Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/ii/paper-1/22h/d/solution

Assume for contradiction that is infinite-dimensional. Starting with , apply Riesz lemma recursively to the proper closed finite-dimensional subspaces
to choose unit vectors satisfying
For , the vector belongs to , and therefore
Thus lies in the closed unit ball but has no Cauchy subsequence, hence no convergent subsequence. A compact metric space is sequentially compact, contradicting compactness of the unit ball. Therefore is finite-dimensional, proving that a compact unit ball characterizes finite-dimensional normed spaces.

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