3
for int pick arbitrary elements in A int B, and test the subspace closure requirements
 
  • #4
flon said:
Hey guys this is the question

. Let A and B be vector subspaces of a vector space V .
The intersection of A and B, A ∩ B, is the set {x ∈ V | x ∈ A and x ∈ B}.
The union of A and B, A ∪ B, is the set {x ∈ V | x ∈ A or x ∈ B}.
a) Determine whether or not A ∩ B is a vector subspace of V . Prove your answer.
b) Determine whether or not A ∪ B is a vector subspace of V . Prove your answer.


My strategy for this is to find two subspaces in V and find a counter claim so that the union of A and B is not a subspace and similarly for the intersection of A and B would this be strategy be enough to answer the question?

thanks so much.
It would be sufficient if they are both not subspaces. But are you sure of that?
 
  • #5
sorry if the intersection and union are both NOT subspaces?
 
  • #6
yeah, you'll only find a counter example if they are not a subspace
 

1. What is a vector subspace?

A vector subspace is a subset of a vector space that satisfies certain properties, such as closure under addition and scalar multiplication. It is essentially a smaller set of vectors that still possess the same properties as the larger vector space.

2. What is the difference between a and b in vector subspace questions?

In vector subspace questions, a and b typically represent different vectors. Vector a is often used as the starting vector while vector b is used to transform or manipulate vector a in some way.

3. How do you solve vector subspace questions?

To solve vector subspace questions, you must identify the properties that a vector subspace must satisfy and then apply them to the given vectors. This may involve performing operations such as addition, scalar multiplication, or finding linear combinations of the vectors.

4. What is the importance of solving vector subspace questions?

Solving vector subspace questions can help in understanding the properties and relationships within a vector space. It can also be applied to various fields such as physics, engineering, and computer science to solve real-world problems.

5. Are there any tips for solving vector subspace questions?

One tip for solving vector subspace questions is to pay attention to the properties that a vector subspace must satisfy. It can also be helpful to visualize the vectors and their relationships geometrically using diagrams or vector representations. Practice and understanding of basic vector operations can also aid in solving these types of questions.

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