4.14. Sequence SpacesΒΆ

We shall assume the field of scalars F to be either R or C.

4.14.1. The Space of all SequencesΒΆ

Recall that a sequence is a map x:Nβ†’F and is written as {xn}. The set of all sequences of F is denoted by FN or just F∞ in Cartesian product notation.

Definition 4.167 (Zero sequence)

The zero sequence is defined as:

0=(0,0,0,…).

Definition 4.168 (Vector addition of sequences)

Let x={xn} and y={yn} be any two sequences in F∞.

Their vector addition is defined as:

x+yβ‰œ{xn+yn}.

Definition 4.169 (Scalar multiplication of sequence)

Let x={xn} be any sequence in F∞ and let α∈F.

The scalar multiplication of Ξ± with x is defined as:

Ξ±xβ‰œ{Ξ±xn}.

Theorem 4.161

The set of sequences F∞ is closed under vector addition and scalar multiplication defined above.

This is obvious from definition.

Definition 4.170 (Vector space of all sequences)

The set F∞ equipped with the vector addition and scalar multiplication defined above is a vector space. It is known as the space of all sequences.

Definition 4.171 (Sequence space)

Any linear subspace of the space of all sequences F∞ is known as a sequence space.

4.14.2. The Space of Absolutely Summable SequencesΒΆ

Definition 4.172 (Absolutely summable sequence)

A sequence {xn} of F is called absolute summable if

βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|<∞.

Theorem 4.162 (Closure under addition)

If sequences {xn} and {yn} are absolutely summable, then their sum {xn+yn} is absolutely summable with

βˆ‘n=1∞|xn+yn|β‰€βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|+βˆ‘n=1∞|yn|.

Proof. Consider the partial sum:

Sn=βˆ‘k=1n|xk+yk|β‰€βˆ‘k=1n(|xk|+|yk|)=βˆ‘k=1n|xk|+βˆ‘k=1n|yk|.

Taking the limit

limnβ†’βˆžSn≀limnβ†’βˆžβˆ‘k=1n|xk|+limnβ†’βˆžβˆ‘k=1n|yk|=βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|+βˆ‘n=1∞|yn|.

Thus, the sequence {xn+yn} is absolutely summable.

Theorem 4.163 (Closure under scalar multiplication)

If the sequence {xn} is absolutely summable, then for any α∈F, the sequence {αxn} is absolutely summable with:

βˆ‘n=1∞|Ξ±xn|=|Ξ±|βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|.

Proof. Consider the partial sum:

Sm=βˆ‘n=1m|Ξ±xn|=βˆ‘n=1m|Ξ±||xn|=|Ξ±|βˆ‘n=1m|xn|.

Taking the limit:

limmβ†’βˆžSm=|Ξ±|limmβ†’βˆžβˆ‘n=1m|xn|=|Ξ±|βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|.

Hence {Ξ±xn} is absolutely summable.

Definition 4.173 (β„“1 The space of absolutely summable sequences)

Let β„“1 denote the set of all absolutely summable sequences of F. Then β„“1 equipped with the vector addition and scalar multiplication defined above is a vector space.

The definition is justified since:

  • β„“1 is closed under vector addition.

  • β„“1 is closed under scalar multiplication.

  • The zero-sequence (0,0,0,…) is absolutely summable and belongs to β„“1.

Definition 4.174 (Norm for the β„“1 space)

The standard norm for the β„“1 space is defined for any xβˆˆβ„“1 as:

β€–xβ€–1=βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|.

The β„“1 space equipped with the norm β€–β‹…β€–1 is a normed linear space.

Theorem 4.164

The norm defined for β„“1 space in Definition 4.174 is indeed a norm.

Proof. [Positive definiteness] It is clear that the norm of the zero sequence β€–0β€–1=0. Now suppose that βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|=0. The sum of a non-negative sequence is zero only if each term is 0. Thus, {xn}=0.

[Positive homogeneity] Let x={xn} be absolutely summable. From Theorem 4.163, we have:

β€–Ξ±xβ€–1=βˆ‘nβˆ’1∞|Ξ±xn|=|Ξ±|βˆ‘nβˆ’1∞|xn|=|Ξ±|β€–xβ€–1.

[Triangle inequality] Let x={xn} and y={yn} be absolutely summable. From Theorem 4.162, we have:

β€–x+yβ€–1=βˆ‘n=1∞|xn+yn|β‰€βˆ‘n=1∞|xn|+βˆ‘n=1∞|yn|=β€–xβ€–1+β€–yβ€–1.

Theorem 4.165

β„“1 is complete. In other words, every Cauchy sequence of sequences in β„“1 converges to a sequence of β„“1. Thus, it is a Banach space.