Checking Surjectivity of $T: \ell^2 \to \ell^2$ with Specific Transformations

functional-analysislp-spaces

Let $T: \ell^2 \to \ell^2$ the operator defined as
$$T(x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4, \ldots) = (x_1 + x_2, x_2 + x_3, x_3 + x_4, x_4+ x_5, \ldots)$$
where
$$\ell^2 = \left\{ (x_n)_{n=1}^\infty : \sum_{n=1}^\infty |x_n|^2 < \infty \right\}$$
I need to prove that $T$ is not surjective. I managed to prove that $T$ is injective and that $T = I + S$, where $I$ is the identity operator and $S$ is the right shift operator. I know that $S$ is not surjective, but no idea how to deal with $T$.

Any help will be appreciated.

Best Answer

Hint: Notice that if $(y_n)_{n=1}^\infty$ is in the image of $T$, then $y_n=x_n+x_{n+1}$, for some sequence $(x_n)_{n=1}^\infty\in\ell ^2$, which implies $$\sum_{n=1}^k(-1)^{n+1}y_n=x_1+(-1)^{k+1}x_{k+1}$$In particular, for $k\rightarrow \infty$, the alternating sum $\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^{n+1}y_n$ converges (to $x_1$ in this case). This is a necessary condition for being in the image of $T$.

Can you think of a sequence $(y_n)_{n=1}^\infty\in\ell^2$ such that $\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^{n+1}y_n$ does not converge?

Edit: You can prove that $\sum^k_{n=1}(-1)^{n+1}y_n=x_1+(-1)^ny_{n+1}$ by induction. Starting with $k=1$ we have simply $$y_1=x_1+(-1)^{k+1}x_{k+1}=x_1+x_2$$which is true by assumption. Assuming the formula is proved for $k$, $$\sum^{k+1}_{n=1}(-1)^{n+1}y_n=\sum_{n=1}^k(-1)^{n+1}y_n+(-1)^{k+2}y_{k+2}=\\x_1+\underbrace{(-1)^{k+1}x_{k+1}+(-1)^{k+2}x_{k+1}}_{=0}+(-1)^{k+2}x_{k+2}=x_1+(-1)^{k+2}x_{k+2}$$