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''4) (cu,v)=c(u,v) for u, v in V and c a real scalar''
 
''4) (cu,v)=c(u,v) for u, v in V and c a real scalar''
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The Inner product also lies in a vector space that can be represented by V. This is called an '''inner product space'''. An inner product space is defined simply as a vector space that contains a inner product. Understanding inner products can lead into the understanding of other theorems.
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*It may also be helpful to look at other explanations of inner products. These links will bring you to other people explaining inner products:
 
*It may also be helpful to look at other explanations of inner products. These links will bring you to other people explaining inner products:

Revision as of 15:59, 7 December 2011

Inner Products and Orthogonality

Primarily, it is necessary to begin with the basic definitions of Inner Products and Orthogonality. An inner product is defined by Bernard Kolman in his Elementary Linear Algebra book as being "a function V that assigns to each ordered pair of vectors u,v in V a real number (u,v) satisfying the following properties." There are four properties taken from Elementary Linear Algebra book that inner products must follow:

1) (u,u) is greater than or equal to 0 ((u,u)=0 if u equals the zero vector)

2) (v,u)=(u,v) for an u,v in V

3) (u+v,w)=(u,w)+(v,w) for an u,v,w in V

4) (cu,v)=c(u,v) for u, v in V and c a real scalar

The Inner product also lies in a vector space that can be represented by V. This is called an inner product space. An inner product space is defined simply as a vector space that contains a inner product. Understanding inner products can lead into the understanding of other theorems.


  • It may also be helpful to look at other explanations of inner products. These links will bring you to other people explaining inner products:

[1] The standard inner product

[2] More on inner products

Simply, as follows in the book is a definition for Orthogonality. "Two vectors u and v in V are orthogonal if (u,v)=0." This is to say that given one vector crossed with another vector is equal to zero, then they are orthogonal.

For example using variables:

u=[a;b] v=[c;d]

(u,v)=(u x v) = ac + bd = 0 => orthogonal vectors

For example using numbers:

u=[1;0] v=[0;1]

(u,v)=(u x v) = 1(0) + 0(1) = 0 => orthogonal vectors



Back to MA265 Fall 2011 Prof. Walther

Alumni Liaison

Abstract algebra continues the conceptual developments of linear algebra, on an even grander scale.

Dr. Paul Garrett