# Equivalent norms

Whenever two norms are equivalent in the sense that $||x||_1\le c_1\cdot ||x||_2$ and $||x||_2\le c_2\cdot ||x||_1$, they generate the same topology. Is the reverse also true, i.e. if a topology is generated by two different norms, are the norms equivalent in the above sense? We know this to be true for $\mathrm{R}^n$, but is it generally true, and if not, what are some counterexamples?

What about a (EDIT:Hausdorff, translationally invariant vector) topology generated by two different metrics, are the metrics equivalent in the sense $d_1(x,y)\le c_1\cdot d_2(x,y)$ and vice versa?

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The answer here is "no." Consider the following two metrics generating the same topology on the positive real halfline: $d_1(x,y) = |x - y|$, and $d_2(x,y) = |1/x - 1/y|$. Because $x\mapsto 1/x$ is not Lipschitz continuous near the origin, the metrics are not equivalent (try to prove this). – William Feb 15 '12 at 20:11

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– David Mitra Feb 15 '12 at 20:15
WNY:Sorry, I meant a translationally invariant metric. One rather trivial example is $|x-y|/(1+|x-y|)$ but that's because it is a bounded metric. – Ivan Feb 15 '12 at 20:22
David Mitra: I am not completely sure about why a norm on space X should induce a norm on a homeomorphic space Y? It'd be good for me to have an example of non-equivalent norms on a Banach space that induce the same topology (and no, this isn't a homework question, it's for my own elucidation:-)) – Ivan Feb 15 '12 at 20:27
I don't see why two norms on two different Banach spaces will induce two different norms on one of the spaces? – Ivan Feb 15 '12 at 20:33
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## 1 Answer

First, let's have a look at the case of a metric space $X$ and two metrics $d_1$ and $d_2$ on it. If these are equivalent, meaning $d_1(x,y) \leq c_1 d_2(x,y)$ and $d_2(x,y)\leq c_2 d_1(x,y)$ for some real numbers $c_1,c_2 > 0$ and all $x,y \in X$, we get the following inclusions for open balls $B_{r}^i(x) = \{y \in X \:|\: d_i(x,y) < r\}$: $$B^2_{\frac{r}{c_1}}(x) \subseteq B^1_r(x)$$ $$B^1_{\frac{r}{c_2}}(x) \subseteq B^2_r(x)$$ for all $x \in X$ and $r > 0$. As every open subset is a union of open balls, it follows that the metrics induce the same topology. The case for norms is a corollary now.

Conversely, if the topologies induced by two norms $\|\cdot\|_1$ and $\|\cdot\|_2$ on a vector space $X$ are identical, we have an inclusion $B_r^1(0) \subset B^2_1(0)$ for some $r > 0$. Let $x \in X\setminus{\{0\}}$ and set $y = \frac{rx}{2\|x\|_1}$. Then $\|y\|_1 = \frac{r}{2} < r$, hence $\|y\|_2 < 1$ which shows $\|x\|_2 \leq \frac{2}{r} \|x\|_1$. By symmetry, you get the desired equivalence.

Now the bad news: Two metrics inducing the same topology do not have to be equivalent. take $X = \mathbb{R}$ and $d_1$ the normal norm induced metric and set $d_2 = \frac{d_1}{d_1 + 1}$. It is not difficult to show that $d_1$ and $d_2$ induce the same topology, but there is no $c > 0$ with $d_1(x,y) \leq c \cdot d_2(x,y)$ as the inequality $n \leq c \frac{n}{n + 1}$ does not hold for $n > c$.

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Thank you, a great argument!:-) – Ivan Feb 15 '12 at 20:49

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You've probably seen this argument in the proof that a linear operator between normed spaces is continuous iff it is bounded. This also gives an easy proof for normed spaces: If two norms $||\cdot||_1, ||\cdot||_2$ generate the same topology on $X$ then the identity operator $I : (X, ||\cdot||_1) \to (X, ||\cdot||_2)$ is a homeomorphism. So $I$ and $I^{-1}$ are continuous, hence bounded, and if you write down the definition of bounded you see that it means that the two norms are equivalent. The same argument in reverse also gives the converse. – Nate Eldredge Feb 15 '12 at 21:03
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