My linear algebra book (Linear Algebra Done Right by Sheldon Axler) has the following problem as exercise 1.6:
Give an example of a nonempty subset $U$ of $\mathbb{R}^2$ such that $U$ is closed under addition and under taking additive inverses (meaning $-u \in U$ whenever $u \in U$), but $U$ is not a subspace of $\mathbb{R}^2$.
It seems to me that such a set cannot exist, since the only subspace condition it's not mandated to fulfill is containing $0$, and for any $u \in U$, I can negate it to get $-u$ and then get $u + (-u) = 0$.
What is going on?
Best Answer
Hint: Consider all ordered pairs $(a,b)$ where $a$ and $b$ are integers. Or, a little simpler, all ordered pairs $(a,0)$ where $a$ ranges over the integers.