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Complete Biorthogonal System


A complete biorthogonal system in a Banach space X over R or C is a pair of indexed families {x_i}_(i in I) in X and {lambda_i}_(i in I) in its dual normed space X^*. The vector space span of the vectors x_i is dense in X, and

 lambda_j(x_i)=delta_(ij),
(1)

where delta_(ij) is the Kronecker delta. The elements of X^* are continuous linear functionals (Heil 1998, p. 50; Halbeisen 2003, p. 162).

Biorthogonality is a pairing between vectors and linear functionals. It does not require two families of functions to be mutually orthogonal. For a sequence of such pairs, completeness alone does not guarantee the norm-convergent expansion x=sum_(i)lambda_i(x)x_i for every x in X. That additional property makes {x_i} a Schauder basis (Heil 1998, p. 51).

For example, in the L2-space L^2([-pi,pi]), take phi_0(x)=1, phi_(2n-1)(x)=cos(nx), and phi_(2n)(x)=sin(nx) for n>=1. The corresponding continuous linear functionals are

lambda_0(f)=1/(2pi)int_(-pi)^pif(x)dx
(2)
lambda_(2n-1)(f)=1/piint_(-pi)^pif(x)cos(nx)dx
(3)
lambda_(2n)(f)=1/piint_(-pi)^pif(x)sin(nx)dx.
(4)

The orthogonality of the entire trigonometric family, including its constant member, gives lambda_j(phi_i)=delta_(ij). Its vector space span is dense in the L2-space, so these pairs form a complete biorthogonal system (Axler 2026, pp. 237 and 356). They supply the coefficient pairing for the Fourier series.


See also

Banach Space, Complete Orthogonal System, Dual Normed Space, Fourier Series, Generalized Fourier Series

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References

Axler, S. Measure, Integration & Real Analysis. Author-hosted revision, June 12, 2026. https://measure.axler.net/MIRA.pdf.Halbeisen, L. "A Set-Theoretic Approach to Complete Minimal Systems in Banach Spaces of Bounded Functions." Matematychni Studii 20, 162-166, 2003. https://doi.org/10.30970/ms.20.2.162-166.Heil, C. A Basis Theory Primer. Original unexpanded manuscript, corrected Jan. 1998. https://heil.math.gatech.edu/papers/bases.pdf.

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Complete Biorthogonal System

Cite this as:

Weisstein, Eric W. "Complete Biorthogonal System." From MathWorld--A Wolfram Resource. https://mathworld.wolfram.com/CompleteBiorthogonalSystem.html

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