Question 356729:  What is a subspace ?  How do you prove that it is a subspace ?
 
I know that it is a straight line or plane that passes through the origin. 
But the proof of a subspace of 3 rules seems too basic. 
It almost allows all vectors to be subspaces.   I have not seen a vector that is not a subspace yet.
 
the rules are something like    multiply by 0 
                                addition of u and v scalars 
                                multiplication by scalars.
 
My assignment question reads 
W is the space of all vectors of the form (x, y, x-y)  Find out if W is a subspace.  JUstify your answer.
 
I need the answer put in basic english,   with as much detail as possible.  The question somehow is worth 10% of assignment,  and to me it seems to basic.   I just have problem with the wording. 
Can anyone help with expressing this answer in clear English.
 
Thank You 
 Answer by robertb(5830)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! Assuming addition of vectors and scalar multiplication in  , two conditions had to be met for a subset to be a subspace: 
i)  If u and v are vectors in W, then u + v is in W, and 
ii) If u is in W, and c is a a scalar, then c*u is in W. 
For the question above,  
i) (x, y, x-y)+(z, w, z-w) = (x+z, y+w, x-y+z-w) = (x+z, y+w, (x+z)-(y+w)), 
ii)c*(x, y, x-y) = (cx, cy, c(x-y)) = (cx, cy, cx-cy). 
Therefore W is a subspace of  . 
  | 
 
  
 
 |   
 
 |