Inner Product Spaces: Testing on C3

In summary, the conversation discusses the procedure for determining if a given expression defines an inner product on a complex space. The participants also inquire about finding a basis for Wperp given that W is a subspace of V. The conversation touches on using gram-schmidt on an indeterminate number of vectors and the properties of an inner product.
  • #1
Hallingrad
29
0
Hey guys,

In one of the questions for our assignment we have to decide whether <v,w> = v[tex]^{}T[/tex]Aw (with a conjugate bar over w) defines an inner product on C3. We are given three 3x3 marices to test this. What is the procedure for doing this? Do we just give w and v values such as a1, a2, a3... an, or do we give them real values? If the former, how do we take into account that we are using the conjugate on w's terms?

Also, how does one find a basis for Wperp given that W is a subspace of V spanned by {1, cosx, cos2x,... cosnx}? Do we do gram schmidt on a few of the terms, or just cosnx? Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Hallingrad said:
Hey guys,

In one of the questions for our assignment we have to decide whether <v,w> = v[tex]^{}T[/tex]Aw (with a conjugate bar over w) defines an inner product on C3. We are given three 3x3 marices to test this. What is the procedure for doing this? Do we just give w and v values such as a1, a2, a3... an, or do we give them real values? If the former, how do we take into account that we are using the conjugate on w's terms?
start with the defintion of an inner product on a complex space, what must it sastify?

the requirement for the conjugate should become apparent

Hallingrad said:
Also, how does one find a basis for Wperp given that W is a subspace of V spanned by {1, cosx, cos2x,... cosnx}? Do we do gram schmidt on a few of the terms, or just cosnx? Thanks.

the components of Wperp are, by definition, orthogonal to every element of W, so orthogonal to every basis vector of W
 
  • #3
lanedance said:
start with the defintion of an inner product on a complex space, what must it sastify?

the requirement for the conjugate should become apparent

the components of Wperp are, by definition, orthogonal to every element of W, so orthogonal to every basis vector of W

Yeah I know the properties of an inner product. I just don't know what procedure I should use when actually given a matrix with values that multiply two vectors v and w that have unknown values.

But how can I use gram-shmidt on an indeterminate number of vectors (i.e. 1 to n)?
 
  • #4
Hallingrad said:
Yeah I know the properties of an inner product. I just don't know what procedure I should use when actually given a matrix with values that multiply two vectors v and w that have unknown values.
as its a property of the inner product it needs to be true for every v,w

don't assume anything for the vectors, start with applying it for arbitrary v & w then try and re-arrange things to show RHS = LHS for any v or w

pick a property and i'll help if you want

Hallingrad said:
But how can I use gram-shmidt on an indeterminate number of vectors (i.e. 1 to n)?

whats is V in this question?
gram-schimdt is a process for finding an orthogonal set of vectors from a set of linearly independent vectors - are you given a set of linearly independent vectors spanning V?
 

FAQ: Inner Product Spaces: Testing on C3

What is an inner product space?

An inner product space is a mathematical concept that involves a vector space and an operation called an inner product, which takes two vectors as inputs and produces a scalar as output. This scalar represents the angle between the two vectors and can also be used to measure the length of a vector.

How is an inner product space tested on C3?

An inner product space can be tested on C3 by using various properties, such as linearity, positive definiteness, and symmetry, to check if the inner product operation follows the necessary rules. Additionally, specific examples can be used to test the inner product operation on C3.

What is the importance of inner product spaces in science?

Inner product spaces have many important applications in science, particularly in fields such as physics, engineering, and computer science. They provide a way to measure and analyze vectors in a mathematical way, which can help in understanding physical phenomena and solving real-world problems.

Can inner product spaces only be tested on C3?

No, inner product spaces can be tested on any vector space that has an inner product operation defined on it. C3 is a commonly used example because it is a three-dimensional vector space, which is easy to visualize and work with.

What are some real-world examples of inner product spaces?

Some real-world examples of inner product spaces include the space of continuous functions, the space of square-integrable functions, and the space of polynomials with a bounded degree. These spaces are often used in applications such as signal processing, image compression, and data analysis.

Similar threads

Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
8
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Back
Top