An.

S
t. Univ. Ovidius Constant
a Vol. 9(2), 2001, 3144

EFFECTIVE DETERMINATION OF ALL

THE HAHN-BANACH EXTENSIONS OF
SOME LINEAR AND CONTINUOUS
FUNCTIONALS

Constantin Costara and Dumitru Popa

Dedicated to Professor Mirela S

tef
anescu on the occasion of her 60th birthday

The Hahn-Banach theorem is the one of the fundamental results in func-

tional analysis. Recall one of its forms, perhaps the most well known:
Let X be a normed space over K = R or ( C ), G X a linear subspace,
f : G K be a linear and continuous functional. Then there exists f : X K
a linear and continuous functional which extends f with the same norm as f .
In the sequel we will call a such extension a Hahn-Banach extension.
As it is well known and we will see in the sequel, the Hahn-Banach extension
is not unique in general.
Also it is well known that the Hahn-Banach theorem has profound applica-
tions, so what we consider that some reasonably simple examples of effective
determination of all the Hahn-Banach extensions of some linear and contin-
uous functional can be of some interest, see [5] for the bellow Example 1,
Propositions 1, 3 ( which in [5] are unsolved), [4] for the Proposition 4 ( also
unsolved in [4] ) and [2] where the all below examples will be are included.
We advertise from the beginning the reader that in the bellow examples the
essential difficulty will be in the calculation of the norm of the given functional
f relative to the linear subspace G.
The next 1, 2, 3 examples are elementary.

Example 1. In the space R2 let us consider the subspace G = {(x, y)

R | 2x y = 0}, f : G R, f (x, y) = x. Then g : R2 R, g(x, y) = x5 + 2y
2
5 ,
(x, y) R2 is the unique Hahn-Banach extension of f .

Received: June, 2001

31
32 C. Costara and D. Popa

Proof. If g : R2 R is a linear functional, theng(x, y) = xg(1, 0) +

yg(0, 1) = ax + by, (x, y) R2 and as is easy ||g|| = a2 + b2 . Let us ob-
serve that G = {(x, 2x) | x R} = Sp{(1, 2)}. In addition|f (x, y)| = |x| =
1 ||(x, y)||, (x, y) G i.e. ||f || = 1 . Let be g : R2 R a Hahn-Banach
5 5
extension of f . A such extension there exist by the Hahn-Banach theorem.
2
Then there
exists a, b R such that g(x, y) = ax + by, (x, y) R and
||g|| = a2 + b2 . As g |G = f it follows that, g(x, y) = x, (x, y) G i.e.
ax + by = x, (x, y) G or ax + 2bx = x, x R, a + 2b= 1. But, by
the hypothesis g has the same norm as f i.e. ||g|| = ||f || or a2 + b2 = 15

a + 2b = 1
i.e. . Solving this system we obtain b = 52 si a = 15 i.e. the
a2 + b2 = 51
Hahn-Banach extension is unique and given by the formula g(x, y) = x5 + 2y 5 ,
(x, y) R2 .

Example 2. Let be 1 p , K fixed, G K2 , G ={(x1 , 0)| x1 K}.

Let us consider the linear and continuous functional e : G, kkp K,
e (x) = x1 , the norm kkp being the usual. Then the all Hahn-Banach exten-
sion of e G are:
1) (x1 , x2 ) = x1 + vx2 , (x1 , x2 ) K2 , with |v| ||, for p = 1 and we
have an infinity of such extension if is non null.
ii) (x1 , x2 ) = x1 , (x1 , x2 ) K2 , for 1 < p .

Proof. It is easy to see that the norm of k e k= ||, for each p. Let now
: K2 K be a Hahn-Banach extension of e. Then there exist u, v K
such that (x1 , x2 ) = ux1 + vx2 , (x1 , x2 ) K2 . If on K2 we will consider
max {|u| , |v|} , if p = 1


q q 1
the norm kkp , 1 p , then kk = (|u| + |v| ) q , if 1 < p < , as it
|u| + |v| , if p =

follows from the Holder inequality, where p1 + 1q = 1. As |G = e, then u = .
So we have the cases:
i) If p = 1, then (x1 , x2 ) = x1 + vx2 , (x1 , x2 ) K2 , with |v| ||.
ii) If 1 < p < , then v = 0, so (x1 , x2 ) = x1 , (x1 , x2 ) K2 .
iii) If p = , again v = 0, so (x1 , x2 ) = x1 , (x1 , x2 ) K2

Example 3. Let G = {(xn )nN l1 | x1 3x2 = 0}, f : G R,

f ((xn )nN ) = x1 . Then g : l1 R, g1 (x) = 34 x1 + 43 x2 , x = (xn )nN l1 is
the unique Hahn-Banach extension of f .

