Tutorial Sheet School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, IIT Mandi
Tutorial Sheet – 2
Course: MA512 – Linear Algebra
Instructor: Prof. Muslim Malik
T.A.: Bhawna
Date: August 14, 2025
√ √
1. Show that the set Q( 2) = {a + b 2 : a, b ∈ Q} is a vector space over Q with respect to
the compositions:
√ √ √
(a + b 2) + (c + d 2) = (a + c + (b + d) 2)
√ √
and α(a + b 2) = aα + bα 2,
where a, b, c, d and α are all rational numbers.
2. Let V denote the set of ordered pairs of real numbers. If (a1 , a2 ) and (b1 , b2 ) are elements
of V and c ∈ R, define
(a1 , a2 ) + (b1 , b2 ) = (a1 + b1 , a2 ) and c(a1 , a2 ) = (ca1 , a2 ).
Is V a vector space over R with these operations? Justify your answer.
3. If H is a subfield of field F , then show that F can be considered as a vector space over H.
4. Determine
whether
the set of all 2 × 2 matrices form a vector space over field
a a
F ={ : a ∈ R}.
a a
a 1
5. Show that the set of all 2 × 2 matrices of the form with addition defined by
1 b
a 1 c 1 a+c 1 a 1 ka 1
+ = and scalar multiplication defined by k =
1 b 1 d 1 b+d 1 b 1 kb
is a vector space. What is the zero vector in this space?
6. Let V be the set of all complex-valued functions f on the real line such that (for all t in
R)
f (−t) = f (t).
The bar denotes complex conjugation. Show that V , with the operations (f + g)(t) =
f (t) + g(t) and (cf )(t) = cf (t) is a vector space over the field of real numbers. Give an
example of a function in V which is not real-valued.
7. Is the set M of 2×1 column matrices, a vector space over R with respect to vector addition
and scalar multiplication defined as follows:
[aij ] + [bij ] = [aij + bij ],
α · [aij ] = [−αaij ],
where [aij ], [bij ] belongs to M and α ∈ R.
8. In R, consider the addition x ⊕ y = x + y − 1 and a ⊗ x = a(x − 1) + 1. Show that R is
a real vector space with respect to these operations with additive identity 1(note that 0 is
not the additive identity).
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Tutorial Sheet School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, IIT Mandi
9. Let R+ be the set of positive real numbers. Define the operation of addition and multipli-
cation as follows :
u ⊕ v = u · v and α ⊗ u = uα , ∀ u, v ∈ R+ , ∀ α ∈ R.
Prove that R+ is a vector space over R.
10. Show that the following sets with the given operations fail to be vector spaces by identifying
all axioms that fail to hold.
(a) The set of all triples of real numbers with the standard vector addition but with scalar
multiplication defined by k(x, y, z) = (k 2 x, k 2 y, k 2 z).
(b) The set of all triples of real numbers with addition defined by (x, y, z) + (u, v, w) =
(z + w, y + v, x + u) and standard scalar multiplication.
(c) The set of all 2 × 2 invertible matrices with the standard matrix addition and scalar
multiplication.
11. (a) Show that the set of all points in R2 lying on a line is a vector space, with respect
to the standard operations of vector addition and scalar multiplication, exactly when
the line passes through the origin.
(b) Show that the set of all points in R3 lying on a plane is a vector space, with respect
to the standard operations of vector addition and scalar multiplication, exactly when
the plane passes through the origin.
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