1. Solution: By definition, we have\[(-v)+(-(-v))=0\quad\text{and}\quad v+(-v)=0.\]This implies both $v$ and $-(-v)$ are additive inverses of $-v$, by the uniqueness of additive inverse, it follows that $-(-v)=v$.
2. Solution: If $a=0$, we are done.
If $a\ne 0$, then $a$ has inverse $a^{-1}$ such that $a^{-1}a=1$. Hence \[v=1\cdot v=(a^{-1}a)v=a^{-1}(av)=a^{-1}\cdot 0=0.\]Here we use associativity in 1.19 and and 1.30.
3. Solution: Let $x=\dfrac{1}{3}(w-v)$, then \[v+3x=v+3\cdot \dfrac{1}{3}(w-v)=v+(w-v)=w.\]This shows existence. Now we show uniqueness. Suppose, we have another vector $x’$ such that $v+3x’=w$. Then $v+3x’=w$ implies $3x’=w-v$. Similarly, $3x=w-v$. Hence \[3(x-x’)=3x-3x’=(w-v)-(w-v)=0.\]By Problem 2, we must have $x-x’=0$, that is $x=x'$. This shows uniqueness.
4. Solution: Additive identity: there exists an element $0\in V$ such that $v+0=v$ for all $v\in V$ ; This means $V$ cannot be empty.
5. Solution: If we assume the additive inverse condition, we already showed $0v=0$ for all $v\in V$ in 1.29. Now we assume $0v=0$ for all $v\in V$ and then show additive inverse condition. Since we have $0v=0$ for all $v\in V$, we have \[ v+((-1)v)=1v+((-1)v)=(1+(-1))v=0v=0, \]this means the existence of additive inverse, i.e. the additive inverse condition.
6. Solution: This is not a vector space over $\mathbb R$. Consider the distributive properties in 1.19. If this is a vector space over $\mathbb R$, we will have \[\infty=(2+(-1))\infty=2\infty+(-1)\infty=\infty+(-\infty)=0.\]Hence for any $t\in\mathbb R$, one has\[t=0+t=\infty+t=\infty=0.\]We get a contradiction since zero vector is unique.
Daniel
13 Feb 2022Can also use associativity of scalar multiplication twice, in addition to the multiplicative identity.
-(-v) = (-1) * (-v) = (-1) * ( (-1)*v ) = ( (-1)*(-1) ) * v = (-1)^2 * v = 1 * v = v
Sariel
11 Aug 2021Please explain Q6 more detailed
Jane
11 Aug 2021Could you explain Q6 more detailed?thanks
matizzat
30 Dec 2020In exercise 6 is it valid if I answer that (-infty) + (infty) is not defined and thus the conmutative property doesn't hold?
Linearity
5 May 2021No. Because if you multiply $\infty+(-\infty)=0$ by $-1$, you will get $(-\infty)+(\infty)=0$.
hfz223322
20 May 2021But the distributive properties need to be proved before you use it.
Linearity
24 May 2021Argue it by contradiction. Namely, first assume it is a vector space and then show something is impossible. So you can use distribution law.
Listening
15 Oct 2020For 5 we do not know multiplicative inverse just from 1.19.
Lost Ghost
3 Feb 2020Q4 is incorrect
Tianze
20 May 2020Are you saying that the title statement itself is wrong?
disqus_4MuuHb6gF1
22 Jun 2019The proof of 2 is not complete. See alternative proof below:
Suppose av = 0, with a != 0 and v != 0
Since a != 0, there exists (1/a) in F such that (1/a)a = 1.
So we have:
av = 0
(1/a)av = (1/a)0
((1/a)(a))v = 0 ( by multiplicative associativity and 1.30 respectively)
(1)v = 0
v = 0, contradiction
Hence we conclude that a = 0 or v = 0
Mohammad Rashidi
22 Jun 2019The proof is complete because if a=0, then it is already true..
Tianze
20 May 2020The proof of the two of you is equivalent, because there are only four cases to discuss
stan_comp_neuro
13 Feb 2019I think here gives a better answer for question 2, here you did not address why the a!=0 and V != 0 does not exist stackexchange/2595465
Mohammad Rashidi
22 Jun 2019It implies that if a!=0, then v=0. If a=0, then it is already true. The proof is complete.
Paweł Pod
9 Jul 2018An another argument:
8 = 8 + 0 = 8 + (8 + (-8)) = (8 + 8) + (-8) = 8 + (-8) = 8 + ((-8) + (-8)) = (8 + (-8)) + (-8) = 0 + (-8) = (-8), this is the contradiction with the assumption that 8 and (-8) denote distinct objects.
Maxis Jaisi
25 Apr 2017Alternatively, we could just observe that $ t + \infty = \infty$ for every $ t \in \mathbf{R}$ automatically violates uniqueness of additive identity.
Luis
15 Oct 2020I thought the same
Linearity
5 May 2021This does not show $\infty$ is an additive identity.
Rong Ou
23 Apr 2017For 6 it also violates associativity:
(infty + infty) + (-infty) = infty + (-infty) = 0
infty + (infty + (-infty)) = infty + 0 = infty
MASHIAT MUTMAINNAH
18 Jul 2016Hi! Thank you so much for all the solutions, I really appreciate your hard work. Can someone please explain to me the contradiction in the solution Ex 1B question 6?
I just can't seem to understand it. Thank you!
Mohammad Rashidi
14 Jan 2017Since zero vector should be unique.
Abu-Yakitori
27 Feb 2017Why 0 + t = infinity + t?
spindash
28 Feb 2017From the first equation we obtain ∞ = 0 (only using distributive properties).
Whereas in the second equation we get t = 0
That is the contradiction, 0 is not unique.
0+t = ∞+t since by the result of the first equation ∞ = 0. So if 0=∞, 0+t=∞+t.