MTH5102 Linear Algebra - Vector Spaces and Subspaces

Let V be a vector space and K is the underlying field of scalars.

(1) 0x = 0 for each x ∈ V .

Solution: 0x + 0x = (0 + 0)x = 0x = 0x + 0 = 0 + 0x. Hence,

by (1) 0x = 0.

(2) (−a)x = −(ax) = a(−x) for each a ∈ K and each x ∈ V .

Solution: The vector −(ax) is the unique element of V such

that ax + [−(ax)] = 0. Thus, if ax + (−a)x = 0, then by
the uniqueness of the additive inverse element we get −(ax) =
(−a)x. We have, ax + (−a)x = [(a + (−a)]x = 0x = 0. In par-
ticular, (-1) x = -x. So, a(−x) = a[(−1)x] = [a(−1)x] = (−a)x.

(3) Let S = {0, 1} and K = R. If f (t) = 2t + 1; g(t) = 1 + 4t − 2t2

and h(t) = 5t + 1 show that f = g and f + g = h.

Solution: Direct verification!

(4) Let V denote the set of ordered pairs of real numbers. If

(a1 , a2 ), (b1 , b2 ) are elements of V and c ∈ R, define
(a1 , a2 )+(b1 , b2 ) = (a1 +b1 , a2 b2 ) and c(a1 , a2 ) = (ca1 , a2 ). Is V a
vector space over R with these operations? Justify your answer.

Solution: Note that (0,1) works as the identity element. But,

elements of the form (a, 0) have no inverse defined. Hence not
a vector space.

(5) Let V denote the set of ordered pairs of real numbers. If

(a1 , a2 ), (b1 , b2 ) are elements of V and c ∈ R, define
(a1 , a2 ) + (b1 , b2 ) = (a1 + 2b1 , a2 + 3b2 ) and c(a1 , a2 ) = (ca1 , ca2 ).
Is V a vector space over R with these operations? Justify your
answer.

Solution: Not a vector space. Commutativity wrt addition

does not hold.

(6) If W is a subspace of a linear space V , show that 0 ∈ W , where

0 is the zero element of of V .

Solution: For any x ∈ W , and kx for any k ∈ K, we have

kx ∈ W as well as in V . Choose k = 0 which results in the 0
1
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element of V by problem 1 above.

(7) Let C(R) denote the set of all continuous real valued functions
defined on R. Show that C(R) is a subspace of F (R, R). (space
of all functions on R.)

Solution: Check the necessary axioms.

(8) Show that the set W of the all symmetric (n × n) matrices is a

subspace of Mn×n (K). (A matrix A is symmetric if A = At .)

Solution: Check the necessary axioms.

(9) Show that the set of all (n × n) diagonal matrices is a subspace

of Mn×n (K).

Solution: Check the necessary axioms.

(10) Show that the set of all (n × n) matrices having trace equal to
zero is a subspace of Mn×n (K).(trace of a square matrix is the
sum of all its diagonal entries.)

Solution: Check the necessary axioms.

(11) Determine whether the following sets are subspaces of R3 or not,

under the usual operations of addition and scalar multiplication
defined on R3 with K = R.
(a) W1 = {(a1 , a2 , a3 ) ∈ R3 : a1 = 3a2 , and a3 = −a2 }.
(b) W2 = {(a1 , a2 , a3 ) ∈ R3 : a1 = a3 + 2}.
Solution: Direct verification for (i); Note that (3, 0, 1), (1, 0, −1)
are elelments of W2 but their sum is not in W2 . Hence not a
subspace.

(12) A m × n matrix A is called upper triangular if all the entries

lying below the diagonal entries are zero. That is, Aij = 0,
whenever i > j. Prove that the upper triangular matrices form
a subspace of Mm×n (K).

Solution: Clearly, the m × n null matrix 0 is upper triangu-

lar. For two m × n upper triangular matrices A = (aij ), B =
(bij ), A+B = (aij +bij ) is also upper triangular since aij +bij =
0, wheneveri > j. Similarly, kA is also UT for any k ∈ F .

(13) Let S be a nonempty set and K a field. Let C(S, K) denote

the set of all functions f ∈ F (S, K) such that f (s) = 0 for all
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but a finite number of elements of S. Prove that C(S, K) is a

subspace of F (S, K).

Solution: For f (s) ≡ 0, the ”zero” element of F (S, K) is

clearly in C(S, K). Now, let f (si ) = ci , for ci 6= 0, si ∈ S, i =
1, ...., n, and g(ti ) = di , for di 6= 0, ti ∈ S, i = 1, .., m and for
all other s ∈ S let f (s) = 0, g(s) = 0. Now, (f + g)(s) = 0 for
all s ∈ S except for s = si , i = 1, .., n and s = ti , i = 1, ..., m.
Since f + g is again a function from S to K, that vanishes at all
but a finite number of elelments of S. Similarly, one can show
αf ∈ C(S, K).

(14) Prove that if W is a subspace of a vector space V and w1 , w2 , ..., wn

are in W then a1 w1 + a2 w2 + .... + an wn ∈ W for any scalars
a1 , ...., an .

Solution: Follows by repeated application of the subspace

requirements.

(15) Let W1 and W2 be subspaces of a vector space V . Prove that

W1 ∪ W2 is a subspace of V if and oly if W1 ⊆ W2 or W2 ⊆ W1 .

Solution: If either W1 ⊆ W2 or W2 ⊆ W1 , it is clear that

W1 ∪W2 is a subspace. On the other hand, suppose that W1 ∪W2
is a subspace and also that neither W1 ⊆ W2 nor W2 ⊆ W1 .
Then, we may find u ∈ W1 , v ∈ W2 such that u ∈ / W2 , v ∈
/ W1 .
Also, u + v ∈ W1 ∪ W2 leading to u + v being either in W1 or in
W2 . Show that both lead to a contradiction!