Linear Functional Analysis

This introduction to the ideas and methods of linear functional analysis shows how familiar and useful concepts from finite-dimensional linear algebra can be extended or generalized to infinite-dimensional spaces. Aimed at advanced undergraduates in mathematics and physics, the book assumes a standard background of linear algebra, real analysis (including the theory of metric spaces), and Lebesgue integration, although an introductory chapter summarizes the requisite material.

This introduction to the ideas and methods of linear functional analysis shows how familiar and useful concepts from finite-dimensional linear algebra can be extended or generalized to infinite-dimensional spaces. Aimed at advanced undergraduates in mathematics and physics, the book assumes a standard background of linear algebra, real analysis (including the theory of metric spaces), and Lebesgue integration, although an introductory chapter summarizes the requisite material.

Up to a certain time the attention of mathematicians was concentrated on the study of individual objects, for example, specific elementary functions or curves defined by special equations. With the creation of the method of Fourier series, which allowed mathematicians to work with 'arbitrary' functions, the individual approach was replaced by the 'class' approach, in which a particular function is considered only as an element of some 'function space'. More or less simultane­ ously the development of geometry and algebra led to the general concept of a linear space, while in analysis the basic forms of convergence for series of functions were identified: uniform, mean square, pointwise and so on.

This book provides a concise and meticulous introduction to functional analysis. Since the topic draws heavily on the interplay between the algebraic structure of a linear space and the distance structure of a metric space, functional analysis is increasingly gaining the attention of not only mathematicians but also scientists and engineers.

Authors: Alt, Hans Wilhelm
A complete, self-contained introduction to linear functional analysis
Includes topics such as operator theory, distributions, Sobolev spaces
Features many solved exercises

This book provides a concise and meticulous introduction to functional analysis. Since the topic draws heavily on the interplay between the algebraic structure of a linear space and the distance structure of a metric space, functional analysis is increasingly gaining the attention of not only mathematicians but also scientists and engineers.