Define what is meant by a vector space V over the real numbers R. Define subspace, proper subspace, spanning set, basis, and dimension.
Define the sum U+W and intersection U∩W of two subspaces U and W of a vector space V. Why is the intersection never empty?
Let V=R4 and let U={x∈V:x1−x2+x3−x4=0}, where x=(x1,x2,x3,x4), and let W={x∈V:x1−x2−x3+x4=0}. Show that U∩W has the orthogonal basis b1,b2 where b1=(1,1,0,0) and b2=(0,0,1,1). Extend this basis to find orthogonal bases of U,W, and U+W. Show that U+W=V and hence verify that, in this case,
dimU+dimW=dim(U+W)+dim(U∩W)