Intersection and Span

Question

Assume $S_{1}$ and $S_{2}$ are subsets of a vector space V. It has already been proved that span $(S1 \cap S2)$ $\subseteq$ span $(S_{1}) \cap$ span $(S_{2})$ There seem to be many cases where span $(S1 \cap S2)$ $=$ span $(S_{1}) \cap$ span $(S_{2})$ but not many where span $(S1 \cap S2)$ $\not=$ span $(S_{1}) \cap$ span $(S_{2})$.

Please help me find an example.

Thanks.

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 06 '12 at 18:35

7

HINT: Let $S_1=\{v\}$, where $v$ is a non-zero vector, and let $S_2=\{2v\}$.

answered Oct 06 '12 at 18:35

Brian M. Scott

616,228

thanks, was looking in the wrong places ... – mathnoob Oct 06 '12 at 18:55

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 06 '12 at 18:37

2

In $\mathbb{R}^2$, we have: $$ S_1 = \{(1, 0), (0, 1)\} \\ S_2 = \{(2, 0), (0, 2)\} $$

$S_1 \cap S_2 = \emptyset$ . Yet, both $S_1$ and $S_2$ span $\mathbb{R}^2$.

answered Oct 06 '12 at 18:37

Ayman Hourieh

39,603

Intersection and Span

2 Answers2