THE FIRST LECTURE

LINEAR BOUNDED OPERATORS BETWEEN

NORMED SPACES

SAHAR MOHAMED ALI ABOU BAKR

This Lecture is devoted for studying some types of operators between

normed spaces and their characterizations.
Definition 1. Let X and Y be two linear spaces over the same scalar
field F . Then the operator T from X into Y is said to be linear if and
only if
T (αx + βy) = αT (x) + βT (y) ∀x, y ∈ X and α, β ∈ F.
Equivalently; if and only if the following are true:
T (x + y) = T (x) + T (y) ∀x, y ∈ X,
and
T (αx) = αT (x) ∀α ∈ F.
The kernel of the linear operator T denoted by Ker(T ) and is defined
by
Ker(T ) := { x : x ∈ X, T (x) = 0 }.
The range of the linear operator T denoted by Range(T ) and is defined
by
Range(T ) := { T (x) : x ∈ X }.
Equivalently,
Range(T ) := { y : y ∈ Y, ∃x ∈ X, T (x) = y }.
Examples:
(1) Let X be a linear space. Then the identity operator is lin-
ear from X into X, T (x) = x ∀x ∈ X, Ker(T ) = {0} and
Range(T ) = X.
(2) Let X and Y be two linear spaces. Then the zero operator is
linear from X into Y , T (x) = 0 ∀x ∈ X, Ker(T ) = X and
Range(T ) = {0}.
1
2 SAHAR MOHAMED ALI ABOU BAKR

(3) Let X be the linear space of all real valued functions on [a, b]
that have continuous derivatives, C[a, b]. The differential oper-
ator, T : C[a, b] → C[a, b], defined by
d
(T (f ))(x) = (f (t))|t=x
dt
is linear operator from C[a, b] into itself.
Some basic properties of linear operators are given in the following
lemma:
Lemma 1. Let T be a linear operator from X into Y . Then the fol-
lowing hold:
(1) T (0) = 0,
(2) Ker(T ) is linear subspace of X,
(3) Range(T ) is linear subspace of Y .
Proof. (1) Since 0 = 2(0), we have T (0) = T (2(0)) = 2T (0) gives
that T (0) = 0.
(2) Let x and y be two elements in Ker(T ) and α, β ∈ F be arbi-
trary scalars. Then we have
T (αx + βy) = αT (x) + βT (y) = α(0) + β(0) = 0.
Thus this shows that αx+βy ∈ Ker(T ). Consequently; Ker(T )
is a linear subspace of X.
(3) Let z and w be two elements in Range(T ) and α, β ∈ F be
arbitrary scalars. Then there are two elements x and y in X
such that T (x) = z and T (y) = w from which we get
αz + βw = αT (x) + βT (y) = T (αx + βy)
This shows that there is αx+βy ∈ X that satisfies T (αx+βy) =
αz + βw, hence αz + βw ∈ Range(T ). Consequently; Range(T )
is linear subspace of Y .

Remark. Using the induction process we can prove for any linear map-
ping that
∑ n ∑
n
T( αi xi ) = αi T (xi ) ∀{xi }ni=1 ⊂ X and {αi }ni=1 ⊂ F.
i=1 i=1

Definition 2. Let (X, ∥.∥x ) and (Y, ∥.∥y ) be two normed spaces over
the same field F . Then the operator T from X into Y is said to be
(1) Bounded if and only if there is a real number M such that
∥T (x)∥y ≤ M ∥x∥x ∀x ∈ X.
 LINEAR BOUNDED OPERATORS 3

In this case the norm of the bounded operator T is defined by:

∥T ∥ := inf{ M : ∥T (x)∥y ≤ M ∥x∥x }.
Or as we will see, equivalently we have
∥T ∥ := sup{ ∥T (x)∥y : x ∈ X, ∥x∥x = 1 }.
∥T (x)∥y
∥T ∥ := sup{ : 0 ̸= x ∈ X }.
∥x∥x
(2) Continuous at the point x = a ∈ X if and only if

