[Math] Cauchy sequence in a normed space

normed-spacesreal-analysis

Let $V$ be a real vector space. Suppose that $\Vert \cdot \Vert_1$ and $\Vert \cdot \Vert_2$ are two norms on $V$ which are equivalent.

I suspect the following to be true.

Let $(x_n)_{n=0}^\infty$ be a sequence in $V$. Then $(x_n)_n$ is a Cauchy sequence w.r.t. $\Vert \cdot \Vert_1$ if and only if $(x_n)_n$ is a Cauchy sequence w.r.t. $\Vert \cdot \Vert_2$.

Is it true?

I'm looking for a good way to explain why "equivalence" of norms is the right way of "comparing" norms without mentioning anything from topology besides "convergence".

Best Answer

Yes this is true. If $\|\cdot\|_1$ and $\|\cdot\|_2$ are equivalent, then by definition there exist $C > 0, c > 0$ such that $$c\|x\|_1 \le \|x\|_2 \le C\|x\|_1$$ for all $x \in V$.

Suppose that $(x_n) \subset V$ is Cauchy in the norm $\|\cdot\|_2$ and let $\epsilon > 0$. Then there exists an $N > 0$ such that $$\|x_n - x_m\|_2 \le c\epsilon$$ whenever $n,m > N$. Thus $$\|x_n - x_m\|_1 \le \epsilon$$ whenever $n,m > N$. So $(x_n)$ is Cauchy in the norm $\|\cdot\|_1$. The proof of the reverse implication works the same way.

Basically, equivalent norms induce the same open sets, so that as topological spaces $(V, \|\cdot\|_1)$ and $(V, \|\cdot\|_2)$ are the same. In other words, they induce equivalent metrics $d_1$ and $d_2$ on $V$ so that elements of $V$ are "close" with respect to $d_1$ iff they are "close" with respect to $d_2$.

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