[Math] How to Prove the Dimension of the Annihilator

linear algebravector-spaces

I have the same question as posted here . However I don't understand the proof given.

The question is, for a Vector Space $V$ with a subspace $U$, prove that: $\text{dim} U + \text{dim}U^{0}=\text{dim}V$. Where $U^{0}$ is the annihilator of U.

The proof as given was:

Assuming you are dealing with finite dimensional spaces, you can just use a dual basis argument: Suppose $\{v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_m\}$ is a basis for $U$, which can be extended to a basis $\{v_1, v_2, \ldots, v_m, v_{m+1}, \ldots, v_n\}$ for $V$.

Let $\{\varphi_1, \varphi_2, \ldots, \varphi_n\}$ be a dual basis for $V^{\ast}$, then
$$
\{\varphi_{m+1}, \varphi_{m+2}, \ldots, \varphi_n\} \subset U^{\circ}
$$
Now check that this set forms a basis for $U^{\circ}$.

I understand that: $\{\varphi_1, \varphi_2, \ldots, \varphi_n\}$ can be assigned as a dual basis for $V^{\ast}$, however I don't understand why that implies that $
\{\varphi_{m+1}, \varphi_{m+2}, \ldots, \varphi_n\} \subset U^{\circ}$. If you could expand on that, I would be very grateful. Thanks.

Best Answer

We have

$$\varphi_k(v_j) = \begin{cases} 1 & \text{if } k = j\\ 0 & \text{if } k \ne j\text{} \end{cases}$$

So every element of $\{\varphi_{m+1}, \dots, \varphi_{n}\}$ is zero on each basis element of $U$, hence $\{\varphi_{m+1} , \dots,\varphi_n \} \subseteq U^\circ$.

Related Question