∀ϵ > 0∃δ(a, ϵ) in general depends on both a and ϵ such that

∥T (x) − T (a)∥y < ϵ whenever ∥x − a∥x < δ(x, ϵ).
Equivalently,
∀ ϵ > 0 ∃δ(a, ϵ) such that if x ∈ Nδ (a), then T (x) ∈ Nϵ (T (a)).
Or,
∀ ϵ > 0 ∃δ(a, ϵ) such that T (Nδ (a)) ⊂ Nϵ (T (a)).
(3) Continuous on X if and only it is continuous at every point in
X.
(4) Uniformly continuous if and only if
∀ ϵ > 0 ∃δ(ϵ) independent on any element in X such that
∥T (x) − T (y)∥y < ϵ whenever x, y ∈ X and ∥x − y∥x < δ(ϵ).
We have the following definition:
Definition 3. Let (X, ∥.∥x ) be a normed space over the field F and f
be a function from X into F , then f is called functional on X and
(1) f is said to be bounded if and only if there is a real number M
such that
|f (x)| ≤ M ∥x∥x ∀x ∈ X.
(2) f is said to be continuous at the point x = a ∈ X if and only if
∀ ϵ > 0 ∃δ(a, ϵ) depends in general on both a and ϵ such that
|f (x) − f (a)| < ϵ whenever ∥x − a∥x < δ(x, ϵ).
Equivalently,
∀ ϵ > 0 ∃δ(a, ϵ) such that if x ∈ Nδ (a), thenf (x) ∈ Nϵ (f (a)).
Or,
∀ ϵ > 0 ∃δ(a, ϵ) such that f (Nδ (a)) ⊂ Nϵ (f (a)).
4 SAHAR MOHAMED ALI ABOU BAKR

Remark. The real valued function can be defined to be bounded in

the sense that its range is bounded. In this sense the range of the
identity real valued function f : R → R, f (x) = x is not bounded as
it is real valued function onto R. But if we consider the normed space
(R, |.|) with the boundednes sense definition as f : R → R, f (x) = x
is mapping from normed space (R, |.|) into itself, we see that |f (x)| =
|x| ≤ |x|∀x ∈ R, hence f is bounded with ∥f ∥ = 1.
0.1. Examples. We have the following examples:
(1) Consider the normed space of real numbers, (R, |.|) the func-
tional 

−1, if x < −1;
(0.1) f (x) = x, if − 1 ≤ x < 1;

2, if 1 ≤ x < 2;
is bounded in both senses because −1 ≤ f (x) ≤ 2∀x ∈ R which
implies that Range(T ) is bounded subset of R, on the other
side, we have
|f (x)| ≤ 2|x|∀x ∈ R,
that is; f is bounded in the norm sense and ∥f ∥ = 2. Note that
the function f is not continuous at x = 1.
(2) The following example explains how the changes in the norms on
the given normed space X affect the norms of the same defined
operator on that underlying space. The operator T : R2 → R2
defined by
T (x = (x1 , x2 )) = (x1 , x1 ) for x = (x1 , x2 ) ∈ R2
is linear. Indeed; the linearity of T is proved as follows: Given
two arbitrarily elements x = (x1 , x2 ) and y = (y1 , y2 ) in R2 and
α, β ∈ R, we have

T (αx + βy) = T (α(x1 , x2 ) + β(y1 , y2 ))

= T ( (αx1 , αx2 ) + (βy1 , βy2 ) )
= T ( (αx1 + βy1 , αx2 + βy2 ) )
= (αx1 + βy1 , αx1 + βy1 )
= (αx1 , αx1 ) + (βy1 , βy1 )
= α(x1 , x1 ) + β(y1 , y1 )
= αT ((x1 , x2 )) + βT ((y1 , y2 ))
= αT (x) + βT (y).
 LINEAR BOUNDED OPERATORS 5

