4.1, 32 If H, K are subspaces, show that H ∩ K is also a subspace.
• Show that H ∩ K has the zero vector:
Since H, K are subspaces, then ~0 ∈ H and ~0 ∈ K, so ~0 ∈ H ∩ K.
• Show that H ∩ K is closed under addition:
Let x1 , x2 be in H ∩ K. That means that each is in H and each is in K. Since
both vectors are in H (and H is a subspace), then x1 + x2 is in H. Similarly, since
both vectors are in K (and K is a subspace), then x2 + x2 is in K. Therefore,
the sum is also in H ∩ K.
• Show that H ∩ K is closed under scalar multiplication:
Let x ∈ H ∩ K. We show that cx is in H ∩ K for all scalars c:
Since x ∈ H ∩ K, then x ∈ H and x ∈ K. Since each of these are subspaces,
cx ∈ H and cx ∈ K. Therefore, cx ∈ H ∩ K.
The argument above does not work for unions-For example,
("
H = Span
1
0
#)
("
,
K = Span
0
1
#)
n o
Then H ∩ K = ~0 , but the union (only being the two coordinate axes) would not
be closed under addition- Adding the two basis vectors together, in fact, gives (1, 1),
which is not in H or in K.
4.2, 30 Let T : V → W be a linear transformation from vector space V to vector space W .
Show that the range of T is a subspace of W .
NOTE: To show that something is in the range of T , we must show that it came from
some vector in V ...
• Is ~0 in the range of T ? Yes, since T (~0) = ~0, and V is a subspace (so the domain
contains the zero vector).
• Is the range closed under addition?
Let w1 , w2 be in the range of T . Then there are vectors v1 , v2 in V such that
T (v1 ) = w1 and T (v2 ) = w2 . Now,
w1 + w2 = T (v1 ) + T (v2 ) = T (v1 + v2 )
And, since V is a vector space, the sum v1 + v2 is in V . Therefore, W is closed
under addition.
• Is the range closed under scalar multiplication?
Let w be in the range, so w = T (v), for some v ∈ V . Since V is a subspace, then
cv is in V for all scalars c, which tells us:
cw = cT (v) = T (cv)
And W is closed under scalar multiplication.
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