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Exercise 1023Linear algebra › Inner product spacesL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Orthogonal complement

#orthogonal complement#dimension#direct sum

Statement

Let F=span⁡((1,1,0),(0,1,1))F=\operatorname{span}((1,1,0),(0,1,1)) in R3\mathbb{R}^3. Compute F⊥F^\perp and verify R3=F⊕F⊥\mathbb{R}^3=F\oplus F^\perp.

Hint

F⊥F^\perp is the set of vectors orthogonal to the generators.

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Solution

Equations. v=(x,y,z)∈F⊥v=(x,y,z)\in F^\perp iff:
v⋅(1,1,0)=x+y=0,v⋅(0,1,1)=y+z=0.v\cdot(1,1,0)=x+y=0,\qquad v\cdot(0,1,1)=y+z=0.
So y=−xy=-x and z=xz=x, giving v=x(1,−1,1)v=x(1,-1,1).

Conclusion. F⊥=span⁡((1,−1,1))F^\perp=\operatorname{span}((1,-1,1)), dimension 11.

Direct sum. dim⁡F=2\dim F=2, dim⁡F⊥=1\dim F^\perp=1, and 2+1=3=dim⁡R32+1=3=\dim\mathbb{R}^3. Also F∩F⊥={0}F\cap F^\perp=\{0\} (a vector in both would be orthogonal to itself, hence zero). So R3=F⊕F⊥\mathbb{R}^3=F\oplus F^\perp.