Proof. We have |f (x)| = |x1 | = 43 (|x1 | + |x2 |) 34 ||x||, x G, so

||f || 34 . But |f (3, 1, 0, ...)| = 3 ||f || ||(3, 1, 0, ...)|| = 4 ||f ||. Let
Effective determination of all the Hahn-Banach extensions 33

g : l1 R be a Hahn-Banach extension. P As l1 = l i.e. there exist
= ( n )nN l such that g(x) = n=1 n xn , x = (xn )nN l1 and
||g|| = |||| = supnN | n |. But g |G = f , hence g(x) = x1 , (xn )nN l1 with
x1 3x2 = 0, or 1 x1 + 32 x1 + 3 x3 + ... = x1 , |x1 | + |x3 | + |x4 | + ... < .
From this we deduce that 1 + 32 = 1 and n = 0, n 3 i.e. 3 1 + 2 = 3,
n = 0, n 3. So the Hahn-Banach extension g has the expression g(x) =
1 x1 + 2 x2 = 1 x1 + (3 3 1 )x2 , x = (xn )nN l1 . But ||g|| = ||f || = 34 i.e.
max(| 1 | , |3 3 1 |) = 43 , which has the solution 1 = 34 , i.e. f has an unique
Hahn-Banach extension to l1 , namely g(x) = 34 x1 + 43 x2 , x = (xn )nN l1 .

Proposition 1. Any linear and continuous functional on c0 has a unique

Hahn-Banach extension to l .

Proof. Let Pbe f c0 . As it is well known there existsP (an )nN l1 such

that f (x) = n=1 anP xn , x = (xn )nN c0 and kf k = n=1 |an |. Let be

g : l P K, g (x) = n=1 an xn , x P= (xn )nN l . Then g is linear and

|g (x)| n=1 |an | |xn | kxk n=1 |an |), x l P i.e. g is continuous.
Using a well known procedure, we obtain that kgk = n=1 |an | = kf k i.e. g
is a Hahn-Banach extension of f to l . Let now
f : l K an another Hahn-Banach extension of f i.e. f |c0 = f si
f = kf k. We prove that f = g. Let be x l , x = (xn )
nN with kxk 1.
For n N denote by yn = (sgna1 , ..., sgnan , xn+1,... ) l and obviously
kyn k 1. As yn x = (sgn a1 x1 , ..., sgn an xn , 0, ...) c0 and f = g = f
on c0 it follows that f (yn x) = g (yn x). Let us denote h = f g. Then
the above relation shows that h (yn x) = 0, orPh (yn ) = hP (x). We have
n
f (yn ) = h (yn ) + g (yn ) = h (x) + g (yn ) = h (x) + n=1 |ak | + k=n+1 ak xk ,
 P n  P  P
P f (yn ) h (x) k=1 |ak | P
from where   = 
k=n+1 ak xk

k=n+1 |ak |

|xk | k=n+1 |ak | 0 , since the series n=1 |an | is convergent and kxk 1,
Pn Pn
| xn | 1, n N. So f (yn ) h (x) k=1 |ak | 0 and as k=1 |an |

P
|an | = kf k, we obtain that f (yn ) h (x) + kf k.
n=1
Let us resume, we prove that: x l with kxk 1, n N, yn l
with kyn k 1 such that: f (yn ) h (x) + kf k, (1).
Let be now x l with kxk 1. There exist K, || 1 such
that |h (x)| = h (x) = h (x). As kxk = || kxk 1, from the re-
lation (1) it follows that there exist yn l with kyn k 1 such that:
f (yn ) h(x) + kf k, or f (yn ) |h
(x)|
+ kf k i.e. | f (yn ) | |h (x)| + kf k
(2). But: f (yn ) f kyn k f = kf k, n N, from where passing
to the limit for n from (2) we obtain: |h (x)| + kf k kf k, |h (x)| 0,
h (x) = 0, x l with kxk 1, hence by homogeneity: h = 0, f g = 0,
f = g.
34 C. Costara and D. Popa

Comment. There exist other situations in which the above proposition is

true? The next proposition shows that the answer is yes!

Let us make some usual notations.

