subspace A:
To prove that p is an orthogonal projector onto a subspace A, we must show that p is a linear transformation that satisfies the following properties:
1. p² = p (p is idempotent)
2. p is self-adjoint (p* = p)
3. Im(p) = A (the image of p is equal to A)
4. Ker(p) = A⊥ (the kernel of p is equal to the orthogonal complement of A)
First, we will show that p is idempotent:
Let v be an arbitrary vector in the vector space V. Then, since p is a linear transformation, we have:
p²(v) = p(p(v))
Now, since Im(p) = A, we know that p(v) is in A for any vector v in V. Therefore, p(p(v)) is also in A. Now, since p is an orthogonal projector, we know that p(p(v)) = p(v). Therefore:
p²(v) = p(p(v)) = p(v)
Thus, p is idempotent.
Next, we will show that p is self-adjoint:
Let v, w be arbitrary vectors in the vector space V. Then, since p is a linear transformation, we have:
⟨p(v), w⟩ = ⟨v, p*(w)⟩
Now, since p is an orthogonal projector, we know that Im(p) = A. Therefore, p*(w) is in A for any vector w in V. Therefore, ⟨v, p*(w)⟩ is the projection of v onto A. But since p is also an orthogonal projector, we know that p(v) is also the projection of v onto A. Therefore:
⟨p(v), w⟩ = ⟨v, p(v)⟩ = ⟨p*(v), w⟩
Thus, p is self-adjoint.
Next, we will show that Im(p) = A:
Since p is an orthogonal projector, we know that Im(p) is a subspace of V. Therefore, we need to show that Im(p) is contained in A, and that A is contained in Im(p).
First, suppose that v is in Im(p). Then, by definition, there exists a vector w in V such that p(w) = v. Now, since p is an orthogonal projector, we know that p(w) is the projection of w onto A. Therefore, v is in A.
Next, suppose that v is in A. Then, we need to find a vector w in V such that p(w) = v. We can take w to be the orthogonal projection of v onto A. Then, by definition of an orthogonal projection, we know that w is in A and that v - w is in A⊥. Therefore, p(v - w) = 0. Now, let z = w + (v - w). Then:
p(z) = p(w) + p(v - w) = w + 0 = w
Therefore, p(z) = v, and so v is in Im(p). Thus, we have shown that Im(p) = A.
Finally, we will show that Ker(p) = A⊥:
Let v be in Ker(p). Then, by definition, we have p(v) = 0. Now, since Im(p) = A, we know that 0 is in Im(p). Therefore, there exists a vector w in V such that p(w) = 0. Then:
0 = p(w) = p(w + v)
Therefore, w + v is in Ker(p). But since w is in Im(p)⊥ and v is in Ker(p), we know that w + v is in (Im(p)⊥) + Ker(p) = V. Therefore, w + v is in A⊥. Thus, we have shown that Ker(p) is contained in A⊥.
Next, let v be in A⊥. Then, v is orthogonal to every vector in A. In particular, v is orthogonal to p(v) for any vector v in V. Therefore, p(v) = 0. Thus, v is in Ker(p). Thus, we have shown that A⊥ is contained in Ker(p).
Putting these two results together, we have shown that Ker(p) = A⊥.
We have now shown that p is an orthogonal projector onto the subspace A, since it satisfies all four properties. |