# Vector Spaces

• November 8th 2008, 05:36 PM
horacejerry
Vector Spaces
Which of the following are vector spaces?

(a) The set of all continuous functions on the interval $[0,1]$.

(b) The set of all non-negative functions on the interval $[0,1]$.

(c) The set of all polynomials of degree exactly $n$.

(d) The set of all symmetric $n \times n$ matrices, i.e. the set of matrices $A = \{a_{j,k} \}_{j,k = 1}^{n}$ such that $A^{T} = A$.

So (a) is not a vector space because there is no $\bold{0}$ vector?

(b) is a vector space.

(c) is not a vector space.

(d) is a vector space.

Are these correct?
• November 8th 2008, 05:59 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by horacejerry
Which of the following are vector spaces?

(a) The set of all continuous functions on the interval $[0,1]$.

(b) The set of all non-negative functions on the interval $[0,1]$.

(c) The set of all polynomials of degree exactly $n$.

(d) The set of all symmetric $n \times n$ matrices, i.e. the set of matrices $A = \{a_{j,k} \}_{j,k = 1}^{n}$ such that $A^{T} = A$.

So (a) is not a vector space because there is no $\bold{0}$ vector?

so, f(x) = 0 is not a continuous function on [0,1]?

Quote:

(b) is a vector space.
oh, and what would the additive inverse of say, f(x) = 1, be?

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(c) is not a vector space.
what condition failed?

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(d) is a vector space.
ok
• November 8th 2008, 07:39 PM
Chris L T521
Quote:

(c) is not a vector space.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jhevon
what condition failed?

This vector space isn't closed under addition...

Ex: $\bold u=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0$ and $\bold v=-a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0$

Thus, $\bold u\oplus\bold v=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0$ $+\left(-a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0\right)$ $=2a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+2a_2x^2+2a_1x+2a_0\notin V$

--Chris
• November 8th 2008, 07:57 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris L T521
This vector space isn't closed under addition...

Ex: $\bold u=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0$ and $\bold v=-a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0$

Thus, $\bold u\oplus\bold v=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0$ $+\left(-a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_2x^2+a_1x+a_0\right)$ $=2a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+2a_2x^2+2a_1x+2a_0\notin V$

--Chris

yes, that is one reason why.

i wanted to know if the poster knew that though