Connexions module: m10767

Vector Spaces
Version 2.4: Jun 23, 2005 4:13 pm GMT-5

Michael Haag Steven Cox Justin Romberg

This work is produced by The Connexions Project and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License

Introduction

Abstract This module will dene what a vector space is and provide useful examples to the reader.

Denition 1: Vector space

A linear vector space S is a collection of "vectors" such that (1) if f1 S f1 S for all scalars (where R or C) and (2) if f1 S , f2 S , then f1 + f2 S

To dene an abstract linear vector space, we need A set of things called "vectors" (X ) A set of things called "scalars" (A) A vector addition operator (+) A scalar multiplication operator () The operators need to have all the properties of given below. Closure is usually the most important to show.

2 Vector Spaces
If the scalars are real, S is called a real vector space. If the scalars are complex, S is called a complex vector space. If the "vectors" in S are functions of a continuous variable, we sometimes call S a linear function space

2.1 Properties
We dene a set V to be a vector space if 1. x + y = y + x for each x and y in V 2. x + (y + z) = (x + y) + z for each x, y, and z in V 3. There is a unique "zero vector" such that x + 0 = x for each x in V 4. For each x in V there is a unique vector x such that x + (x) = 0. 5. 1x = x 6. (c1 c2 ) x = c1 (c2 x) for each x in V and c1 and c2 in C. 7. c (x + y) = cx + cy for each x and y in V and c in C. 8. (c1 + c2 ) x = c1 x + c2 x for each x in V and c1 and c2 in C.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/1.0

http://cnx.org/content/m10767/2.4/

Connexions module: m10767

2.2 Examples
Rn = real vector space Cn = complex vector space L1 (R) = f (t) | |f (t) |dt < is a vector space L (R) = { f (t) |f (t) is bounded} is a vector space L2 (R) = f (t) |
2

(|f (t) |) dt < = nite energy signals is a vector space

L2 ([0, T ]) = nite energy functions on interval [0, T] 1 (Z), 2 (Z), (Z) are vector spaces The collection of functions piecewise constant between the integers is a vector space

Figure 1

x 1 0 |x0 > 0 x1 > 0 is not a vector space. R+ 2 , but , < 0 : R+ 2 = x1 1 1 R+ 2 / 1 D = {z, |z| 1 : (z C)} is not a vector space. z1 = 1 D, z2 = i D, but z1 + z2 D, / |z1 + z2 | = 2 > 1
note:

Vector spaces can be collections of functions, collections of sequences, as well as collections of traditional vectors (i.e. nite lists of numbers)

http://cnx.org/content/m10767/2.4/