Understanding Scalar Multiplication: The Negation of a Vector (Math Explanation)

Determine whether the statement is True or False. Justify your answer:If u is a vector in a vector space​ V, then ​(−​1)u is the same as the negative of u.

The statement is true

The statement is true.

To justify this, let’s recall the definition of scalar multiplication in a vector space. In a vector space, scalar multiplication involves multiplying a vector by a scalar (which is a number).

The negative of a vector, denoted as -u, is obtained by multiplying the vector u by -1. This means that (-1)u is indeed the negative of u.

To understand why this is the case, let’s consider an example. Suppose we have a vector u = (2, 4). If we multiply this vector u by -1, we get (-1)u = (-1)(2, 4) = (-2, -4). We can clearly see that (-2, -4) is the negative of the original vector (2, 4).

This holds true for any vector u in a vector space V. Therefore, the statement is true.

More Answers:

Determining Subspaces: Set of Polynomials with Positive Coefficients of Degree 8 or Less
Determining if a Set of Polynomials is a Subspace of ℙn by Checking Three Criteria
Understanding Vector Spaces: Defining Vectors and Their Properties

Error 403 The request cannot be completed because you have exceeded your quota. : quotaExceeded

Share:

Recent Posts

Mathematics in Cancer Treatment

How Mathematics is Transforming Cancer Treatment Mathematics plays an increasingly vital role in the fight against cancer mesothelioma. From optimizing drug delivery systems to personalizing

Read More »