# How do you find a non zero vector in Linear Algebra?

The question is; The vectors $$a_1 = (1, 1, 0)$$ and $$a_2 = (1, 1, 1)$$ span a plane in $$\Bbb R^3$$. Find the projection matrix P onto the plane, and find a nonzero vector $$b$$ that is projected to zero.

I found the matrix $$P$$ as shown below, but I can't figure out how to find a nonzero vector $$b$$, I found only the zero vector, help me out?

• Taking the cross product of $a_1$ and $a_2$ is the easiest way to find such a vector, but another way would be to calculate the null space of the matrix. – user137731 Jul 14 '14 at 0:40
• i guess null space is quicker. thanks – user124627 Jul 14 '14 at 1:57
• I didn't calculate it, but I would have assumed that the cross product was quicker. The only reason I suggested you could calculate the null space, instead, was that it works in any dimension, while the cross product only works in $\Bbb R^3$ -- so if you later have a similar question about projections onto some subspace of say $\Bbb R^4$ then you'll already know how to answer it. – user137731 Jul 14 '14 at 2:08

We observe the vectors $(1,1,0)$ and $(1,1,1)$ have the same first two components. So $$(a,-a,0) \cdot (1,1,0)=0$$ and $$(a,-a,0) \cdot (1,1,1)=0$$ for any $a \in \mathbb{R}$.
• Just a suggestion, but you might consider editing in that you figured out that $(a,-a,0)$ would be the space of orthogonal vectors because the two vectors having the same 1st two components means that their projections onto the $xy$-plane are on the same line and thus that a vector in that plane orthogonal to that line will be orthogonal to both vectors (or use your own words to make it more intelligible), or else I doubt the OP will be able to see where you got $(a,-a,0)$ from and won't be able to apply this technique elsewhere. – user137731 Jul 14 '14 at 2:29