# Mistake in proof about vector spaces

Hello this is my first post on here and I have a question about an error in a proof. My Linear Algebra professor was covering Linear Independence, Basis, and Dimension for Vector Spaces. We got to a proof from the textbook and he said the proof is wrong. He said to try and figure out what is wrong with it. I have been trying to figure out what is wrong and after thinking about it, talking with peers, and with my professor I have narrowed it down to a single sentence within the proof. I think that it is a wrong word choice. He said it is very subtle. I was hoping some of you can provide some insight.

THM 6.11: Let $W$ be a subspace of a finite-dimensional vector space $V$. Then:
(a) $W$ is finite-dimensional and $\dim W \le \dim V$.
(b) $\dim W = \dim V$ if and only if $W = V$.

He has a problem with the proof of part (a) which is as follows.

Proof (a) Let $\dim V = n$. If $W = \{\mathbf{0}\}$, then $\dim(W) = 0 \le n = \dim V$. If $W$ is nonzero, then any basis $\mathcal{B}$ for $V$ (containing $n$ vectors) certainly spans $W$, since $W$ is contained in $V$. But $\mathcal{B}$ can be reduced to a basis $\mathcal{B'}$ for $W$ (containing at most $n$ vectors), by Theorem 6.10(f). Hence, $W$ is finite-dimensional and $\dim W \le n = \dim V$.

Theorem 6.10(f) states: Let $V$ be a vector space with $\dim V = n$. Then: (f) Any spanning set for $V$ can be reduced to a basis for $V$.

My professor said that me and my peers were right about the error being in the sentence, "But $\mathcal{B}$ can be reduced to a basis $\mathcal{B'}$ for $W$ (containing at most $n$ vectors), by Theorem 6.10(f)." I believe that the error has something to do with with the word reduced. I asked him and he said that I was on the right track but he didn't give me a clear answer. What is wrong with this proof? More specifically the sentence above? Any help would be much appreciated. (Textbook: Linear Algebra: A Modern Introduction by David Poole 4th edition. The proof is found in section 6.2: page 456)

• Suggestion: it would be worth while improving your use of MathJax. I was going to edit your post but found there are lots of things which are not done well. For example instead of *W*$=$*V* it is much better to write $W=V$. – David May 2 '18 at 5:31
• I apologize this was my first time using Mathjax. I'll try to work on improving it! Thanks for the suggestion! – Glacier May 2 '18 at 14:11
• "But B can be reduced to a basis B′ for W (containting at most n vectors" I take it your professor isn't talking about this error? – Acccumulation May 2 '18 at 15:08

The error is the following. Theorem 6.10(f) says that if you have a set that spans $V$, you can remove elements ("reduce") until you get a basis. In the proof of 6.11, the elements in the basis of $V$ may not belong to $W$, so the argument does not apply.

For example, maybe $V=\mathbb R^3$, and you take the canonical basis $\{(1,0,0),(0,1,0),(0,0,1)\}$. Then if $W=\{(x,y,z): x=y=z\}$, none of the three elements in the basis belongs to $W$.

The usual argument is that a basis of $W$ will be linearly independent, and so it will also be linearly independent in $V$, and it follows that $\dim W\leq \dim V$.

• Yep, when you say it that way it is clear. +1 – Randall May 2 '18 at 2:43
• Oh, that makes sense! Thank you so much! – Glacier May 2 '18 at 2:45

The problem is with the word " reduced"

Let us look at an example.

Let W be the subspace of $\mathbb {R}^2$ spanned by $\{(1,1)\}.$

Let $B=\{(1,0),(0,1)\}$ be a basis for $\mathbb {R}^2$

Then $B$ spans $W$, but we can not reduce $B$ to a basis for $W$

• Thank you for giving me some more insight! – Glacier May 2 '18 at 3:04
• Thanks for your attention and understanding. – Mohammad Riazi-Kermani May 2 '18 at 3:17

Maybe there is a difference in use of terminology here but I would say that the problem is with the statement "$B$ spans $W$".

The way I have always seen the term used is as follows.

• We define ${\rm span}(B)=\{\hbox{linear combinations of vectors in$B$}\}$.
• Then "$B$ spans $W$" means that ${\rm span}(B)$ equals $W$.

In the proof you have quoted, they appear to be saying that "$B$ spans $W$" means that ${\rm span}(B)$ contains $W$.

So it is a question of using the precise meaning of terminology. BTW, I would not agree with your professor that it is a "very subtle" error, IMHO it is a blatant error :)

• It isn't a terminology issue. Even if we take the weird interpretation that "$B$ spans $W$" means "the linear span of $B$ contains $W$", there is still no reason why $B$ can be reduced to a basis of $W$. The author is simply wrong. – user1551 May 2 '18 at 10:56
• My professor didn't have a problem with that part of the proof. It was the sentence afterward that he had a problem with. Thank you for your help! – Glacier May 2 '18 at 14:16