Spaces, Vector Spaces, Degree of Polynomial, Fields.

Definition: Spaces

In mathematics, a space is a set with some added structure.

Definition: Vector Spaces

A vector space (or linear space) $V$ over a field $F$ consists of a set where two operations (vector addition and scalar multiplication) are defined and satisfies the following properties:

1. $\forall x, y \in V, x + y = y + x$
2. $\forall x, y, z \in V, (x + y) + z = x + (y + z)$
3. $\exists 0 \in V$ s.t. $\forall x \in V, x + 0 = x$
(existence of identity element for addition, i.e null vector)
4. $\forall x \in V, \exists y \in V$ s.t. $x + y = 0$
5. $\forall x \in V, 1x=x$
(existence of identity element for multiplication)
6. $\forall a,b \in F, \forall x \in V, (ab)x=a(bx)$
7. $\forall a \in F, \forall x, y\in V, a(x+y)=ax+ay$
8. $\forall a,b \in F, \forall x \in V, (a+b)x = ax+ bx$

$x+y$ is called the sum of $x$ and $y$; $ax$ the product of $a$ and $x$.

Elements of the field $F$ are called scalars;
elements of the vector space $V$ are called vectors.

Example: $\R^n/\R$

Prove that $\R^n / \R$ is a vector space. Notice that $\R^\infty$ is not included in this case, $\R^\infty$ is the set of sequences.

Proof scratch:

1.$\vec{v}+\vec{u}=\vec{u}+\vec{v}$

2.$(\vec{u}+\vec{v})+\vec{w} = \vec{u}+(\vec{v}+\vec{w})$

3.$\exists \vec{0},\vec{u}+\vec{0}=\vec{u}$

4.$1\in \R, 1 \cdot \vec{u}=\vec{u}$

5.$a, b \in \R, a(b\vec{u})= (ab)\vec{u}$

6.$a,b \in \R, (a+b)\vec{u}=a\vec{u}+b\vec{u}$

7.$a\in \R, \vec{u},\vec{v}, a(\vec{u} + \vec{v})=a\vec{u} + a\vec{v}$

8.$\vec{u},-\vec{u}, \vec{u} + \vec{v}=\vec{0}$

Example: Arbitrary Polynomial

$\mathbb{P}_n(x)=$set of all polynomials of degree$\leq n$ with real coefficient and in variable $x$.

With $f(x), g(x) \in \mathbb{P}_n(x)$

$f(x) = a_0+ a_1x+ … + a_nx^n,$

$g(x) = b_0 +b_1x+ … + b_nx^n.$

$f(x)+g(x):=(a_0+b_0)+(a_1 +b_1)x+…+(a_n+b_n)x^n$

scalar multiplication:

$c\in F = \R, cf(x) := ca_0 + (ca_1)x + … + (ca_n)x^n$

we claim $\mathbb{P}_n(x)$ is a vector space on $\R$ with respect to these two operations, because all the properties stands with defined vector addition and scalar multiplicaiton.

Remarks: what is the degree of zero polynomial: $f(x)=0$ ?
Definition: Degree of Polynomial

The highest term’s index with non-zero coefficient.

Corollary 1

The zero vector (or null vector) $0$ described in VS3 is unique.

i.e. if $0, 0’$ both satisfy (VS3) then $0=0’$.

i.e. $\forall x \in V, x + 0=x, x + 0’=x$, then $0=0’$.

Proof [expand]

let $x = 0, y = 0’$

$0 + x = x \implies 0 + 0 = 0$

$0 + y = y \implies 0 + 0’ = 0$

$\therefore 0 + 0 = 0 + 0’$

$0 = 0’$(cancellation law)

Proof [expand]

$0=0+0’=0’+0=0’$, so $0=0’$

Corollary 2

The addtictive inverse (vector) described in VS4 is unique.

The additive inverse of $x$ can be denoted by $-x$.

Theorem 1.2

In any vector space $V$, the following statements are true:

1. $\forall x \in V, 0 \in F, 0x = 0.$
2. $\forall a \in F, \forall x \in V, (-a) x = -(ax) = a(-x).$
3. $\forall a \in F, 0 \in V, a0=0$.

Please be careful what is the symbol ‘0’ is referring to. When $0 \in F$, it is a scalar; when $0 \in V$, it is a vector.

Definition: Fields

A field $F$ is a set on which two operations addition $+$ and multiplication $\cdot$ are defined so that following conditions are satisfied

1. $a+b=b+a, a\cdot b= b\cdot a$
2. $(a+b)+c=a+(b+c), (a\cdot b)\cdot c = a\cdot (b\cdot c)$
3. $\exists 0 \in F, 1\in F$ s.t. $\forall a, 0+a=a, 1\cdot a = a$
(existence of identity elements for addition and multiplication)
4. $a\in F, \exists c \in F$ s.t. $a+c=0$
$b \in F, b \neq 0, \exists d \in F$ s.t. $b\cdot d = 1$
(existence of inversion for addition and multipliation)
5. $a \cdot (b+c) = a\cdot b + a\cdot c$

The elements $x + y$ and $x \cdot y$ are called the sum and product, respectively of $x$ and $y$.
The elements $0$ and $1$ are called identity elements for addition and multiplication, respectively.
The elements elements $c$ and $d$ referred to in (F 4) are called an additive inverse for $a$ and a multiplicative inverse for $b$, respectively.

Examples

$\R$ is a field. $\C$ is a field. $\Q$ is a fkeld.

$\Z$ is NOT a field. (F4)

Corollary

Every field is a vector space over itself.