It is bounded in each of the following cases:

(a) Case 1: When R2 endowed with the norm ∥x = (x1 , x2 )∥∞ =
max{ |x1 |, |x2 | }. Indeed; the inequality
∥T (x)∥∞ = ∥T ((x1 , x2 ))∥∞ = ∥(x1 , x1 )∥∞
= max{ |x1 |, |x1 | } = |x1 |
≤ max{ |x1 |, |x2 | }
= ∥(x1 , x2 )∥∞
= ∥x∥∞

proves that T is bounded with ∥T ∥ ≤ 1 on the other

hand, we have ∥(1, 1)∥∞ = 1 and ∥T ∥ ≥ ∥T (1, 1)∥∞ =
∥(1, 1)∥∞ = 1, thus ∥T ∥ ≥ 1, combining the last two in-
equalities prove that ∥T ∥ = 1.
(b) Case 2: When R2 endowed with the norm ∥x = (x1 , x2 )∥1 =
|x1 | + |x2 |. Indeed the inequality
∥T (x)∥1 = ∥T ((x1 , x2 ))∥1 = ∥(x1 , x1 )∥1
= |x1 | + |x1 | = 2|x1 |
≤ 2[|x1 | + |x2 |]
= 2∥(x1 , x2 )∥1 = 2∥x∥1

proves that T is bounded with ∥T ∥ ≤ 2 on the other hand,

we have ∥(1, 0)∥1 = 1 and ∥T ∥ ≥ ∥T (1, 0)∥1 = ∥(1, 1)∥1 =
2, thus ∥T ∥ ≥ 2, combining the last two inequalities prove
that ∥T ∥ = 2.
(c) Case
√ 3: When R2 endowed with the norm ∥x = (x1 , x2 )∥2 =
2
|x1 |2 + |x2 |2 . Indeed the inequality
∥T (x)∥2 = ∥T ((x1 , x2 ))∥2 = ∥(x1 , x1 )∥2
√ √
= 2 |x1 |2 + |x1 |2 = 2|x1 |
√ √
≤ 2 2 |x1 |2 + |x1 |2
√
= 2∥(x1 , x2 )∥2
√
= 2∥x∥2
√
proves that T is bounded with ∥T ∥ ≤ 2 on the other
hand, we have√ ∥(1, 0)∥2 = 1√and ∥T ∥ ≥ ∥T (1, 0)∥2 =
∥(1, 1)∥2 = 2, thus ∥T ∥ ≥ √2, combining the last two
inequalities prove that ∥T ∥ = 2.
6 SAHAR MOHAMED ALI ABOU BAKR

0.2. Problems. Solve the following:

(1) Show that each of the following self defined mappings, mappings
map lp into lp is linear and bounded
(a) The right shift operator,
T ({xn }∞
n=1 ) = { 0, x1 , x2 , x3 , . . . }.

(b) The left shift operator,

T ({xn }∞
n=1 ) = { x2 , x3 , x4 , . . . }.

(c) The n-projection operator,

Pn ({xn }∞
n=1 ) = { x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , . . . , xn , 0, 0, . . . }.

Then estimate the norm of the operator in each case.

(2) If X is a normed space and T : lp (X) → X, then show that the
following defined operators are linear and bounded:
(a) T ({xn }∞
n=1 ) = xi ,
(b) T ({xn }∞
n=1 ) = n! , where n! = 1 × 2 × · · · × (n − 1) × n,
xn

and then estimate the norm of the given operator in each case.
(3) Let {xn }∞
n=1 be a bounded sequence of real or complex numbers,
{xn }∞
n=1 ∈ l∞ and T be the functional T : l1 → R or C defined
by

∑
∞
f (x) = f ({αn }∞
n=1 ) = ({αn }∞ ∞
n=1 )({xn }n=1 ) := αn xn for{αn }∞
n=1 ∈ l1 .
n=1
Then show that f is well defined linear bounded functional with
∥f ∥ = sup∞
n=1 |xn |.

