Hahn—Banach theorem says that : Let $E$ a $\mathbb R-$vector space and $p:E\to \mathbb R$ a sub-linear application. Let $G$ a subspace of $E$ and $g:G\to \mathbb R$ a linear application. Then there is $f:E\to \mathbb R$ s.t. $f(x)=g(x)$ for all $x\in G$ and $f(x)\leq p(x)$ for all $x\in E$.
In what this theorem is so important ? Is the fact that $\mathcal N(x):=|p(x)|$ is important or not really ? Since I'm not very used to the linear form and sub-linear application, I don't really see interesting thing behind, so if someone who can tell me more, it would be great.