For a given sequence
Q (Xn )nN of normed spaces we will denote c0 (Xn |
n N) = {(xn )nN Xn | lim k xn k= 0}, with the norm k (xn )nN k=
nN n
sup k xn k;
nN Q
l (Xn | n N) = {(xn )nN Xn | sup k xn k< }, with the norm
nN nN
k (xn )nN k= sup k xn k;
nN
Q
P
l1 (Xn | n N) = {(xn )nN Xn | k xn k< }, with the norm
nN n=1

P
k (xn )nN k= k xn k;
n=1
As it is well known (c0 (Xn | n N)) = l1 (Xn | n N), by: If f
P
(c0 (X)) , then there exist (xn )nN Pl1 (X ) such that: f (x) = n=1 xn (xn ),

x = (xn )nN c0 (X) and kf k = n=1 kxn k, and conversely; see [3] for a
proof.

Proposition 2. Let (Xn )nN be a sequence of normed spaces. Then each

linear and continuous functional on c0 (Xn | n N) has an unique Hahn-
Banach extension to l (Xn | n N).

Proof. Let be f (c0 (Xn | P n N)) . Then there exists (xn )nN

l1 (Xn |Pn N) such that f (x) = n=1 xn (xn ),x = (xn )nN P c0 (X) and

kf k = n=1 kxn k. We define g : l (Xn | n N) K, g (x) = n=1 xn (xn ),
x = (xn )nN l (X). P P
Obviously g is linear P and | g (x) | Pn=1 |xn (xn )| n=1 kxn k kxn k

(supnN kxn k) n=1 kxn k = kxk n=1 kxn k = kxk kf k, x l (X), so
kgk kf k. Let be n N and kx1 k 1, ..., kxn k 1. The sequence x =
(a
P1n x1 , ..., an xn ,P
0, ...) l (Xn | n N), where ak =P sgnxk (xk ) and g (x) =
n n
a
k=1 k kx (xk ) = k=1 |xk (xk )| kgkkxk = kgk i.e. k=1 |xk (x
Pkn)| kgk so

taking the supremum over kx1 k 1, ..., kxn k 1 it follows P that: k=1 kx k
k
kgk, n N, so passing to the limit for n , P n=1 kx k kgk i.e.

kf k kgk. So g is an extension of with kgk = kf k = n=1 kx k. Let be now
f : l (Xn | n N) K a linear and continuous functional which extend f
with the same norm i.e. f |c0 (Xn |nN) = f and f = kf k. We will prove that
f = g. We denote h = f g and let us consider x l (Xn | n N), kxk 1.
Effective determination of all the Hahn-Banach extensions 35

There exists K such that || 1 and |h (x)| = h (x) = h (t), t = x

l (Xn | n N), ktk = || kxk 1. Let be t = (tn )nN l (Xn | n N),
n N and a1 X1 , ..., an Xn with kak k 1, k = 1, n. The element y =
(1 a1 , ..., n an , tn+1 , ...) l (Xn | n N), where k = sgnxk (ak ), k = 1, n,
and yt = (1 a1 t1 , ..., n an tn , 0, ...) c0 (Xn | n N). But h |c0 (Xn |nN) =
0, so h (y t) = 0 hence by the linearity of h on l (Xn | P n N) it follows
n
that
P h(y) = h(t) i.e. |h (x)| =
Pnh (y) = f (y) g (y) = f
P (y) k=1 k xk (ak )

xk (tk ), or |h (x)| + k=1 |xk (ak )| = f (y) k=n+1 xk (tk ) =| f (y)
Pk=n+1
P
f kyk +

P
k=n+1 P x k (t k ) || f (y) | + k=n+1 | xk (t k ) | k=n+1 kxk k
n
kf k + k=n+1 kxk k. Hence: |h (x)| + k=1 |xk (ak )| kf k + k=n+1 kxk k,

P P
ka1 k 1,..., P kan k 1, so passing Pto the supremum over a1 ,..., an we ob-
n
tain |h (x)| + P k=1 kxk k kf k + k=n+1 kxk k, n N. For n this

gives: |h (x)| + n=1 kxn k kf k + 0 i.e. |h (x)| + kf k kf k, h (x) = 0,
x l (Xn | n N) with kxk 1 and by the homogeneity of h, h (x) = 0,
x l (X) i.e. h = 0, f = g.

Proposition 3. Let H be a Hilbert space, G H a closed linear subspace.

Then each linear and continuous functional on G has an unique Hahn-Banach
extension.
More precisely:
1) If f : G K is a linear and continuous functional, then f : H K,
f (x) = f (prG (x)), x H, is the unique Hahn-Banach extension of f , where
prG (x) is the orthogonal projection of x on G.
2) If b H, f : G K, f (x) =< x, b >, x G, then the unique Hahn-
Banach extension of f is f : H K , f (x) =< x, prG (b) >, x X.

