1 FUNDAMENTATIONS OF LINEAR AL- GEBRA 1.1 Vectors 1.1.1 Vector Spaces One of the fundamental concepts of linear algebra is that of wetor space At the same time it is one of the more often used concepts of algebraic structure in modern mathematics. For example, many function sets studied in) mathematical analysis are with respect to their algebraic properties vector spaces. In analysis the notion “linear space” is used instead of the notion “vector space’ Definition 1.1.1. A set Xis called a vestor space ove iber field K. if to every pair (x.y) of elements of X there corresponds a stm x+y and to every pait (a,x), where a © K and x © Xq there corresponds an element ax ¢ X, with the properties 1-8 commutability of addition} Lxty= 2 xt ly tz) = (x+y) +2 (associativity of addition 3. = 0c X:04+X=x [existence of null clement) 1 ¥xeX+5-x X 2x4 (—x) =O (existence of the inverse clement} 5 Lex Xx ‘unitarisin 6. ACGx) = (0. 3}x (associativity with respeet to number multiplication 7. alx ty) =ax-+ay (distributivity with respect to wetor addition) 8. (04d)x = ax + JX (distributivity with respect to number addition) The properties 1-8 are called the vector space axioms, Asioms Lf show that X isa commutative gronp or an Abelian group with respeet to vector addition. The second correspondence is called multiplication of the wetor Ly a number. and it satisfies axioms 5-8. Elements of a vector space are called wetors. IPK = R. then one speaks of a real vetor space. and if K = C. then of a complex wetor space. Instead of the notion “vector space” we shall use the abbreviative “space