State the Stone-Weierstrass Theorem for real-valued functions.
State Riesz's Lemma.
Let K be a compact, Hausdorff space and let A be a subalgebra of C(K) separating the points of K and containing the constant functions. Fix two disjoint, non-empty, closed subsets E and F of K.
(i) If x∈E show that there exists g∈A such that g(x)=0,0⩽g<1 on K, and g>0 on F. Explain briefly why there is M∈N such that g⩾M2 on F.
(ii) Show that there is an open cover U1,U2,…,Um of E, elements g1,g2,…,gm of A and positive integers M1,M2,…,Mm such that
0⩽gr<1 on K,gr⩾Mr2 on F,gr<2Mr1 on Ur
for each r=1,2,…,m.
(iii) Using the inequality
1−Nt⩽(1−t)N⩽Nt1(0<t<1,N∈N)
show that for sufficiently large positive integers n1,n2,…,nm, the element
hr=1−(1−grnr)Mrnr
of A satisfies
0⩽hr⩽1 on K,hr⩽41 on Ur,hr⩾(43)m1 on F
for each r=1,2,…,m.
(iv) Show that the element h=h1⋅h2⋯⋅hm−21 of A satisfies
−21⩽h⩽21 on K,h⩽−41 on E,h⩾41 on F.
Now let f∈C(K) with ∥f∥⩽1. By considering the sets {x∈K:f(x)⩽−41} and {x∈K:f(x)⩾41}, show that there exists h∈A such that ∥f−h∥⩽43. Deduce that A is dense in C(K).