Proof. Existence. Let f : G K linear and continuous. Since H is a

Hilbert space we have the decomposition H = GG . Define now f : H K,
f (x) = f (pr G (x)),
x H, where x = prG (x)+prG (x). Then f is linear and
f |G = f , so f kf k. But | f (x) |=| f (prG (x)) | kf k kprG (x)k kf k kxk,
2 2 2
x H ( We use the fact that
k x k =k prG (x) k + k prG (x) kk prG (x) k
). From here it follows f kf k.
Uniqueness. Let g : H K be a linear and continuous with g |G = f
and kgk = kf k. Using the Riesz Theorem, there exists b H such that
g (x) = hx, bi, x H. Since b = prG (b) + prG (b), then for each y
G we have: f (y) = g (y) = hy, prG (b)i + hy, prG (b)i = hy, prG (b)i, from
where: kf k = kprG (b)k. But kf k = kgk, hence kf k = kprG (b)k, from where
2 2 2 2 2
kbk = kprG (b)k . As kbk = kprG (b)k + kprG (b)k , prG (b) = 0, i.e.
g (x) = hx, bi =< x, prG (b) >=< prG (x), b >=< prG (x), prG (b) >= f (x),
x X, i.e. g = f .
36 C. Costara and D. Popa

Comment. This example shows that in the Hilbert case the problem of
the effective determination of the Hahn-Banach extension requires the calcu-
lation of the orthogonal projection to a closed linear subspace.

Example 4. a) Let H be a Hilbert space, a H, a 6= 0 and G = {x H |

< x, a >= 0}, b H, f : G K, f (x) =< x, b >, x G.
Then the unique Hahn-Banach extension of f is f : H K , f (x) =<
x, b > <a,b>
kak2 < x, a >, x X.
R1
b) Let G = {f L2 [0, 1] | xf (x)dx = 0}, and L : G K, L(f ) =
0
R1 R1
x2 f (x)dx. Then the unique Hahn-Banach extension of L is x (f ) = (x2
0 0
3
4 x)f (x)dx,f L2 [0, 1].
c) Let Mn (C) be the set of all n n complex matrix which is a Hilbert
space with respect to the scalar product < A, B >= tr(AB ), where B is the
adjoint of the operator B. Let G = {A Mn (C) | tr(A) = 0}, B Mn (C)
and f : G C, f (A) = tr(AB ), A G.
Then the unique Hahn-Banach extension of f is f : Mn (C) C, f (A) =
tr(AB ) tr(B)tr(A)
n , A Mn (C).
d) Let Mn (C) be the Hilbert space as in c) and Mn (C) Mn (C) the
hilbertian product. Let G = {A Mn (C) Mn (C) | tr(A) = tr(B)}, C, D
Mn (C) and f : G C, f (A, B) = tr(AC )+tr(BD ), (A, B) G. Then the
unique Hahn-Banach extension of f is f : Mn (C) M (C) C, f (A, B) =
(tr(C)tr(D))(tr(B)tr(A))
tr(AC ) + tr(BD ) 2n , (A, B) Mn (C)M (C).
<b,a>
Proof. a) As it is well known prG (b) = b kak2 a and we can use the
proposition 3. 2.
R1
x3 dx
<x2 ,x>
2
b) We have prG (x ) = x 2
kxk2 x
2
= x 0
R1
x = x2 34 x, hence
x2 dx
0
proposition 3.2 or a) implies the result.
c) For the fact that (Mn (C) < . >) is a Hilbert space, see [1], Spring 1982
ex. 3, p.125; in passingslet us observe that if A = (aij )i,j Mn (C), then
p n
k A k= tr(AA ) = | aij |2 , which is usually called the Frobenius
P
i,j=1
norm of a matrix.
We observe that G = {A Mn (C) | tr(AI ) = 0} = {A Mn (C) |<
A, In >= 0}, where In is the unit matrix. But prG (B) = B <B,I n>
kIn k2 In =
tr(B) tr(B)
B tr(In ) In = B n In . Since f (A) =< A, B >, A G, from the
Effective determination of all the Hahn-Banach extensions 37

