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Math 121B: Quiz 5

(5) 1. Prove that every orthonormal set in a finite-dimensional inner product space is linearly indepen-
dent

Proof: Let S = {vi }ki=1 be a orthonormal set in (V, h·, ·i), and let y ∈span{vi }, so
k
X
y= ai vi
i=1
for some scalars ai . We want to show that if y = 0, then ai = 0 for i = 1..k. Since S is an orthonormal
set the coeffients ai = hy, vi i. So if y = 0 we have
k
X k
X
0=y= hy, vi ivi = h0, vi ivi
i=1 i=1
and so y = 0 implies ai = h0, vi i = 0, hence the set S is linearly independent. 

(5) 2. Let {v1 , . . . vk } be an orthogonal set in (V, h·, ·i) and let a1 , . . . , ak be scalars. Prove that
k 2 k
X X
ai vi = |ai |kvi k2 .



i=1 i=1

Hint: kx + yk2 = hx + y, x + yi

Proof:
2 * +
Xk k
X k
X
ai vi = ai v i , aj vj



i=1 i=1 j=1
k X
X k
by conjugate bilinearity = ai aj hvi , vj i
i=1 j=1
k
X
by orthonormality = |ai |hvi , vi i
i=1
k
X
= |ai |kvi , vi k2 
i=1