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$M_2$ is the vector space of all $2\times 2$ matrices with real entries. For what real number r is the set $$\left.\left\{\begin{pmatrix}a & b \\ c & d\end{pmatrix}\right|a+b+c+d=r\right\}$$ a subspace of $M_2$?

  • 4
    What is one vector that every subspace must contain?2012-10-21
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    You mean 0 vector?2012-10-21
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    Yes. You should be able to do the question now.2012-10-21
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    Peng, now that you can answer the question, you should post an answer. Later, you can accept it.2012-10-21

1 Answers 1

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  1. A quick solution:

    Every subspace must contain zero vector, which means $\left\{\begin{pmatrix}0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0\end{pmatrix}|0+0+0+0=r\right\}$ is in the subspace of $M_{2}$. Hence, $r$=0.

  2. Alternative solution:

    We can use the definition of subspace to find $r$ : closed under addition and scalar multiplication.