Theorem 1. Let (X, ∥.∥x ) and (Y, ∥.∥y ) be two normed spaces over
the same field F . If T is linear bounded operator from X into Y , then
the following are equivalent:
(1) The norm of T is given by
∥T (x)∥y
∥T ∥ := sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }.
∥x∥x
(2) The norm of T is given by
∥T ∥ := sup{ ∥T (x)∥y : x ∈ X, ∥x∥x = 1 }.
(3) The norm of T is given by
∥T ∥ := sup{ ∥T (x)∥y : x ∈ X, ∥x∥x ≤ 1 }.
(4) The norm of T is given by
∥T ∥ := inf{ M : |T (x)∥y ≤ M ∥x∥x }.
 LINEAR BOUNDED OPERATORS 7

1. The Linear Space of all Bounded Operators between

Normed Spaces
For the linear space of all linear bounded operators between normed
spaces, we have the following important theorem:
Theorem 2. Let (X, ∥.∥x ) and (Y, ∥.∥y ) be two normed spaces over the
same field F and B(X, Y ) be the space of all linear bounded operators
from X into Y . Then we have the following:
(1) The space B(X, Y ) is a linear space with the usual operators
addition and scalar multiplication,
(T + S)(x) = T (x) + S(x) for x ∈ X, T, S ∈ B(X, Y ),
and
(αT )(x) = α(T (x)) for T ∈ B(X, Y ) and α ∈ F.
In addition
(2) B(X, Y ) is a normed space endowed with the norm
∥T (x)∥y
∥T ∥ := sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }.
∥x∥x
Moreover;
(3) If Y is Banach space, then B(X, Y ) is Banach space.
Proof. (1) First: If T and S are two elements in B(X, Y ) and α ∈
F , then T + S and αT are belonging to B(X, Y ). In fact; let
x, y ∈ X and α, β, and γ ∈ F we have
(T + S)(γx + βy) = T (γx + βy) + S(γx + βy)
= γT (x) + βT (y) + γS(x) + βS(y)
= [γT (x) + γS(x)] + [βT (y) + βS(y)]
= γ[T (x) + S(x)] + β[T (y) + S(y)]
= γ(T + S)(x) + β(T + S)(y),
thus the sum T + S is linear, hence B(X, Y ) is closed under the
addition operation, on the other side
(αT )(γx + βy) = α[T (γx + βy)] = α[γT (x) + βT (y)]
= αγT (x) + αβT (y) = γαT (x) + βαT (y)
= γ(αT )(x) + β(αT )(y)
thus αT is linear, hence B(X, Y ) is closed under the scalar
multiplication operation. The other linear space’s axioms are
clearly satisfied.
8 SAHAR MOHAMED ALI ABOU BAKR

