To prove that \( T \) is a linear map if and only if the graph of \( T \) is a subspace of \( V \times W \), we need to show two things:
1. If \( T \) is a linear map, then its graph is a subspace of \( V \times W \).
2. If the graph of \( T \) is a subspace of \( V \times W \), then \( T \) is a linear map.
Let's start with the first part:
1. If \( T \) is a linear map, then its graph is a subspace of \( V \times W \).
To prove this, let's assume \( T \) is a linear map. We want to show that the graph of \( T \) is closed under addition and scalar multiplication, which are the defining properties of a subspace.
Let \( (v_1, Tv_1) \) and \( (v_2, Tv_2) \) be two arbitrary elements of the graph of \( T \). Since \( T \) is linear, we have:
\[
T(v_1 + v_2) = Tv_1 + Tv_2
\]
So, \( (v_1 + v_2, Tv_1 + Tv_2) \) is also in the graph of \( T \), meaning the graph is closed under addition.
Similarly, for any scalar \( \alpha \), we have:
\[
T(\alpha v_1) = \alpha Tv_1
\]
So, \( (\alpha v_1, \alpha Tv_1) \) is also in the graph of \( T \), showing closure under scalar multiplication.
Since the graph of \( T \) is closed under addition and scalar multiplication, it is indeed a subspace of \( V \times W \).
Now, let's prove the second part:
2. If the graph of \( T \) is a subspace of \( V \times W \), then \( T \) is a linear map.
To prove this, let's assume the graph of \( T \) is a subspace of \( V \times W \). We need to show that \( T \) satisfies the properties of linearity.
Let \( v_1, v_2 \) be arbitrary vectors in \( V \), and \( \alpha \) be an arbitrary scalar. We want to show that \( T(v_1 + v_2) = T(v_1) + T(v_2) \) and \( T(\alpha v_1) = \alpha T(v_1) \).
Since \( (v_1, Tv_1) \) and \( (v_2, Tv_2) \) are in the graph of \( T \), their sum \( (v_1 + v_2, Tv_1 + Tv_2) \) must also be in the graph, by closure under addition. Therefore,
\[
T(v_1 + v_2) = Tv_1 + Tv_2
\]
Similarly, for scalar multiplication, since \( (\alpha v_1, \alpha Tv_1) \) is in the graph of \( T \) (by closure under scalar multiplication), we have:
\[
T(\alpha v_1) = \alpha Tv_1
\]
Thus, \( T \) satisfies the properties of linearity.
Therefore, we have shown both directions of the proof, concluding that \( T \) is a linear map if and only if the graph of \( T \) is a subspace of \( V \times W \).