Vector Space : Sub Space
• Vector Space or Linear space:
A vector space over an arbitrary field F is a non-empty set V, whose elements are called vectors
for which two operations are prescribed.
The first operation, called vector addition, assigns to each pair of vectors u and v in V a vector
denoted by u + v , called their sum. The second operation, called scalar multiplication assigns to
each vector v in V and each scalar in F a vector denoted by v which is in V. The two
operations are required to satisfy the following axioms:
A (1) Addition is commutative
For all vectors u , v V , u + v = v + u
A (2) Addition is associative
For all vectors u, v, w V , (u + v) + w = u + (v + w)
A (3) Existence of 0 (Zero vector)
There exists a vector 0 V such that for any v V . i.e v + 0 = 0 + v = v
A (4) Existence of negative
For each v V there is a vector − v V for which v + (−v) = (−v) + v = 0 .
M (1) For any scalar F and any vectors u, v V , (u + v) = u + v
M (2) For any scalars , F and any vector v V , ( + )v = v + v
M (3) For any scalars , F and any vector v V , ( )v = (v)
M (4) For each v V , 1v = v , where 1 is the unit scalar and 1 F .
Vector spaces are also sometimes called linear spaces.
• Subspace of a vector space:
Let W be a non-empty subset of a vector space V over the field F. We call W a subspace of V if
and only if W is a vector space over the field F under the laws of vector addition and scalar
multiplication defined on V.
• Theorem: Suppose W is a subset of a vector space V. Then W a subspace of V if the
following two conditions hold:
(a) The zero vector 0 belongs to W.
(b) For every u , v W , k K ; (i) The sum u + v W . (ii) The multiple kuW .
Both properties combined the following equivalent single statement: W is a subspace of V
whenever u, v W , , F implies that u + v W .
1. Show that S = {(a, o, c) : a, c R} is a subspace of the vector space R 3 .
Proof: For 0 R 3 , 0 = (o, o, o) S , since the second component of 0 is o.
Thus S is non-empty.
For any vectors u = ( a, o, c) and v = ( a , o, c ) in S and any scalars , , we have
u + v = ( a, o, c) + (a , o, c )
= ( a, o, c) + ( a , o, c ) = ( a + a , o, c + c )
Since the second component of u + v is o, hence u + v S
So, S is a subspace of R 3 .
2. Show that T = {( a, b, c, d ) R : 2a − 3b + 5c − d = 0} is a subspace of R 4 .
4
Proof: For 0 R 4 , 0 = (o, o, o, o) T since 2. o -3. o + 5. o - o = o. Thus T is non-empty.
Suppose that u = (a, b, c, d ) and v = (a, b, c, d ) are in T then we have,
2a -3b + 5c - d = o and 2a - 3b + 5c - d = o.
Now for any scaler , , we get, u + v = ( a, b, c, d ) + ( a , b, c , d )
= ( a + a , b + b, c + c , d + d )
So, we have
2( a + a ) - 3( b + b) + 5( c + c ) - ( d + d )
= (2a - 3b + 5c - d ) + ( 2a - 3b + 5c - d ) = . o + . o = o
Thus u + v T and so T is a subspace of R 4 .
3. If, W = (o, o, c), c R is a subset of R3 then prove that W is a subspace of R3 .
Solution: We have, 0 = (o,o,o)
Since the 1st and 2nd components of 0 vectors are o. So , 0 W .
Thus W is non-empty.
Now, suppose the vectors u = (o, o, c) and v = (o, o, c ) are in W .
Also for any scalars , R ,we get u + v = (o, o, c) + (o, o, c )
= (o, o, c + c )
Since the 1st and 2nd components of u + v are o, hence u + v W .
Therefore W is a subspace of R 3 .
4. If W = (a, b, c) : a + b − c = o and a, b, c R is a subset of R3 then
prove that W is a subspace of R3 .
Solution: We have, 0 = (o,o,o) W since o + o - o = o. Thus W is non-empty.
Now, suppose that u = ( a, b, c), v = ( a, b, c) are in W , then we have,
a +b - c = o and a + b − c = o
So, for any scalars , R we get, u + v = ( a, b, c) + ( a, b, c)
= ( a + a, b + b, c + c)
So we have
a + a + b + b − c − c
= (a + b − c) + ( a + b − c) = .o + .o = o
Thus, u + v W
Hence W is a subspace of R 3 .
5. If W = (a, b) : 2a − 3b = o and a, b R is a subset of R 2 then prove that
W is a subspace of R 2 .
Solution: We have, 0 = (o,o) W since 2.o - 3.o = o. Thus W is non-empty.
Now suppose that the vectors u = (a, b) and v = (a, b) are in W , then we have
2a-3b = o and 2a − 3b = o
Again for any scalars , R ,we get u + v = (a, b) + (a, b)
= ( a + a, b + b)
So, we have
2( a + a) − 3( b + b)
= (2a − 3b) + (2 a − 3b) = .o + .o = o
Thus , u + v W
Hence W is a subspace of R 2 .
6. If W = (a, b, c) : 2a + 3b + 5c = 8 and a, b, c R is a subset
of R3 then prove that W is a subspace of R3 or not.
Solution: We have, 0 = (o,o,o) W since 2.o+3.o +5.o = o 8.
Hence W is not a subspace of R3 .
7. If W = (a, b, c) : a − 2b + 3c = 5 and a, b, c R is a subset
of R3 then prove that W is a subspace of R3 or not.