proposition 3.2 or a) we obtain f : Mn (C) C, f (A) =< A, prG (B) >=

tr(AB ) tr(B)tr(A)
n , A Mn (C).
d) Recall that if H1 , H2 are two Hilbert space then, the cartesian product
H1 H2 is a Hilbert space relatively to the scalar product < (x1 , y1 ), (x2 , y2 ) >=<
x1 , x2 > + < y1 , y2 >. Let us observe that G = {A Mn (C) Mn (C) |<
n ,In )>
(A, B), (In , In ) >= 0}, hence prG (C, D) = (C, D) <(C,D),(I
k(In ,In )k2 (In , In ) =
trCtrD trCtrD
(C, D) 2n (In , In ) = (C In , D + In ), where = 2n . Also
f (A, B) = tr(AC ) + tr(BD ) =< (A, B), (C, D) >, (A, B) G. Now using
proposition 3.2 or a) f (A, B) =< (A, B), prG (C, D) >, (A, B) Mn (C)
Mn (C), i.e. the statement.

Example 5. Let G l1 , G = {(xn )n l1 | x1 = x3 = x5 = ... = 0}. Then

any linear and continuous nonnull functional on G has an infinity of Hahn-
Banach extensions.

Proof. Let be f : G K linear and continuous functional, with kf k =

6 0.
By the Hahn-Banach theorem, there exists a Hahn-Banach extension g :

P
1 K. Hence there exists = ( n )nN such that g (x) = xn n ,
n=1

P
x = (xn )nN 1 , kgk = supnN | n | = kf k, g |G = f . So f (x) = x2k 2k ,
k=1

P
x G and kf k = kgk supkN | 2k |. But |f (x)| (supkN | 2k |) |x2k |
k=1
(supkN | 2k |) kxk1 , x G, from where kf k supkN | 2k |. We obtain that

P
f (x) = x2k 2k , x G and kf k = supkN | 2k |. As kf k =6 0, it fol-
k=1
lows that we can find an infinity of sequences = ( 2k+1 )k0 l such
that supk0 | 2k+1 | = supk1 | 2k | and let us consider the sequence a( ) =
( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , ...) . We haveka( )k = kf k. With the help of we con-

2n x2n . Then g 1 and
P P
struct g : 1 K, g (x) = 2n+1 x2n+1 +
n=0 n=1

P
kg k =k a( ) k= kf k, and for each x G we have g (x) = x2n 2n = f (x),
n=1
i.e. g |G = f . As g 1 6= g 2 , for 1 6= 2 and can be chosen in an infinity of
way, the statement follows.

Comment. The above examples show that it is natural the question:

How many Hahn-Banach extensions we have for a given linear and continuous
functional? The next proposition gives the answer.
38 C. Costara and D. Popa

Proposition 4. Let X be a normed space, G X be a linear subspace, f :

G K a linear and continuous functional for which there exists g, h : X K
two distinct Hahn-Banach extension of f . Then there exists an infinity of such
Hahn-Banach extensions of f .
More precisely: the set of all Hahn-Banach extensions of f is a convex set.

Proof. For each t [0, 1] we define ft : X K, ft (x) = tg (x) +

(1 t) h (x). Clearly ft is a linear and continuous functional. Also for x G
we have ft (x) = tf (x) + (1 t) h (t) = tf (x) + (1 t) f (x) = f (x) i.e. ft
extends f . If we will prove that kft k = kf k, t [0, 1], the proposition is
proved since by g 6= h, we have ft1 6= ft2 for t1 6= t2 . We have for each x X
|ft (x)| t |g (x)| + (1 t) |h (x)| (t kgk + (1 t) khk) kxk = kf k kxk, since
kgk = khk = kf k, i.e. kft k kf k, t [0, 1]. Since ft extends f we have
kft k kf k, i.e. kft k = kf k, t [0, 1].
Let us observe that in all the above examples we use essentially the fact
that we know an explicit structure of the normed space on which we work.
The next result give a way to construct the extension of some linear and
continuous functional defined on a finite codimensional subspace.

Proposition 5. Let X be a normed space and X his dual, x1 , ..., xn , f

X , G = {x X | x1 (x) = 0, ..., xn (x) = 0}, and g : G K, g(x) = f (x),

x X. If h : X K is a linear and continuous functional which extends g,

then there exists 1 , ..., n K such that h = f + 1 x1 + + n xn .

Proof. Since h extend f we have h(x) = g(x) = f (x), x G, i.e.

n
ker xi ker(h f ). But using now a well known result from the
T
G =
i=1
linear algebra there exists 1 , ..., n K such that h f = 1 x1 + + n xn .

