Find the $\ker T$ and deduce $\dim(W_1+W_2)=\dim W_1 +\dim W_2 -\dim(W_1∩W_2)$

linear algebravector-spaces

Suppose $W_1$, $W_2$ are subspaces of a finite dimensional vector space $V$. Show that the map
$T: W_1\times W_2 → V$ defined by $T(w_1, w_2) = w_1 + w_2$ is linear.

What is $\ker(T)$ and $\operatorname{Im}(T)$?

Use the first isomorphism theorem to deduce $\dim(W_1+W_2)=\dim W_1 +\dim W_2 -\dim(W_1∩W_2)$.

$\operatorname{Im}(T)= W_1+W_2$ I get that and kernel is $W_1+W_2=0$?
If kernel was $W_1 ∩ W_2$ then I could apply isomorphism theorem to conclude the result. But is the kernel $W_1∩ W_2$ ??

If not how to do it?

Best Answer

Note that $$\ker(T) = \{(w,-w) : w \in W_1 \cap W_2\} \cong W_1 \cap W_2$$ and then, by the rank-nullity theorem we have \begin{align} \dim(W_1) + (W_2) &= \dim(W_1 \times W_2) \\ &= \dim(\ker T) + \dim(\operatorname{im} T) \\ &= \dim(W_1 \cap W_2) + \dim(W_1 + W_2). \end{align}

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