Sum of Projections

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Theorem

Binary Case

Let $H$ be a Hilbert space.

Let $P, Q$ be projections.


Then $P + Q$ is a projection if and only if $\Rng P \perp \Rng Q$.


General Case

Let $H$ be a Hilbert space.

Let $\family {M_i}_{i \mathop \in I}$ be an $I$-indexed set of closed linear subspaces of $H$.

Let $M_i$ and $M_j$ be orthogonal whenever $i \ne j$.

Denote, for each $i \in I$, by $P_i$ the orthogonal projection onto $M_i$.

Denote by $P$ the orthogonal projection onto the closed linear span $\vee \set {M_i: i \in I}$ of the $M_i$.


Then for all $h \in H$:

$\ds \sum \set {P_i h: i \in I} = P h$

where $\ds \sum$ denotes a generalized sum.


Also see


Sources