Math for Non-Geeks/Field as a vector space

oben Let be a field. We now consider as a vector space over itself. Introduction From school, we already know the vector space over the field . The vectors in have the form with . We can consider the vectors in a 3-dimensional coordinate system. Since is a vector space, we can add and scale vectors. We also know the vector space . The vectors in have the form with . We can get from by deleting one of the coordinates (e.g., the last one). Illustratively, we then go from the 3-dimensional coordinate system to the plane. So when omitting a coordinate from , the vector space structure is conserved. What happens if we delete another coordinate? For example, if we omit the second coordinate of , only remains, and we get an element in . Illustratively, we thus go from the plane to the axis. Again, when deleting a coordinate, the vector space structure should not be broken. We can add and scale the elements in (just like vectors), because for all we have and for all and it holds that . Now our field should be an -vector space. Visually, this vector space is the number line. We can apply this idea to an arbitrary field , since also in an arbitrary we can add elements and multiply them by scalars in . Therefore, we conjecture that is a -vector space. Definition of the vector space structure Let be a field. Then we can define an addition and a scalar multiplication. Vector space structure on We define an addition on by Similarly, we define a scalar multiplication via The field is a vector space over itself is a vector space is a -vector space . We proceed as in the article Proofs for vector spaces. So now we have to establish the eight Vector space axioms. Associativity of addition Let . Then: This shows the associativity of the addition. Commutativity of addition Let . Then: This shows the commutativity of the addition. Neutral element of addition We now have to show that there is a neutral element with respect to , that is, for all . It is natural to use the zero element of the field as the neutral element. Let . Then: Thus, we have shown that is the neutral element of the addition. In the following we will therefore simply write for the neutral element. Inverse with respect to addition Let . We have to show that there is a such that . It is natural to choose as the inverse in with respect to , i.e., we choose Then: Thus, we have shown that for any there is a with . Scalar distributive law Let and . Then: Thus, the scalar distributive law is shown. Vectorial distributive law Let and . Then: Thus, the vectorial distributive law is shown. Associativity of multiplication Let and . Then: This shows the associative law for multiplication. Unitary law Let . Then: Thus, we have shown the unitary law. With this we have established all eight vector space axioms and thus is a vector space. unten