Is it required to use choice principles to prove that any linearly independent set can be extended to a basis?

179 Views Asked by At

Let $V$ be a vector space. In order to show that any linearly independent set in $V$ can be extended to form a basis, or equivalently, any basis of a subspace of $V$ can be extended to a basis of $V$, is it required to use choice principles (i.e. Axiom of Choice or weaker forms of Choice). If so, what is the weakest choice principle that can prove this statement?

2

There are 2 best solutions below

0
On BEST ANSWER

Just the existence of a basis for every vector space is enough to conclude the axiom of choice, as one can extend the empty set (or any singleton, except $\{0\}$).

4
On

For the finite-dimensional case: If the linearly independent set is not a basis, there is a vector that it does not span i.e. that is linearly independent of it. Thus, we can increase the size of the linearly independent set by adding this vector to it. By induction, we can increase its size as long as it is not a basis. Since the vector space is finite-dimensional, this process must terminate in a basis.