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Vector Space Definition

This document defines a vector space as a set with operations of vector addition and scalar multiplication that satisfy certain axioms. Key elements of a vector space include vectors, scalars, linear combinations, and the ability to do algebra with expressions involving vectors and scalars similarly to matrices.

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35 views1 page

Vector Space Definition

This document defines a vector space as a set with operations of vector addition and scalar multiplication that satisfy certain axioms. Key elements of a vector space include vectors, scalars, linear combinations, and the ability to do algebra with expressions involving vectors and scalars similarly to matrices.

Uploaded by

anonymoushuman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Advanced Linear Algebra Vector Spaces

Author: Prof. Caine Name:

Definition: A vector space (or linear space) V over a field F is a set V on which operations
of vector addition ((x, y) 7→ x + y for x, y ∈ V ) and scalar multiplication from F ((c, x) 7→ cx for
c ∈ F, x ∈ V ) are defined such that the following axioms hold.

(VS 1) x + y = y + x for each x, y ∈ V (commutativity of addition).

(VS 2) (x + y) + z = x + (y + z) for each x, y, z ∈ V (associativity of addition).

(VS 3) There exists an element of V denoted 0 such that x + 0 = x for each x ∈ V (additive identity).

(VS 4) For each x ∈ V there exists y ∈ V such that x + y = 0 (existence of opposites).

(VS 5) For 1 ∈ F, 1x = x for each x ∈ V (scalar identity).

(VS 6) (ab)x = a(bx) for each a, b ∈ F and each x ∈ V (action of scalar multiplication).

(VS 7) a(x + y) = ax + ay for each x, y ∈ V and each a ∈ F (scalar multiplication distributes over
vector addition).

(VS 8) (a + b)x = ax + bx for each a, b ∈ F and each x ∈ V (scalar multiplication distributes over
scalar addition).

The elements of a vector space V are called vectors even though they may not be vectors in
a geometric sense. The elements of the field F are called scalars even though multiplying by an
element of F may not change the “length” or scale of a vector in a geometric sense.

Key Point: With operations of addition and scalar multiplication we can express an element y of
V as a linear combination c1 x2 + c2 x2 + c3 x3 + · · · + cn xn of other elements x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ∈ V using
scalars c1 , c2 , . . . , cn from F. The axioms of a vector space guarantee that we can do algebra with
such expressions the same as we do in working with columns and rows of matrices of real numbers.

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