Past exam of the algebra and analysis I for mathematics and philosophy course of the University of Oxford / 2013 / Algebra / 2 / b / Solution

First suppose $E=E^{\ast }$. For $u\in U=\mathrm{im}E$, choose $v$ with $Ev=u$. For $w\in W=\ker E$,Thus $U\subseteq W^{\perp }$. The direct sum of vector spaces gives $\dim U=\dim V-\dim W$, while the orthogonal complement has $\dim W^{\perp }=\dim V-\dim W$. Equal finite dimensions imply $U=W^{\perp }$.

Conversely, suppose $U=W^{\perp }$. Decompose arbitrary vectors as $v=u+w$ and $v^{\prime }=u^{\prime }+w^{\prime }$, with $u,u^{\prime }\in U$ and $w,w^{\prime }\in W$. Since $E$ is the indicated projection, $Ev=u$ and $E{v}^{\prime }=u^{\prime }$. Orthogonality makes the cross terms vanish, soTherefore $E$ satisfies the defining identity of its own adjoint operator. By uniqueness from part (a), $E=E^{\ast }$. HenceThis is the characterization of an orthogonal projection among projections along a complementary subspace.