Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 November 2011
For many purposes, and in particular for the calculation of upper and lower bounds to bilinear forms 〈g0,f〉, where f is the solution to an operator equation and g0 is known, it isuseful to obtain an approximation to the inverse of the operator.
For a normal operator A acting in a complex Hilbert space with bounded inverse A−1, we use a direct approach through fundamental results in functional analysis and derive a recipe for the ‘best formula’ for A−1 of form B = βI with β constant and I the identity operator. Examples illustrate that this leads to improved results for certain classes of operator.
The investigation is extended to the representation of A−1 by a polynomial in A withcomplex coefficients. For polynomials of first and higher orders the application is restricted to bounded self-adjoint operators; at first order, explicit formulae are given.
Application of the method to Fredholm operators is considered in detail, and its use for the point-wise solution to Fredholm integral equations is illustrated.