Question

Linear algebra: Determine whether this is a vector space:

The set of all rational numbers, with the usual definitons of addition and scalar multiplication.

Answer 1

this isnt a vector space

Answer 2

since a rational number multiplied by an irrational number = irrational number

Answer 3

Oooh I see. Thank you very much!

Answer 4

did u get it? or like pretending like u understood cuz that wasnt so clear

Answer 5

I am actually in middle of taking linear algebra and had the same question like 2 weeks ago :)

Answer 6

No, I get it. It's not closed under scalar multiplication because you can multiply it by an irrational number and the answer won't be rational.

Answer 7

yes :)

Answer 8

I SERIOUSLY don't get vector spaces at all. It is all so freaking weird.

Answer 9

lol i know so i got a tutor to come over and we sat for 3 hours and he explained everything and now it is so clear

Answer 10

It was too confusing and it was killing my brain

Answer 11

Nice. My instructor has no life (his officer hours are all over the place) so I think I'll just irritate the hell out of him tomorrow :-D.

Answer 12

hehehehehe

Answer 13

hmm, maybe you could include the field from which your scalars are from. Usually we talk of 'vector space over F' where F is some field, could be the reals, could be the rationals or could be the complex numbers. If the scalars are from the rationals, then it is a vector space as it will be closed under multiplication and the axioms would hold, if real/complex then no...

Answer 14

well i thought that F is all rational numbers

Answer 15

and i guess the scaler coud be any real number

Answer 16

Yeah that's what I was thinking... and that would include decimal numbers so scalar mult. wouldn't hold up.

Answer 17

Anyway, thanks Pippa. I really need to get some serious one-on-one time with someone that really knows what they're doing. The book just doesn't help in this case.

Answer 18

hehe i agree. So like y dont u get some classmates to help?

Answer 19

I will try. I am so shy in that class, it's been 7 weeks now and I haven't talked with anybody.

Answer 20

ohhhhhhhhh i see. Ya its easier to get a tutor. they know how to explain better but not many ppl are familiar with linear algebra

Answer 21

It's mostly guys in the class so I just have to get out of my shell and talk to them. You're right, and the books/lecture notes online can be difficult to follow. Anyway, I won't take up any more of your time. I appreciate your help :-)

Answer 22

hehe bye gtg study linear algebra :)

Answer 23

Well in an abstract sense, vectors are simply 'objects' (can be numbers, may not be) which may be added together and multiplied by scalars. In your case, the set \[\mathbb{Q}\] is where your vectors are from, and scalars are from some field F. Vector addition is just field addition, scalar multiplication is just field multiplication, and if that field is the rationals, then you have a vector space! Note that \[\mathbb{Q}\] will have two subspaces which are \[\{0\}\] and itself...

Answer 24

@brinethery do you see why the rationals are a vector space over themselves, but not a vector space over the reals? If I multiply a rational by a rational I get another rational, if I multiply a rational by a real, I do not necessarily get a rational...