[Math] An orthogonal projection matrix in $ \Bbb{R}^{3} $.

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Consider the vector space $\mathbb{R^3}$ with usual inner product. Find the orthogonal projection matrix on the xy plane.

I've found sometimes the orthogonal projection of a vector in a given subspace, but in this case I do not know how to proceed.

Best Answer

The first two vectors $e_x$ and $e_y$ are invariant under the projection, and the last one is mapped to 0.

Hence the columns of the matrix are, in order;

$$ \begin{pmatrix} 1\\ 0 \\0 \end{pmatrix} ; \begin{pmatrix} 0\\ 1 \\0 \end{pmatrix} ; \begin{pmatrix} 0\\ 0 \\0 \end{pmatrix} $$

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