Dual Space - Algebraic Dual Space

Algebraic Dual Space

Given any vector space V over a field F, the dual space V* is defined as the set of all linear maps φ: VF (linear functionals). The dual space V* itself becomes a vector space over F when equipped with the following addition and scalar multiplication:

\begin{align} & (\varphi + \psi)(x) = \varphi(x) + \psi(x) \\ & (a \varphi)(x) = a \left(\varphi(x)\right) \end{align}

for all φ, ψV*, xV, and aF. Elements of the algebraic dual space V* are sometimes called covectors or one-forms.

The pairing of a functional φ in the dual space V* and an element x of V is sometimes denoted by a bracket: φ(x) = or φ(x) = ⟨φ,x⟩. The pairing defines a nondegenerate bilinear mapping : V* × VF.

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