Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2025 / ii / Paper 1 / 22I / a / i / Solution

The dual $X^{\ast }$ is the vector space of bounded linear maps $f:X\to \mathbb{F}$, with normIf $(f_n)$ is Cauchy in this norm, then $(f_n(x))$ is Cauchy in the complete scalar field for every $x$. Define $f(x)={\lim }_n{f}_n(x)$. Pointwise passage to the limit preserves linearity. Given $\epsilon >0$, choose $N$ such that $\Vert f_n-f_m\Vert <\epsilon$ for $m,n\ge N$; sending $m\to \infty$ givesThus $f$ is bounded and $\Vert f_n-f\Vert \le \epsilon$. Hence $X^{\ast }$ is Banach, even if $X$ was only normed.