ABSTRACT

In this lecture we study multiplicative linear functionals on a Banach algebra and introduce the notion of the maximal ideal space. When the Banach algebra A https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315137292/676aa42d-79c8-4246-bc0f-e0fd47650f7d/content/eq231.tif"/> is commutative, we shall show that the set of multiplicative linear functionals on A https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315137292/676aa42d-79c8-4246-bc0f-e0fd47650f7d/content/eq232.tif"/> can be identified with the set of maximal ideals in A https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315137292/676aa42d-79c8-4246-bc0f-e0fd47650f7d/content/eq233.tif"/> .