(2) Second: We verify first that ∥T ∥ := sup{ ∥T∥x∥

(x)∥y
x
: x ̸= 0, x ∈
X } is a norm on B(X, Y ).
• Clearly from the definition, the supremum is taken over
positive real numbers, ∥T ∥ ≥ 0 holds for all T ∈ B(X, Y ).
• The equality ∥T ∥ = 0 gives that sup{ ∥T∥x∥
(x)∥y
x
: x ̸= 0, x ∈
X } = 0 , thus ∥T∥x∥
(x)∥y
x
= 0 ∀x ̸= 0, x ∈ X, hence ∥T (x)∥y =
0 ∀x ̸= 0, x ∈ X, since T is linear T (0) = 0 shows that
T (x) = 0 ∀x ∈ X, that is equivalent to that T = 0.
• Third: The proof of the identity ∥αT ∥ = |α| ∥T ∥ is as
follows:
∥(αT )(x)∥y ∥α(T (x))∥y
∥αT ∥ = sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X } = sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }
∥x∥x ∥x∥x
|α|∥T (x)∥y ∥T (x)∥y
= sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X } = |α| sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }
∥x∥x ∥x∥x
= |α| ∥T ∥
• Fourth: The proof of the triangle inequality is as follows:
Let T and S be two elements in B(X, Y ). Then
∥(T + S)(x)∥y
∥T + S∥ = sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }
∥x∥x
∥T (x) + S(x)∥y
= sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }
∥x∥x
∥T (x)∥y + ∥S(x)∥y
≤ sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }
∥x∥x
∥T (x)∥y ∥S(x)∥y
= sup{ + : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }
∥x∥x ∥x∥x
∥T (x)∥y ∥S(x)∥y
≤ sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X } + sup{ : x ̸= 0, x ∈ X }
∥x∥x ∥x∥x
= ∥T ∥ + ∥S∥.
Consequently ∥T + S∥ ≤ ∥T ∥ + ∥S∥.
(3) Now; assume that Y is a Banach space. To show that B(X, Y )
is a Banach space. Let {Tn }∞
n=1 be a Cauchy sequence in B(X, Y ).
Then
∥Tn − Tm ∥ →n, m→∞ = 0,
using the relation ∥Tn (x) − Tm (x)∥ ≤ ∥Tn − Tm ∥ ∥x∥ follows
that for each x ∈ X the sequence {Tn (x)}∞n=1 is Cauchy in Y ,
∞
but Y is Banach space, thus {Tn (x)}n=1 is convergent strongly
 LINEAR BOUNDED OPERATORS 9

to some element in Y , using this limit to define the mapping T

by:
T (x) := lim Tn (x) for x ∈ X.
n→∞
We show that such defined T is linear bounded operator from
X into Y , that is; T ∈ B(X, Y ) and the sequence {Tn }∞ n=1
converges strongly to T .
• The following equality proves that T is linear:
T (γx + βy) = lim Tn (γx + βy) = lim γTn (x) + βTn (y)
n→∞ n→∞
= γ lim Tn (x) + β lim Tn (y) = γT (x) + βT (y)
n→∞ n→∞
• Using the continuity of the norm and the fact that each
Cauchy sequence is bounded, the following inequality proves
that T is bounded:
∥T (x)∥ = ∥ lim Tn (x)∥ = lim ∥Tn (x)∥ = lim ∥Tn ∥ ∥x∥
n→∞ n→∞ n→∞
≤ lim [ sup ∥Tn ∥] ∥x∥ = [ sup ∥Tn ∥] ∥x∥
n→∞ n→∞ n→∞

and that ∥T ∥ ≤ supn→∞ ∥Tn ∥.

• It remains to show that the sequence {Tn }∞
n=1 is strongly
convergent to T . Since
∥(Tn − T )(x)∥ = ∥Tn (x) − T (x)∥ = ∥Tn (x) − lim Tm (x)∥
m→∞
= lim ∥Tn (x) − Tm (x)∥ = lim ∥(Tn − Tm )(x)∥
m→∞ m→∞
≤ lim ∥Tn − Tm ∥ ∥x∥
m→∞

holds for every x in X, we see that ∥Tn −T ∥ ≤ limm→∞ ∥Tn −

Tm ∥. Taking the limit as n tends to infinity proves the re-
quired convergent.

We end this section with the following remark:
Remark. Let (X, ∥.∥x ), (Y, ∥.∥y ), and (Z, ∥.∥y ) be three normed spaces
over the same field F . If T is linear bounded operator from X into Y
and S is linear bounded operator from Y into Z, then their composition
(S ◦ T )(x) = S(T (x)) ∀x ∈ X is linear and bounded operator from X
into Z and that ∥S ◦ T ∥ ≤ ∥S∥ ∥T ∥.
E-mail address: saharm ali@yahoo.com;, saharm ali@sci.asu.edu.eg

Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams Univer-

sity, Cairo, Egypt.