Subspaces

Definition:
(V,+,•) :a vector space
(V, +, *)
W W( W, +, *)
 : a non empty subset
W  V  of V
If (W,+,•) is a vector space (under the same operations of addition and
scalar multiplication defined in V)
 W is a subspace of V

If W is a set of one or more vectors in a vector space V, then W is a sub space of V if

and only if the following conditions hold;

a) If u,v are vectors in W then u+v is in W.

b) If k is any scalar and u is any vector in W then k.u is in W.
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Every vector Space has at least two subspaces.
1) V itself
2) {0} (0 = Zero vector of V)

Ex: Let V = R2 with respect to component wise addition and scalar multiplication.
Let W = {(x, 0) / x is any real number.}
Check whether W forms a subspace of R2 or not.
Solution : (0,0) Є W, So W is non empty subset of V.
1) Take u =(a, 0) and v = (b, 0) in W
Now u + v = (a, 0) + (b, 0) = (a+b, 0) Є W

2) Take u = (a, 0) in W and a real number k,

Then k.u = k.(a, 0) = (ka, k0) = (ka, 0) Є W
W forms a subspace of V.
Similarly,W = {(0, y) / y is any real number} is a subspace of V.
The set of all points on any line passing through origin forms a subspace of R2 .
 Y axis 𝑅2 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒

X axis
U=(1,0) u+v = (3,0)
V=(2,0)
Ex: Let V = R3 with respect to component wise addition and scalar multiplication.
Let W = {(x, y, z) / x +2y - z = 0 }
Check whether, W forms a subspace of R2 or not.
Solution : (0, 0, 0) Є W, W is non empty subset of R3
1. Let u =(x1, y1, z1 ) and v =(x2, y2, z2) in W
Being elements of W, u and v satisfies ,
x1 + 2y1- z1 = 0
x2 + 2y2 - z2 = 0
Now Consider, u + v = (x1+ x2, y1+y2, z1+z2)
To be an element of W , (u +v) should satisfy x +2y - z = 0 condition.
Consider (x1 + x2) +2(y1 +y2) - (z1+z2)
= x1 + x2+ 2y1 + 2y2 –z1 – z2
= (x1 + 2y1 - z1) + (x2 + 2y2 - z2)
=0+0
 u + v is in W.
2. Let u =(x1, y1, z1 ) be an element in W and k be any real number.
U = (x1,y1,z1) in W  x1 + 2y1- z1 = 0
Consider k.u = k.(x1,y1,z1) = (kx1, ky1, kz1).
To be an element of W , k.u should satisfy x +2y - z = 0 condition.
Consider, kx1 + 2(ky1)- kz1
= kx1 + k(2y1)- kz1
= k (x1 + 2y1- z1 ) = k. 0 = 0
 k.u is in W.
W forms a subspace a subspace of R3
Subspaces of 𝑅2 ∶
(1) O vector = (0, 0)
(2) Lines through the origin
(3 ) R 2

Subspace of R3

(1) 0 0 = (0, 0,0)

(2) Lines through the origin
(3) Planes through theorigin
(4) R 3

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Ex: Let V = R2 with respect to component wise addition and scalar multiplication.
Let W = {(x, y) / x +2y = 1 }
Check whether, W forms a subspace of R2 or not.
Ans :
NO .
W is not a subspace of R2, because zero vector (0, 0) is not in W.

Ex :Let V = 𝑃2 (set of all polynomials up to degree 2) be a Vector Space with ordinary addition
and scalar multiplication of polynomials.
Consider W = Set of all polynomials of degree exactly 2, with 0.
W = {𝑎0 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑥 2 / 𝑎0 , 𝑎1 ,𝑎2 are real nos, 𝑎2 ≠ 0} U {0}
Is W forms a subspace of V ?
Ans :
NO.
Take p = 2 + 3x − 𝑥 2 and q = −3 − 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 in W.
p + q = −1 + 2𝑥.
p + q is degree one polynomial so not in W.
Therefore W is not a subspace of V.
Ex: Let V = R2 with respect to component wise addition and scalar multiplication.
Let W = {(a, 1) / a is any real number}
Check whether, W forms a subspace of R2 or not.

Solution :
NO
The zero vector (0, 0) is not in W.
Therefor W can not be a vector space and hence not a subspace of R2.

