Orthogonal Complement and Subspace

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  • If the vectors $a_1,...,a_k$ generate the subspace $V$ of $\mathbb{R}^n$, and $x\in\mathbb{R}^n$ is orthogonal to each of these vectors, show that $x\in V^\perp$.

My attempt: Let $y\in V$. Then, we can write

$$y=\beta_1 a_1+...+\beta_k a_k$$

for some $\beta_1,...,\beta_k\in\mathbb{R}$.

Since $x\in\mathbb{R}^n$ is orthogonal to each of these vectors, then

$$x . y=o$$

I couldn't continue, can you help?

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Let $y=\beta_1a_1+\cdots+\beta_ka_k$. Then $$\langle y,x\rangle=\langle \beta_1a_1+\cdots+\beta_ka_k,x\rangle=\beta_1\langle a_1,x\rangle+\cdots+\beta_k\langle a_k,x\rangle=\beta_10+\cdots+\beta_k0=0$$ Where I used homogenity and additivity in first slot for the middle equality.