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In mathematics, Helly's selection theorem states that a sequence of functions that is locally of bounded total
variation and uniformly bounded at a point has a convergent subsequence. In other words, it is a compactness
theorem for the space BVloc. It is named for the Austrian mathematician Eduard Helly.
The theorem has applications throughout mathematical analysis. In probability theory, the result implies
compactness of a tight family of measures.
Contents
1 Statement of the theorem
2 Generalizations
3 See also
4 References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helly's_selection_theorem
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Generalizations
There are many generalizations and refinements of Helly's theorem. The following theorem, for BV functions
taking values in Banach spaces, is due to Barbu and Precupanu:
Let X be a reflexive, separable Hilbert space and let E be a closed, convex subset of X. Let : X [0, +) be
positive-definite and homogeneous of degree one. Suppose that zn is a uniformly bounded sequence in
BV([0, T]; X) with zn(t) E for all n N and t [0, T]. Then there exists a subsequence znk and functions
, z BV([0, T]; X) such that
for all t [0, T],
See also
Bounded variation
Frakov-Helly selection theorem
Total variation
References
Barbu, V.; Precupanu, Th. (1986). Convexity and optimization in Banach spaces. Mathematics and its
Applications (East European Series) 10 (Second Romanian Edition ed.). Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing
Co. xviii+397. ISBN 90-277-1761-3. MR 860772 (http://www.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=860772)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helly%27s_selection_theorem&oldid=590410369"
Categories: Compactness theorems Theorems in analysis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helly's_selection_theorem
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helly's_selection_theorem
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