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Exercise 1898Linear algebra › Vector spaces and subspacesL1Added 3 Nov 2026

Existence of a supplementary subspace

#supplementary subspace#basis extension#existence

Statement

Let FF be a subspace of a finite-dimensional vector space EE. Show that there exists a subspace GG of EE such that E=F⊕GE=F\oplus G.

Hint

Take a basis of FF, extend it to a basis of EE, and let GG be the span of the added vectors.

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Solution

Basis extension. Let (e1,…,ek)(e_1,\ldots,e_k) be a basis of FF. By the incomplete basis theorem, it extends to a basis (e1,…,ek,ek+1,…,en)(e_1,\ldots,e_k,e_{k+1},\ldots,e_n) of EE.

Define GG. Let G=span⁡(ek+1,…,en)G=\operatorname{span}(e_{k+1},\ldots,e_n).

Direct sum. Any v∈Ev\in E is a combination of the full basis, hence v=vF+vGv=v_F+v_G with vF∈Fv_F\in F and vG∈Gv_G\in G. If v∈F∩Gv\in F\cap G, then vv is a combination of the eie_i for i≤ki\le k and of the eje_j for j>kj>k; by uniqueness of coordinates in the basis, all coefficients are zero, so v=0v=0.

Conclusion. E=F⊕GE=F\oplus G. Any subspace has at least one supplementary subspace.