verifying an inner product?

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Consider the function defined by: $$\langle p,q\rangle=2a_1b_1+a_2b_2$$ where $$p(x)=a_1+a_2x$$ and $$q(x)= b_1+b_2x $$

a) Verify that $$\langle p,q\rangle$$ defines an inner product on $\mathbb R.$

well thats the question, which ive kinda like a revision for my final exam soon. but im having a trouble solving it. i know i've like few rules to verify in order to prove that $$\langle p,q\rangle$$ defines an inner product. ive already solved 1st one $$\langle p,q\rangle=\langle q,p\rangle$$ $$\langle p,q\rangle=2a_1b_1+a_2b_2$$ $$=a_2b_2+2a_1b_1$$ $$=\langle q,p\rangle$$ which prove 1st rule$$ \langle p,q\rangle=\langle q,p\rangle $$ Not sure if its true ..

but im having a problem in the 2nd one where i should prove $$\langle p,q+z\rangle =\langle p,q\rangle+\langle p,z\rangle$$ ( where i define z and it should look like ) $$z(x)=c_1+c_2x$$

I'm having a problem which is i dont know to which part of $\langle p,q\rangle$ i should add the $z$

and if 1st rule verification is wrong.. inform me please thank you for your time

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To verify that something is an "inner product" you have to show that it satisfies the definition of "inner product". And that is: 1) is linear in the first variable. That is, that = a+ b.

2) That is "symmetric" if the field is the real numbers: = or "conjugate symmetric" if the field is the complex numbers: = the complex conjugate of .

3) That is a positive real number for every v.

1) With $u= a_1+ b_1X$, $v= a_2+ b_2X$, and $w= a_3+ b_3X, $u+ v= (a_1+ a_2)+ (b_1+ b_2)X$ so that $= 2(a_1+ a_2)(b_1+ b_2)+ a_3b_3$. $= 2a_1b_1+ a_3b_3$ and $= 2a_2b_2+ a_3b_3$. $+ = 2a_1b_1+ 2a_2b_2+ 2a_3b_3$. NO, that is not the same as . This is NOT an inner product!

Are you sure you copied the problem correctly? With $u= a_1+ b_1X$ and $v= a_2+ b_2X$, $<u, v>= 2a_1a_2+ b_1b_2$ would make more sense.