Comment. This proposition shows that, in reasonable situations, the

problem of the explicit expressions for a Hahn-Banach extension for a linear
and continuous functional is solved, so the difficulty of effective determination
of the all Hahn-Banach extensions has been moved to the problem of the cal-
culation of the norm of the given functional to the given subspace, which, as
we will see, is a difficult question; see also the comment for the case of the
Hilbert space.

In the next concrete examples the scalar field will be the set of the real
numbers.
The following example cannot be obtained as in the above Examples 1-3,
4, 5, since the structure of the dual space of L(l2 ) is unknown.
Effective determination of all the Hahn-Banach extensions 39

Example 6. Let G = {U L(l2 ) | < U e1 , e1 > 2 < U e1 , e2 >= 0},

and f : G R, f (U ) =< U e1 , e1 >. Then f : L(l2 ) R, f (U ) =<
U e1 , 45 e1 + 25 e2 >, U L(l2 ) is the unique Hahn-Banach extension of f .

Proof. For U G we have 54 |< U e1 , e1 >|2 = |< U e1 , e1 >|2 + |<

U e1 , e2 >|2 k q
q U e1 k2 , conforming with the Bessel
q inequality. Hence | f (U ) |
4
5 k U e1 k 45 k U k, U G, i.e. k f k 54 . Let U L(l2 ) be defined
by U (x1 , x2 , ...) = (2x1 , x1 , 0, ...) = x1 (2e1 + e2 ). Then U G, from where
| f (U ) |k f kk U k. But f (U ) =< U e1 , e1 >=< 2e1+ e2 , e1 >= 2 and
k U (x1 , x2 , ...) k= 5 | x1 |q 5 k x k, x l2 , k U k 5. We obtain that
4
2 5 k f k, i.e. k f k= 5 . Let be now f : L(l2 ) R a Hahn-Banach
extension of f . From the proposition 5 there exists R such that h(U ) =<
U e1 , e1 > +(< U e1 , e1 > 2 < U e1 , e2 >) =< U e1 , (1 + )e1 2e2 >.
But as is easy to see if x, y l2 , and g : L(l2 ) R,p g(U ) =< U x, y >, then
k g k=k x kk y k. Hence q k h k=k (1 + )e1 2e2 k= (1 + )2 + 42 . Using
4
that k h k=k f k= 5, it follows (1 + )2 + 42 = 54 , 252 + 10 + 1 = 0,
= 51 , i.e. the statement.

Example 7. Let (an )nN l1 with a1 6= 0, G = {(xn )nN c0 |

P
an xn = 0}, f : G R, f ((xn )nN ) = x1 . Then the all Hahn-Banach
n=1
extension of f are the following:

P
1) h((xn )nN ) = x1 , if | a1 |< | an |.
n=2

P
P
2) h((xn )nN ) = x1 + an xn , where 1 a1 0, if | a1 |= | an |.
n=1 n=2

P an P
3) h((xn )nN ) = a1 xn , if | a1 |> | an |.
n=2 n=2

P
|an |
n=2
Proof. We prove that k f k= min(1, ), where = . We have |a1 |

P
| f (x) |k x k, x G, i.e. k f k 1. For x G we have a1 x1 = an xn ,
n=2

P
P
from where | a1 || x1 | | an || xn | ( | an |)(sup | xn |)
n=2 n=2 n2

P
( | an |) k x k, i.e. | x1 | k x k, or | f (x) | k x k, x G,
n=2
hence k f k min(1, ). Let be n N. We choose , R such that
(, sgna2 , sgna3 , ..., sgnan , 0, ...) G. Then a1 + (a2 sgna2 + ... +
40 C. Costara and D. Popa

an sgnan ) = 0, i.e. a1 = (| a2 | +...+ | an |). We have | |=|

f (, sgna2 , sgna3 , ..., sgnan , 0, ...) | k f k max(| |, | |), or min(1, ||
|| ) k
f k, that is k f k min(1, |a2 |+...+|a
|a1 |
n|
). Passing to the limit for n we

P
|an |
n=2
obtain k f k min(1, |a1 | ) = min(1, ).
Let now h : c0 R be a Hahn-Banach extension of f . Then, by Propo-

P
sition 5 there exists R such that h(x1 , ..., xn , ...) = x1 + an xn ,
n=1

P
(x1 , ..., xn , ...) c0 . But k h k=| 1 + a1 | + | | | an |. As k h k=k f k
n=2

P
it follows that | 1 + a1 | + | | | an |= min(1, ), or | 1 + a1 | + |
n=2
a1 |= min(1, ), i.e. denoting x = a1 , | 1 + x | + | x |= min(1, ).
1) If > 1, we obtain the equation | 1 + x | + | x |= 1, which has the real
solution x = 0, i.e. a1 = 0, = 0.
2) If = 1, we obtain the equation | 1 + x | + | x |= 1, which has the real
solutions 1 x 0, i.e. 1 a1 0.
3) If < 1, we obtain the equation | 1 + x | + | x |= , which has the
real solution x = 1, i.e. a1 = 1, = a11 .

