Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 ia Paper 1 8D Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 ib Paper 3 7F c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-24
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2013 ib Paper 1 9E Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-07
The external direct sum of vector spaces consists of pairs with componentwise operations. For subspaces of one ambient space, the sum of vector subspaces is . The addition map from the external direct sum onto this subspace is surjective, with kernel . This kernel is isomorphic to the intersection. The rank-nullity theorem, together with , proves the dimension formula for a sum of subspaces.
For the supplied bases, solving for annihilating linear forms givesEach basis has rank three, so these hyperplanes are the whole subspaces. The two independent equations make the intersection two-dimensional. Imposing the requested zero components yieldsBoth satisfy the two equations and are independent, since their first components differ while . Hence they form the required basis.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ib Paper 2 1F Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Let . Choose a basis of the intersection of vector subspaces, extend it to a basis of , and independently extend it to a basis of . The combined listspans the sum of vector subspaces . It is also linearly independent: a vanishing linear combination says that a combination of the belongs to , and its expression in the chosen basis of forces all its coefficients to vanish; the coefficients of the then vanish in the same way. This proves the dimension formula for a sum of subspaces
Parametrize the two linear subspaces asPutting a vector of in first forces its fourth coordinate to vanish; the remaining defining equation is then automatic. Thusand the dimension formula gives .
The linear functionalvanishes on each displayed generator of and . Its kernel is three-dimensional because , so the inclusion between two three-dimensional subspaces is equality.