TITLE: Cauchy Sequence in $X$ on $[0,1]$ with norm $\int_{0}^{1} |x(t)|dt$
QUESTION [11 upvotes]: In Luenberger's Optimization book pg. 34 an example says "Let $X$ be the space of continuous functions on $[0,1]$ with norm defined as $\|x\| = \int_{0}^{1} |x(t)|dt$". In order to prove $X$ is incomplete, he defines a sequence of elements in $X$ by
$$ x_n(t) =
\left\{ \begin{array}{ll}
0 &  0 \le t \le \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{n} \\ \\
nt-\frac{n}{2} + 1 &  \frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{n} \le t \le \frac{1}{2} \\ \\
1 & t \ge \frac{1}{2}
\end{array} \right.
 $$
Each member of the sequence is a continuous function and thus member of space $X$. Then he says:

the sequence is Cauchy since, as it is easily verified, $\|x_n - x_m\| = \frac{1}{2}\left|\dfrac1n - \dfrac1m\right| \to 0$. 

as $n,m \to \infty$. I tried to verify the norm $\|x_n - x_m\|$ by computing the integral for the norm. The piecewise function is not dependent on $n,m$ on the last piece (for $t \ge 1/2$), so norm $\|x_n - x_m\|$ is 0. For the middle piece I calculated the integral, it comes up zero. That leaves the first piece, and I did not receive the result Luenberger has. Is there something wrong in my approach?

REPLY [5 votes]: A picture may help:

The area is $${1\over 2}\cdot 1\cdot ( {1\over 2}-a_m) - {1\over2}\cdot1\cdot({1\over2}-a_n)
 = {1\over 2}{1\over m} -{1\over2}{1\over n.}$$

I did not see Martin's answer as I was typing this. Should I delete this?