# Question on Hahn-Banach theorem

I'm having difficulties with solving following problem.

Find a linear functional in $C[0,1]^*$ such that cannot be extended to $L^p [0,1]$ Why such a linear functional cannot be extended?

I know I should choose a linear functional which is not bounded... But then I don't know how to proceed that such an unbounded functional actually cannot be extended.

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What does the * mean on C[0,1]*? –  John Nov 6 '12 at 15:36
@John dual space of C[0,1] –  Detectives Nov 6 '12 at 16:13

Try a pointwise evaluation, i.e. $\delta_0:f\mapsto f(0)$.

Edit: A few clarifications.

First, $\delta_0$ is well-defined; if you want to see $C[0,1]$ inside $L^p$ already, then every time an equivalence class contains a continuous function, such function is unique.

As for why the extension cannot exist: first, one needs to say clearly what it means "doesn't exist". For linear functions can always be extended between vectors spaces (this is just linear algebra). The point here is that one wants a continuous extension. But the norm in $L^p$ is a different one, and sequences that didn't had a limit now do. For instance, consider the functions $g_n(t)=(1-nt)1_{[0,1/n]}$. They are all continuous and all satisfy $g_n(0)=1$, so $\delta_0(g_n)=1$ for all $n$. But, in $L^p$, $g_n\to0$, and thus $\delta_0(\lim g_n)\ne\lim\delta_0(g_n)$. So $\delta_0$ cannot be continuous.

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Is that well-defined, though? Technically, $L^p$ doesn't contain functions but rather equalence classes of functions which only differ on a set of measure 0. At least of you want $L^p$ to be a normed space... –  fgp Nov 6 '12 at 15:21
@fgp You have a well defined embedding $C([0,1]) \to L^p([0,1])$. And on $C[0,1]$ evaluation is well defined ... –  martini Nov 6 '12 at 15:46
@martini if we say pointwise evaluation at 0 be $\delta_0$ , you mean that $||\delta_0|| = \displaystyle sup_{||f||_{\inf} =1} |\delta_0(f)|$ can be arbitrary large, since {0} has zero measure? –  Detectives Nov 6 '12 at 16:19
@martini but then how can we say about extension of $\delta_0$ is impossible? –  Detectives Nov 6 '12 at 16:22
@martini Yeah, I don't doubt that your answer is essentially correct. But since the OP seems to be new to functional analysis, I figured it'd make sense to point out that there is a small technical difficulty. If this is homework, I think he'll be expected to note that difficulty and e.h. state that if you embedd $C[0,1]$ into $L^P[0,1]$, each equivalent class in the image will contain exactly one continous function, and that it's that representative which is evaluated at $0$. –  fgp Nov 6 '12 at 17:11