F^n is a vector space.

Created almost 9 years ago, updated 6 months ago

Theorem: For any field \(\mathbb{F}\), the set \(\mathbb{F}^n\) (all ordered \(n\)-tuples of elements from \(\mathbb{F}\)) is a vector space over \(\mathbb{F}\) with component-wise operations:

  • Addition: \((a_1, \ldots, a_n) + (b_1, \ldots, b_n) = (a_1+b_1, \ldots, a_n+b_n)\)
  • Scalar multiplication: \(c(a_1, \ldots, a_n) = (ca_1, \ldots, ca_n)\) for \(c \in \mathbb{F}\)

Verification: All ten axioms follow from the field axioms of \(\mathbb{F}\).

This generalizes \(\mathbb{R}^n\) and \(\mathbb{C}^n\) to any field, including finite fields like \(\mathbb{F}_p\) (integers modulo \(p\)) and the rational numbers \(\mathbb{Q}\).

Like how this is organised?

Build your own knowledge tree on knowen.md: notes, decisions and tasks in one connected markdown graph, shared with your team and your AI agents.