ABSTRACT
The key player in Chapter 1 was the F-vector space V, together with its associated notion of bases, when they exist, and linear operators taking one vector to another. The idea of basis is, of course, quite central to the applications because it permits a vector v in V to be represented by a list of scalars from F. Such lists of scalars are the quantities with which one computes. No doubt the idea of an F-vector space V is the most common and widely encountered notion in applied linear algebra. It is typically visualized, on the one hand, by long lists of axioms, most of which seem quite reasonable, but none of which is particularly exciting, and on the other hand by images of classical addition of force vectors, velocity vectors, and so forth. The notion seems to do no harm, and helps one to keep his or her assumptions straight. As such it is accepted by most engineers as a plausible background for their work, even if the ideas of matrix algebra are more immediately useful. Perhaps some of the least appreciated but most crucial of the vector space axioms are the four governing the scalar multiplication of vectors. These link the abelian group of vectors to the field of scalars. Along with the familiar distributive covenants, these four agreements intertwine the vectors with the scalars in much the same way that the marriage vows bring about the union of man and woman. This section brings forth a new addition to the marriage.
