Functional Analysis Revisited : An Essay on Completeness

Suitable for graduate students, this book reviews basic functional analysis focusing on the fundamental notion of completeness, demonstrating how it lies at the core of our understanding of mathematics. The theory is introduced step by step using examples and exercises; applications to other branches of mathematics are discussed in depth.

'Functional Analysis Revisited' is not a first course in functional analysis – although it covers the basic notions of functional analysis, it assumes the reader is somewhat acquainted with them. It is by no means a second course either: there are too many deep subjects that are not within scope here. Instead, having the basics under his belt, the author takes the time to carefully think through their fundamental consequences. In particular, the focus is on the notion of completeness and its implications, yet without venturing too far from areas where the description 'elementary' is still valid. The author also looks at some applications, perhaps just outside the core of functional analysis, that are not completely trivial. The aim is to show how functional analysis influences and is influenced by other branches of contemporary mathematics. This is what we mean by 'Functional Analysis Revisited.'