Now a particular case of Example 7.

Example 8. Let be a R, | a |< 1, a 6= 0, G = {(xn )nN c0 |

n
P
a xn = 0}, and f : G R, f ((xn )nN ) = x1 . The the all Hahn-Banach
n=1
extension of f , denoted by h, are the following:
1) If 21 <| a |< 1, h(x1 , x2 , ...) = x1 , (x1 , x2 , ...) c0 .

2) If a = 12 , h(x1 , x2 , ...) = x1 + an xn , (x1 , x2 , ...) c0 , where
P
n=1
2 0.

3) If a = 21 , h(x1 , x2 , ...) = x1 + an xn , (x1 , x2 , ...) c0 , where
P
n=1
0 2.

4) If | a |< 12 , h(x1 , x2 , ...) = an xn+1 , (x1 , x2 , ...) c0
P
n=1

Example 9. Let be (an )nN l with a1 6= 0, G = {(xn )nN l1 |

P
an xn = 0}, f : G R, f ((xn )nN ) = x1 . The f has a unique Hahn-
n=1
Banach extension of f , namely

P sgna1
h(x1 , ..., xn , ...) = x1 +|a1 | an xn , (x1 , ..., xn , ...) l1 , where =
n=1
Effective determination of all the Hahn-Banach extensions 41

sup | an |.
n2

Proof. We prove that k f k= +|a 1|
. For x G we have a1 x1 =


P P
an xn , so | a1 || x1 | | xn | (k x k | x1 |), i.e. | x1 | +|a1|
n=2 n=2

k x k, hence | f (x) | +|a 1|
k x k, x G, i.e. k f k +|a 1|
. Let
be n N. Choose R such that (1, 0, 0, ..., sgnan , 0, ...) G. Then
a1 + | an |= 0, i.e. a1 = | an |. We have 1 =| f (1, 0, 0, ..., sgnan , 0, ...) |
k f k (1+ | |), or | an |k f k (| an | + | a1 |). Since n N is arbitrary we

obtain k f k (+ | a1 |), i.e. k f k +|a 1|
.
Let h : c0 R be a Hahn-Banach extension of f . From the Propo-

P
sition 5 there exists R such that h(x1 , ..., xn , ...) = x1 + an xn ,
n=1
(x1 , ..., xn , ...) l1 . But k h k= max(| 1 + a1 |, | | ). As k h k=k f k, it

follows that max(| 1 + a1 |, | | ) = +|a 1|
, max(| 1 + a1 |, | a1 | |a1 | ) =
M
+|a1 | , i.e. denoting by x = a1 , M = |a1 | , max(| 1 + x |, M | x |) = M +1 ,
|a1 |
which has a unique real solution x = M1+1 , = a1 (M1 +1) = a1 (+|a 1 |)
=
sgna1
+|a1 | , i.e. the statement.

Example 10. Let 1 < p < , q be the conjugate of p, i.e. p1 + 1q = 1,

P
(an )nN lq with a1 6= 0, G = {(xn )nN lp | an xn = 0}, f : G R,
n=1
f ((xn )nN ) = x1 . Then the Hahn-Banach extension of f , denoted by h, is of
the form:

P
h((xn )nN ) = x1 + an xn , (xn )nN lp ,
n=1
1
where R is a solution of the equation (| 1 + a1 |q +q | a1 |q ) q =
1
|q ) q
P
p 1
( |an
( p+1 ) p , = n=2
|a1 | .

