Left shift on bounded sequences 2026-10-06
The left shift is a bounded linear operator of operator norm one on the l-infinity sequence space. For , telescoping gives . This identity is useful in constructing a Banach limit.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 6 5 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
For every bounded sequence , and . Linearity gives , as required. Thus the same satisfies all three conditions and is a Banach limit.
The usual positivity condition for a Banach limit follows automatically here. If and , then . Since , we have , whence . The case is immediate. This explains why the constructed bounded linear functional is also a positive linear functional extending the ordinary limit while remaining invariant under the left shift on bounded sequences.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 6 5 Solution 2026-10-06
We prove the required Hahn-Banach theorem for a seminorm directly. First suppose the vector space is real. At an intermediate extension stage, let be a linear functional with , and let . Extending to amounts to choosing . The upper domination requiresThe interval is nonempty: for all ,Its endpoints are finite since inserting zero gives bounds and , while every lower candidate is below every upper candidate. Choose in the interval and put . For , the upper bound with proves . For , writing and applying the lower bound with proves the same inequality. The case is already known. Applying this domination to and using gives .
Partially order all dominated linear functional extensions of the original by extension of their domains and values. They form a nonempty set. The union along any chain is a well-defined dominated linear functional on a vector subspace, so every chain has an upper bound. The Zorn lemma gives a maximal extension. If its domain were not , the preceding one-dimensional construction would enlarge it, a contradiction. Thus the required extension exists on .
For a complex vector space, apply the proved real result to on the underlying real vector subspace. Let be the resulting real linear functional, with , and setIt is additive and real-linear, and , so it is complex-linear. On , the identity proves . Choose with and when . ThenThe bound is immediate if . This proves the real and complex seminorm forms of Hahn-Banach theorem without invoking any version of that theorem.
For the distance to a set assertion, let . Define on the linear functional . The decomposition is unique because , and for ,For the bound is immediate. Apply the just-proved Hahn-Banach theorem with to get , , , and . Choose with . Sinceand , passage to the limit gives . Thus . This version of the Hahn-Banach distance formula needs neither a closed nor an attained distance to a set.
For the Banach limit construction below, take the real l-infinity sequence space, let be its left shift on bounded sequences, put , and let . This is a vector subspace and its distance to a set from determines the construction.