It often happens that a set that is not a subset of any Rn still has properties very much like those of a vector space.
Example 1. Adding polynomials is a lot like adding vectors and we can
think of multiplying a polynomial by a real constant as an analog of scalar
multiplication. Let C be the set of cubic polynomials and let P3 be the set
of all polynomials of degree 3 or less. If p(x) = x3 + 2 and q(x) = x x3
then p(x) + q(x) is not a cubic polynomial. Thus, C does not behave like a
vector space. But P3 does act very much like a vector space. It is closed
under polynomial addition and multiplication by scalars. (Although, P3 is
not closed when we multiply one polynomial by another.)
Example 2. The solution set S of the differential equation y = y, that is
the set of all real functions f (x) such that f (x) = f (x), is a like a vector
space. If f and g are both in S and r R then the reader should be able to
check that f (x) + g(x) and rf (x) are also in S. Thus, the algebraic structure
of S is much like that of a vector space. We challenge the reader to figure
out what the set S is.
Example 3. The set of convergent infinite series can be thought as vector
(commutativity)
(additive identity)
V such that
d. For each v V , there exists v
+ v = z.
v
(additive inverses)
e. r(v + w) = rv + rw, for all r R, v, w V .
(distributivity)
(distributivity)
Abstract vector spaces are often referred to simply as vector spaces when
no confusion can arise. The list of algebraic axioms may seem quite cumbersome. However, they are very natural and you should soon get used to
them.
Some Quick Facts: The following properties will be derived for vector
spaces from the above axioms and the axioms of arithmetic:
a. A vector space has only one zero element. Proof: Suppose z and u are
both zero elements of a vector space. Then u = z + u = u + z = z. So,
u and z must be the same.
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Strictly speaking the closure axioms are implicit in the definition of a binary operation.
However, we have chosen that state them explicitly because of their importance in the
theory of vector spaces.
Subspaces
Problem 1. Prove whether or not each of the sets below is a vector space.
a. The closed interval [2, 5] in R.
b. The closed ray [0, ) in R.
c. {(x, y) R2 | |x| = |y|}
d. {(x, y) R2 | xy = 0}
e. {(x, y) R2 | x + 3y = 0}
f. {(x, y) R2 | x + 3y = 4}
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g. {(x, y, z) R3 | 3x + 2y z = 0}
h. {(x, y, z) R3 | xy + z 3 = 0}
i. {(x, y, z) R3 | x2 yz 7 = 1}
j. {(w, x, y, z) R4 | w + 3x + 2y z = 0}
k. {(w, x, y, z) R4 | w + 3x + 2y z = 2}
l. {(w, x, y, z) R4 | w + x + y + z 2 = 0}
m. {(a, b, c, d, e, f, g) R7 | d = 0}
n. {(x, y, z) R3 | x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 0}
o. {(x, y, z) R3 | x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 4}
p. The set of functions {f : R R | f (3) = f (5) = 0}.
q. The set of functions {f : R R | f (3) = f (5)}.
r. The set of functions {f : R R | f (3) = f (5) = 2}.
s. The set of functions {f : R R | for all a and x in R, f (ax) = af (x)}.
t. {a sin x + b cos x2 + cex + dx5 | for all real values of a, b, c, &d}.
u. The solution set of y + x3 y = 0.
v. The solution set of y + 3xy + 4y = 0.
w. The solution set of y + x3 y 2 = 0. Hint: y = 4/x4 is a solution.
x. The solution set of y + x3 y = 5.
y. All functions from (0, ) into R that can be written in the form ln(xa )
for some real constant a
z. All functions from R into R that can be written in the form sin(ax) for
some real constant a.
. The set of all noninvertible 2 2 matrices.
. The set of all 4 4 diagonal matrices.
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