 Solution

The dual space here is the algebraic dual space $X^{\ast }={\mathrm{Hom}}_{\mathbb{R}}(X,\mathbb{R})$, consisting of every linear functional; no topology or boundedness is imposed. For a basis $e_1,\dots ,e_n$, define $e_i^{\ast }({\sum }_j{x}_j{e}_j)=x_i$. These are linear functionals satisfying $e_i^{\ast }(e_j)={\delta }_{ij}$. Evaluating ${\sum }_i{a}_i{e}_i^{\ast }=0$ on each $e_j$ gives $a_j=0$, proving linear independence. Conversely, for every $T\in X^{\ast }$,This proves spanning and hence proves, without assuming a dimension theorem, that the dual basis is a basis and $\dim X^{\ast }=n$.

The canonical bidual evaluation map isIts definition makes no choice of basis and it is linear. If $x\ne 0$, one coordinate functional is nonzero on $x$, so $J$ is injective. For any $B\in X^{\ast \ast }$, choose $x={\sum }_{i}B(e_i^{\ast })e_i$. Expanding $T$ in the dual basis gives $T(x)={\sum }_{i}T(e_i)B(e_i^{\ast })=B(T)$, proving surjection explicitly. Thus $J$ is an isomorphism.

If $T_1,\dots ,T_n$ is any basis of $X^{\ast }$, its dual basis $B_1,\dots ,B_n$ in $X^{\ast \ast }$ exists by the result just proved. Put $v_j=J^{-1}(B_j)$. These vectors form a basis of $X$, and $T_i(v_j)=B_j(T_i)={\delta }_{ij}$. Every basis of the finite-dimensional dual is a dual basis, of a uniquely determined basis of $X$.

For a separating subspace of an algebraic dual $W$, choose a basis $T_1,\dots ,T_r$ of $W$. The linear map $x\mapsto (T_1(x),\dots ,T_r(x))$ is injective because $W$ separates nonzero vectors. The rank-nullity theorem implies $n\le r$; but $W\subseteq X^{\ast }$ implies $r\le n$. HenceThe zero-dimensional case also has this conclusion.

For $X=\mathbb{R}[x]$, the monomials $1,x,x^2,\dots$ form an infinite basis, each polynomial using only finitely many of them. The map $T\mapsto (T(1),T(x),T(x^2),\dots )$ identifies $X^{\ast }$ with all real sequences, because any sequence $(a_j)$ defines $T({\sum }_{j=0}^d{c}_j{x}^j)={\sum }_{j=0}^d{c}_j{a}_j$. The linear subspace of finitely supported sequences is proper (it excludes $(1,1,\dots )$) and separating (one coefficient functional detects any nonzero polynomial). Thus