< mathematics > A complete normed vector space . Metric is induced by the norm: d(x,y) = ||x-y||. Completeness means that every Cauchy sequence converges to an element of the space. All finite-dimensional real and complex normed vector spaces are complete and thus are Banach spaces.
Using absolute value for the norm, the real numbers are a Banach space whereas the rationals are not. This is because there are sequences of rationals that converges to irrationals.
Several theorems hold only in Banach spaces, e.g. the Banach inverse mapping theorem . All finite-dimensional real and complex vector spaces are Banach spaces. Hilbert spaces , spaces of integrable functions , and spaces of absolutely convergent series are examples of infinite-dimensional Banach spaces. Applications include wavelets , signal processing , and radar.
[Robert E. Megginson, "An Introduction to Banach Space Theory", Graduate Texts in Mathematics, 183, Springer Verlag, September 1998].
(2000-03-10)