p 1 1
Proof. We prove that k f k= ( M pM | an |q ) q .
P
+|a1 |p ) , where M = (
p

n=2

| an |q
P P P
For x G, a1 x1 = an xn , hence | a1 || x1 | | an || xn | (
n=2 n=2 n=2
1 1 1 p 1
| xn |p ) p = M (k x kp | x1 |p ) p , i.e. | f (x) |=| x1 | ( M pM
P
)q ( +|a1 |p )
p

n=2
p 1
k x k, k f k ( M pM+|a1 |p ) . Let be n N. Again choose n R such that
p

q1
(n , | a2 | sgna2 , | a3 |q1 sgna3 , ..., | an |q1 sgnan , 0, ...) G. Then
q q
n a1 =| a2 |q +...+ | an |q , | n |= |a2 | +...+|a
|a1 |
n|
. We have | n |=| f (n , |
42 C. Costara and D. Popa

a2 |q1 sgna2 , | a3 |q1 sgna3 , ..., | an |q1 sgnan , 0, ...) | k f k (| n |p

n
|ak |q
P
n 1 1
(q1)p
P k=2
+ | ak | ) . As (q 1)p = q, k f k (1 +
p
|n |p ) p 1. Passing to the
k=2
q p 1
Mq
limit for n and using that n |a1 | we obtain k f k (1 + MM|aqp1 | ) p 1.
p 1
Since q(p 1) = p, k f k ( M pM
+|a1 |p ) .
p

If h : lp R is a Hahn-Banach extension of f , from the proposition 5 there

P
is R such that h(x1 , ..., xn , ...) = x1 + an xn , (x1 , ..., xn , ...) lp .
n=1
1
q q
| an |q ) q . Since k h k=k f k,
P
But k h k= (| 1 + a1 | + | |
n=2
1 p 1
(| 1 + a1 |q + | |q M q ) q = ( M pM
+|a1 |p ) , i.e. denoting by =
p M
|a1 | , then
1 p 1
R is the solution of the equation (| 1 + a1 |q +q | a1 |q ) = q ( p+1 ) p .

P xn
Example 11. Let be 0 < b < 1, G = {(xn )nN c0 | 2n = 0},
n=1

bn xn . Then the Hahn-Banach extension of f ,
P
f : G R, f ((xn )nN ) =
n=1
denoted by h, is:

xn
bn xn x1 +
P P
h((xn )nN ) = 2n , (xn )nN c0 ,
n=1 n=1

b|2b1|
| bn +
P
where R is a solution of the equation 2n |= 1b .
n=1

1
an1 xn ,
P
Proof. Let us put temporarily a = 2. For x G, x1 =
n=2

bn xn b an1 xn |
P P
from where | f ((xn )nN ) |=|
n=2 n=2

| bn1 an1 || xn | b k x k | bn1 an1 |= b k x k| (bn1
P P P
b
n=2 n=2 n=2
b a b a
an1 ) |= b k x k| 1b 1a |, i.e. k f k b | 1b 1a |. For a fixed n N,
choose x, y R such that (x, y, y, ..., y, 0, ...) G. Then x = y(a+...+an1 ),
from where | xb + y(b2 + ... + bn ) |=| f (x, y, y, ..., y, 0, ...) | k f k max(| x |, |
y |), or | xy b + (b2 + ... + bn ) |k f k max(1, |x| |y| ), | b(a + ... + a
n1
) + (b2 + ... +
bn ) |k f k max(1, a + ... + an1 ). Passing to the limit for n we obtain
b2
ba
| 1a b1 |k f k max(1, 1a a
), i.e. k f k b | 1bb
1aa
| min(1, 1aa ). As
b|2b1|
a = 21 , 1a b
a = 1, hence k f k= b | 1b 1 |= 1b .
Let h : c0 R be a Hahn-Banach extension of f . Using again the Propo-

xn
bn xn +
P P
sition 5, there exists R such that h((xn )nN ) = 2n ,
n=1 n=1
Effective determination of all the Hahn-Banach extensions 43

| bn +
P
(xn )nN c0 . But k h k= 2n |, i.e. R is a solution of the
n=1

b|2b1|
| bn +
P
equation 2n |= 1b .
n=1

References
[1] C. Costara, D. Popa, Berkeley Preliminary Exams- Problems book, Ed. ExPonto,
Constanta 2000, in romanian

[2] C. Costara, D. Popa, Exercises in functional analysis, Kluwer Academic Publisher, to

appear, 2003.

[3] D. Popa, Operators on the functions spaces, Ed. ExPonto, Constanta 2001, in Roma-
nian.

[4] W. Rudin, Functional Analysis, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1973.

[5] V. A. Trenogin, E. M. Pisareski, T. S. Sobolev, Problems and exercices in functional

analysis, Moska, 1984, in Russian.

Ovidius University of Constanta,

Department of Mathematics,
8700 Constanta,
Romania

Ovidius University of Constanta,

Department of Mathematics,
8700 Constanta,
Romania
e-mail: dpopa@univ-ovidius.ro
44 C. Costara and D. Popa