Is (a,b,c) where b=a+c a Subspace of r^3?

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In summary, the conversation discusses whether a set of vectors of the form (a,b,c), where b=a+c, is a subspace of R3. The answer in the book claims it is not a subspace, but examples provided by the speaker show that it is closed under addition and scalar multiplication, making it a valid subspace.
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Homework Statement



Determine whether the following is a Subspace of r^3:

All vectors of the form (a,b,c), where b=a+c

The Attempt at a Solution



The answer in the book says it is not a subspace but I can only find examples that show it is a Subspace I.e.

Let u=(a,a+c,c)=(1,2,1), v=(a,a+c,c)=(2,4,2) and k=2 then

U+v=(3,6,3)=(a,a+c,c) so it's closed under addition

Ku=2(a,a+c,c)=2(1,2,1)=(2,4,2)=(a,a+c,c) so it is closed under scalar multiplication

Maybe I don't understand the concept correctly am I doing something wrong?
 
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If your textbook says this is not a subspace, it is wrong. It is, exactly as you say, the subspace of R3 of all vectors of the form (a, b, c)= (a, a+ c, c)= (a, a, 0)+ (0, c, c)= a(1, 1, 0)+ c(0, 1, 1). In other words, it is the two dimensional subspace with (1, 1, 0) and (0, 1, 1) as basis.
 

1. What is a subspace?

A subspace is a subset of a vector space that satisfies the three properties of a vector space: closure under addition, closure under scalar multiplication, and contains the zero vector.

2. How do you determine if (a,b,c) is a subspace of ℝ^3?

To determine if (a,b,c) is a subspace of ℝ^3, we need to check if it satisfies the three properties of a vector space. This involves checking if the set contains the zero vector, if it is closed under addition, and if it is closed under scalar multiplication.

3. What does it mean for b=a+c to be a subspace of ℝ^3?

If b=a+c is a subspace of ℝ^3, it means that the set of vectors satisfying this equation also satisfies the three properties of a vector space. This set would be considered a subspace of ℝ^3.

4. Can (a,b,c) be a subspace of ℝ^3 if a, b, and c are not all real numbers?

No, in order for (a,b,c) to be a subspace of ℝ^3, a, b, and c must all be real numbers. A subspace must contain vectors that follow the properties of a vector space, and vectors with non-real numbers do not fit within this definition.

5. What is the significance of (a,b,c) being a subspace of ℝ^3?

If (a,b,c) is a subspace of ℝ^3, it means that the set of vectors satisfying the given equation has a special structure that follows the properties of a vector space. This can have important implications in various fields of mathematics and science, such as linear algebra and physics.

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