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Question: Let $S =$ { $(a,b) \in \mathbb{R}^{2}$ | $(a,b)$ has the form $(1, x)$ }.

Redefine addition and scalar multiplication operations as follows:

(1, y) + (1, y') = (1, y + y')

$k(1, y) = (1, ky)$

Can I now say that because $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ is a vector space and $S \subset \mathbb{R}^{2}$, that if additive & scalar multiplicative closures are shown to hold, then $S$ is a vector space?

Or do I first have to show that $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ is still a vector space with the newly defined operations?

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    Although I suppose a proof of additive and scalar multiplicative closures for $S$ with the newly defined operations would be the exact same as a proof for $\mathbb{R}^{2}, so perhaps the second question is redundant...2011-06-07

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The operations you've defined do make $S$ into a vector space, but it is not a subspace of $\mathbb{R}^2$. A subspace of a vector space $V$ is a subset $W\subseteq V$ that's a vector space under the same operations as $V$. So, you need to show all of the axioms for a vector space hold for $S$.

Also, I don't know what you mean by "$\mathbb{R}^2$ is still a vector space with the newly defined operations"; how do you intend to extend the definitions $(1, y) + (1, y^\prime) = (1, y + y^\prime)$ and $k(1, y) = (1, ky)$ to all of $\mathbb{R}^2$, in a way that makes $\mathbb{R}^2$ a vector space?

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    @Rob: I'm glad to have helped! It's certainly easy to forget to check those kinds of things.2011-06-07