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Let $H$ be a Hilbert space. Then, if $M$ is a closed subspace, then I know that $H= M + M^{\star}$, where $M^{\star}$ is the orthogonal complement.

If $M$ is not closed, however, I can consider its closure $\overline M $ and its orthogonal complement $\overline M ^{\star}$ so that $H = \overline M + \overline M ^{\star}$.

But, since orthogonal complements are always closed it seems to me that $\overline M ^{\star} = M ^{\star}$. But, is it so?

yumiko
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1 Answers1

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Since $M \subset \overline{M}$ we get $(\overline{M})^* \subset M^*$.

Next, let $x \in M^*$ and let $y \in \overline{M}$. Pick some $y_n \in M$ such that $y_n \to y$.

Then $$0=<x_n,y> \to <x,y>$$ Therefore $$<x,y>=0$$

This shows that $x \in (\overline{M})^*$. Therefore $M^* \subset (\overline{M})^*$.

N. S.
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