# Understanding Extension of Scalars in a Vector Space


Also, a linear transformation $T:V\to V$ induces a linear map $\bar T:W\to W$ as $\bar T(u, v)= (Tu,Tv)$ for all $u, v\in V$. From here, interesting information about $T$ can obtained. For example, $\bar T$ has an eigenvalue. So there is $(0, 0)\neq (u, v)\in W$ such that $$\bar T(u, v)=(\lambda +i\mu)(u, v)=(Tu, Tv)$$ which gives, $Tu=\lambda u-\mu v$ and $Tv=\lambda v+\mu u$. So there are vectors $u$ and $v$ in $V$, not both zero, such that the above equations hold. This wasn't obvious (to me) without making the above construction.

I want to see how the above relates with the standard notion of extension of scalars.

The wikipedia article on complexification talks about defining the tensor product $V\otimes_{\R} \C$ as giving it a complex vector space structure by defining $\alpha(v\otimes \beta)=v\otimes(\alpha\beta)$ for $\alpha, \beta\in \C$ and $v\in V$.

I can feebly see how the "low-tech" process described earlier is same as the tensorial construction. The vector $(u, v)\in W$ corresponds to $u\otimes 1+v\otimes i$, and for $T:V\to V$ we get $\bar T(v\otimes \alpha)=(Tv)\alpha$.

Admittedly, this transition is not obvious to me.

Can somebody please throw some light on how the two approaches are really the same? (Assuming they actually are same).

Thanks.