Assignment - 1

Course Name: Mathematical Physics Semester: I

Department of Physics and Astrophysics, Delhi University, Delhi

1. Check if functions f (x) = ex , g(x) = e2x , h(x) = x are linearly independent.

2. Consider field as set (i) R (ii) C. Check whether the following sets of elements form a Linear vector spaces. If
they do, find the dimensionality of the vector space:
(a) The set of all polynomials (of all orders) of a complex variable z. e.g.:
f (z) = an z n + an−1 z n−1 + ...... + a1 z + a0
g(z) = bn z n + bn−1 z n−1 + ...... + b1 z + b0
Addition operations defined as:
(f + g)(x) = (an + bn )z n + (an−1 + bn−1 )z n−1 + ........(a1 + b1 )z + (a0 + b0 )

b) The set of all n × n hermitian matrices (with multiplication by real scalars) under matrix addition and
matrix multiplication.
c) The set of all n× n unitary matrices under matrix addition and matrix multiplication.
d) The set of all solutions of the differential equation. Consider addition operation as scalar multiplication as
discussed in class.

d2 y
+y =0
dx2
3. Let V ≡ {x∥x ∈ R, x > 0}. Let us redefine rules of vector addition and scalar multiplication as (for x, y ∈ R).
x ⊕ y = xy
α ⊗ x = xα
with α ∈ R. Is V(R) a Linear vector space under these redefined operations?
4. Determine whether or not W is a subspace of R3 where W consists of all vectors (a, b, c) in R3 such that
i) a = 3b , ii) b = a2 , iii) a + b + c = 0 , iv) ab = 0
5. Consider a LVS C22 which
 consists
 of 2 × 2 matrices
 over
 complex
 field.
  S = {a, b, c, d}, a set of four 2 × 2
Let
0 1 1 0 0 −i 1 0
matrices given as: a = and b = ,c= d= .
1 0 0 −1 i 0 0 1
(a) Does S ’span’ the given LVS?
(b) Is S ’linearly dependent’ or independent?
(c) Can it form basis for given LVS?

1
6. Let V be an inner product space and let u, v ∈ V then show that

| < u, v > | ≤ |u| |v|

and
|u + v| ≤ |u| + |v|

7. Construct an inner product space for the solution space of the differential equation:
dy
+ x = 0.
dx