Is the empty set a vector space?
I think the empty set satisfies all of the axioms of a vector space except the one about the existence of an additive identity. Is this right?
$\endgroup$ 22 Answers
$\begingroup$The empty set is empty (no elements), hence it fails to have the zero vector as an element.
Since it fails to contain zero vector, it cannot be a vector space.
$\endgroup$ 0 $\begingroup$No! If $(E,+,\cdot)$ is a vector space then $(E,+)$ is an abelian group so it contains a neutral element which is the zero vector hence $E\ne\varnothing$.
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