Norm (mathematics): Difference between revisions

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==Formal definition of norm==
==Formal definition of norm==
Let ''X'' be a vector space. Then a norm on X is any function <math>\|\cdot\|:X \rightarrow X</math> having the following three properties:
Let ''X'' be a vector space over some subfield ''F'' of the [[complex number|complex numbers]]. Then a norm on X is any function <math>\|\cdot\|:X \rightarrow X</math> having the following three properties:
#<math>\|x\|\geq 0</math> for all <math>x \in X</math> (positivity)
#<math>\|x\|\geq 0</math> for all <math>x \in X</math> (positivity)
#<math>\|x\|=0</math> if and only if ''x=0''
#<math>\|x\|=0</math> if and only if ''x=0''
#<math>\|x+y\|\leq \|x\|+\|y\|</math> for all <math>x,y\in X</math> (triangular inequality)
#<math>\|x+y\|\leq \|x\|+\|y\|</math> for all <math>x,y\in X</math> (triangular inequality)
#<math>\|cx\|=|c|\|x\|</math> for all <math>c \in F</math>


A norm on ''X'' also defines a [[metric space#Metric on a set|metric]] <math>d</math> on ''X'' as <math>d(x,y)=\|x-y\|</math>. Hence a normed space is also a [[metric space]].  
A norm on ''X'' also defines a [[metric space#Metric on a set|metric]] <math>d</math> on ''X'' as <math>d(x,y)=\|x-y\|</math>. Hence a normed space is also a [[metric space]].  

Revision as of 00:30, 29 September 2007

In mathematics, a norm is a function on a vector space that generalizes to vector spaces the notion of the distance from a point of a Euclidean space to the origin.

Formal definition of norm

Let X be a vector space over some subfield F of the complex numbers. Then a norm on X is any function having the following three properties:

  1. for all (positivity)
  2. if and only if x=0
  3. for all (triangular inequality)
  4. for all

A norm on X also defines a metric on X as . Hence a normed space is also a metric space.