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Let C0([0,1])be a subspace of C([0,1]), a functional space consisting of real-value continuous functions over the interval [0,1], such that

C0([0,1])={fC([0,1])01f(t)dt=0}

, and define the norm as f=supx[0,1]|f(x)|.

Then, define linear operator L:C0([0,1])C([0,1]) as

(Lf)(x)=0x(xt)f(t)dt(x[0,1])

I can show that L is bounded by using some inequalities, but what is the operator norm ||L||?

So far, I hypothesize that L=14, by considering the definition L=sup{Lf:fC0([0,1])withf=1}, and then thinking of a continuous function that is very close to this one:

f(x)={1(0x1/2)1(1/2<x1)

(I know this is not even continuous, but I'm thinking of an intuitive way to estimate L by thinking of a function f that satisfies f=1, and would give the maximum of Lf.)

And then I get the 14by calculating (assume x>1/2)

0x(xt)f(t)dt=01/2(xt)dt+1/2x(tx)dt=12x2+x14

and finding the maximum value of the result (14 at x=1)

Where do I go from here? How can I give a more mathematical approach to calculating L? Thank you in advance.

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Hints: Let fn(x)=n(x12+1n)+1 for 121nx12+1n, 1 for x121n and 1 for x12+1n. Then fn is continuous and fn(x)dx=0. Observe also that (Lg can be defined for any integrable function g) and |Lf(x)||f(t)|dt for all x. Show that |fn(x)f(x)|dx0 (where f is the discontinuous function you have introduced). Conclude that LfnLf. Can you finish?

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  • Thank you for the comment! I was wondering if there is any way to prove that there are no functions fC0([0,1])={fC([0,1])01f(t)dt=0} so that ||f||=1 and ||Lf||would become greater than 14 – Kay Jul 14 '20 at 8:38

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