The Stone-Weierstrass theorem #
If a subalgebra A
of C(X, ℝ)
, where X
is a compact topological space,
separates points, then it is dense.
We argue as follows.
- In any subalgebra
A
ofC(X, ℝ)
, iff ∈ A
, thenabs f ∈ A.topologicalClosure
. This follows from the Weierstrass approximation theorem on[-‖f‖, ‖f‖]
by approximatingabs
uniformly thereon by polynomials. - This ensures that
A.topologicalClosure
is actually a sublattice: if it containsf
andg
, then it contains the pointwise supremumf ⊔ g
and the pointwise infimumf ⊓ g
. - Any nonempty sublattice
L
ofC(X, ℝ)
which separates points is dense, by a nice argument approximating a givenf
above and below using separating functions. For eachx y : X
, we pick a functiong x y ∈ L
sog x y x = f x
andg x y y = f y
. By continuity these functions remain close tof
on small patches aroundx
andy
. We use compactness to identify a certain finitely indexed infimum of finitely indexed supremums which is then close tof
everywhere, obtaining the desired approximation. - Finally we put these pieces together.
L = A.topologicalClosure
is a nonempty sublattice which separates points sinceA
does, and so is dense (in fact equal to⊤
).
We then prove the complex version for star subalgebras A
, by separately approximating
the real and imaginary parts using the real subalgebra of real-valued functions in A
(which still separates points, by taking the norm-square of a separating function).
Future work #
Extend to cover the case of subalgebras of the continuous functions vanishing at infinity, on non-compact spaces.
Turn a function f : C(X, ℝ)
into a continuous map into Set.Icc (-‖f‖) (‖f‖)
,
thereby explicitly attaching bounds.
Equations
Instances For
Given a continuous function f
in a subalgebra of C(X, ℝ)
, postcomposing by a polynomial
gives another function in A
.
This lemma proves something slightly more subtle than this:
we take f
, and think of it as a function into the restricted target Set.Icc (-‖f‖) ‖f‖)
,
and then postcompose with a polynomial function on that interval.
This is in fact the same situation as above, and so also gives a function in A
.
The Stone-Weierstrass Approximation Theorem,
that a subalgebra A
of C(X, ℝ)
, where X
is a compact topological space,
is dense if it separates points.
An alternative statement of the Stone-Weierstrass theorem.
If A
is a subalgebra of C(X, ℝ)
which separates points (and X
is compact),
every real-valued continuous function on X
is a uniform limit of elements of A
.
An alternative statement of the Stone-Weierstrass theorem, for those who like their epsilons.
If A
is a subalgebra of C(X, ℝ)
which separates points (and X
is compact),
every real-valued continuous function on X
is within any ε > 0
of some element of A
.
An alternative statement of the Stone-Weierstrass theorem, for those who like their epsilons and don't like bundled continuous functions.
If A
is a subalgebra of C(X, ℝ)
which separates points (and X
is compact),
every real-valued continuous function on X
is within any ε > 0
of some element of A
.
If a star subalgebra of C(X, 𝕜)
separates points, then the real subalgebra
of its purely real-valued elements also separates points.
The Stone-Weierstrass approximation theorem, IsROrC
version, that a star subalgebra A
of
C(X, 𝕜)
, where X
is a compact topological space and IsROrC 𝕜
, is dense if it separates
points.
Polynomial functions in are dense in C(s, ℝ)
when s
is compact.
See polynomialFunctions_closure_eq_top
for the special case s = Set.Icc a b
which does not use
the full Stone-Weierstrass theorem. Of course, that version could be used to prove this one as
well.
The star subalgebra generated by polynomials functions is dense in C(s, 𝕜)
when s
is
compact and 𝕜
is either ℝ
or ℂ
.
Continuous algebra homomorphisms from C(s, ℝ)
into an ℝ
-algebra A
which agree
at X : 𝕜[X]
(interpreted as a continuous map) are, in fact, equal.
Continuous star algebra homomorphisms from C(s, 𝕜)
into a star 𝕜
-algebra A
which agree
at X : 𝕜[X]
(interpreted as a continuous map) are, in fact, equal.