Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2013/iii/paper-7/1/solution

A separated dual pair consists of real vector spaces and a bilinear form that separates both variables: each nonzero pairs nontrivially with some , and conversely. Thus embeds in the algebraic dual of , and embeds in the algebraic dual of .
The weak topology is the coarsest topology making all maps , , continuous. It makes a Hausdorff locally convex space, with topology generated by the seminorms . A neighbourhood base at zero consists of finite intersections
Separation ensures that the common zero set of all these seminorms is just zero, giving Hausdorffness.
We determine the continuous dual of a weak topology. Suppose a linear functional is continuous. A basic neighbourhood as above is contained in . If is in the common kernel of the finitely many evaluations, every scalar multiple of lies in that neighbourhood, so . Hence factors through the image of
Extend the resulting linear functional on to . It has the form , giving . Conversely every such evaluation is continuous by the definition of the weak topology. Since the pairing separates , this identification is injective, and
For the remaining parts every topological assertion about or its subsets uses the stipulated weak-star topology .

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