Claims About Vector Decomposition

7/10LogicLinear Algebravectors

Problem

Let a\vec a be a given nonzero plane vector. Consider the following claims about decomposing a\vec a (in each, the vectors b,c,a\vec b,\vec c,\vec a lie in one plane and are pairwise non-parallel).

1. Given a vector b\vec b, there always exists a vector c\vec c with a=b+c\vec a=\vec b+\vec c. 2. Given vectors b\vec b and c\vec c, there always exist reals λ,μ\lambda,\mu with a=λb+μc\vec a=\lambda\vec b+\mu\vec c. 3. Given a unit vector b\vec b and a positive number μ\mu, there always exist a unit vector c\vec c and a real λ\lambda with a=λb+μc\vec a=\lambda\vec b+\mu\vec c. 4. Given positive numbers λ\lambda and μ\mu, there always exist unit vectors b\vec b and c\vec c with a=λb+μc\vec a=\lambda\vec b+\mu\vec c.

Determine, with proof, how many of these claims are true.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
TopicsLogic, Linear Algebra, vectors

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