Low-dimensional examples Edit
One dimension Edit
A one-dimensional complex affine space, or complex affine line, is a torsor for a one-dimensional linear space over {displaystyle mathbb {C} } mathbb {C} . The simplest example is the Argand plane of complex numbers {displaystyle mathbb {C} } mathbb {C} itself. This has a canonical linear structure, and so "forgetting" the origin gives it a canonical affine structure.
For another example, suppose that X is a two-dimensional vector space over the complex numbers. Let {displaystyle alpha :mathbf {X} o mathbb {C} } alpha:mathbf X omathbb C be a linear functional. It is well-known that the set of solutions of α(x) = 0, the kernel of α, is a one-dimensional linear subspace (that is, a complex line through the origin of X). But if c is some non-zero complex number, then the set A of solutions of α(x) = c is an affine line in X, but it is not a linear subspace because it is not closed under arbitrary linear combination. The difference space V is the kernel of α, because the difference of two solutions of the inhomogeneous equation α(x) = c lies in the kernel.
An analogous construction applies to the solution of first order linear ordinary differential equations. The solutions of the homogeneous differential equation
{displaystyle y'(x)+mu (x)y(x)=0} y'(x) + mu(x)y(x) = 0
is a one-dimensional linear space, whereas the set of solutions of the inhomogeneous problem
{displaystyle y'(x)+mu (x)y(x)=f(x)} y'(x) + mu(x)y(x) = f(x)
is a one-dimensional affine space A. The general solution is equal to a particular solution of the equation, plus a solution of the homogeneous equation. The space of solutions of the homogeneous equation is the difference space V.
Consider once more the general the case of a two-dimensional vector space X equipped with a linear form α. An affine space A(c) is given by the solution α(x) = c. Observe that, for two difference non-zero values of c, say c1 and c2, the affine spaces A(c1) and A(c2) are naturally isomorphic: scaling by c2/c1 maps A(c1) to A(c2). So there is really only one affine space worth considering in this situation, call it A, whose points are the lines through the origin of X that do not lie on the kernel of α.
Algebraically, the complex affine space A just described is the space of splittings of the exact sequence
{displaystyle 0 o ker alpha {xrightarrow {subseteq }}X{xrightarrow {alpha }}mathbb {C} o 0.} 0 okeralphaxrightarrow{subseteq}Xxrightarrow{alpha}mathbb C o 0.