Ex: Let V = R2 with respect to component wise addition and scalar multiplication.
Let W = {(𝑥, 𝑦) / 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 2 }
Check whether, W forms a subspace of R2 or not.

Solution :
Take u= (1, -1) and v = (2, 2) in W
Now u + v = (1, -1) + (2, 2) = (1+2, -1+2) = (3, 1) which is not in W. …………………..(32 ≠ 12 ).

Therefore W is not a subspace.

Which of the following are subspaces of given vector spaces:
1.V = R3, W = {(x, y, z) / either x =y or y = z}
Sol : Take u = (1, 2, 2) v = (3, 3, 1) in W
u + v = (4, 5, 3) is not in W.
W is not a subspace

2.V = R3 and W = {(x, y, z) / either x + 3y + z = 2}

Sol : (0, 0, 0) is not in W.
W is not a subspace

Homework :
1. V = R3 and W = {(x, y, z) / x + y = z}
2. V = R2 and W = {(x, y) / y = 2x } OR W = {(x, 2x)/ x is real}
3. V = R2 and W = {(x, y) / x =y }
4. V = R3 and W = {(x, y, z) / z = x-y }
5. V = R3 and W = {(x, y, z) / y = x + z + 2 }
6. V = R3 and W = {(1, y, z) / y , z are real nos }
7. V = R3 and W = {(x, 0, z) / x , z are real nos }
Ex : (A subspace of M2×2)
Let W be the set of all 2×2 symmetric matrices. Show that W is a subspace of the
vector space M2×2, with the standard operations of matrix addition and scalar
multiplication.

Sol : W  M 22
1) Let A , A W  AT = A , AT = A
1 2 1 1 2 2
Consider, ( A + A )T = AT + AT
1 2 1 2 = A1 + A2  ( A1+ A2 W)

2) Let k  R, AW  AT = A
Consider, (kA)T = kAT = kA  (k.A W)

W is a subspace of M 22
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Ex : (The set of singular matrices is not a subspace of M2×2)
Let W be the set of singular matrices (with determinant 0)of order 2 Show that W is not a
subspace of M2×2 with respect to standard operations.
Sol: Take ,
1 0 0 0 
A=   W ,B =   W
0 0 0 1 

1 0 
 A+ B =  
 0 1 

det(A + B) = 1 ≠ 0
Therefore (A+B) is not in W.
W is not a subspace of V.
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Theorem : Let V be a vector space. If W1 and W2 be two subspaces of V , then W1 Ո W2 is
also a subspace of V.
Proof : Since W1 and W2 are subspaces of V, both set contains zero vector of V.
Therefore 0 Є W1 Ո W2 .
W1 Ո W2 ≠ Ф
1) Take any two elements u, v Є W1 Ո W2.
To show : u + v Є W1 Ո W2
Since u , v Є W1 Ո W2  u, v Є W1 and u, v Є W2
u, v Є W1  u + v Є W1 ................(W1 is a subspace)
u, v Є W2  u + v Є W2 ................(W2 is a subspace)
 u + v Є W1 Ո W2 .

2) Take a real number k and an element u Є W1 Ո W2 .

To show : k.u Є W1 Ո W2
u Є W1 Ո W2  u Є W1 and u Є W2.
Now, u Є W1 and k is a real number  k.u Є W1 ……………..(W1 is a subspace)
u Є W2 and k is a real number  k.u Є W2 ……………..(W1 is a subspace)
 k.u Є W1 Ո W2.

So, W1 Ո W2 is a subspace of V.
Note : Union of two subspaces of a vector space V need not be a subspace of V.
Ex: Let V = R2 with respect to component wise addition and scalar multiplication.
Let W1 = {(x, 0) / x is any real number} and W2 = {(0, y) / y is any real number} be two
subspaces of R2.
W1 Ո W2 = {(0,0)} is a subspace of R2.
Now consider,
W1 U W2 = {(x, y) / either x = 0 or y = 0}
The elements u = (2, 0) , v = (0, 4) are in W1 U W2 , but u + v = (2, 4) is not in W1 U W2.
 W1 U W2 is not a subspace of R2
W2 = Y axis
v(0,4) u+v (2,4)

u(2,0)
W1 = X-axis