Convex block ($u_n={\sum }_{i=p_n}^{q_n}{a}_i{x}_i$)

A convex block of a sequence in a Banach space is a sequence of convex combinations supported on successively disjoint finite intervals, with $p_n<q_n<p_{n+1}$, $a_i\ge 0$, and ${\sum }_{i=p_n}^{q_n}{a}_i=1$. Zero coefficients can fill gaps and ensure strict endpoint inequalities. By the Mazur theorem, every weakly null sequence has convex blocks tending to zero in norm.

If a bounded sequence $(y_n)$ in $X$ converges weak-star to $\varphi \in X^{\ast \ast }$ under the canonical embedding into the bidual, then any convex blocks $(u_n)$ have the same scalar limit on every $f\in X^{\ast }$. Thus $y_n-u_n$ is a weakly null sequence, even when $\varphi$ does not belong to the embedded space $X$.