On Dirichlet's principle and its applications (Q1269586)

The following theorem is proved: If \(A\) is a selfadjoint operator on \(H\) with norm \(0<\| A\|< \infty\) and \[ f_A= \lim{1\over n} \sum^{n-1}_{k= 0} {A^kf\over\lambda^k},\quad| \lambda|= \| A\|, \] then \(Af_A= \lambda f_A\) for every \(f\in H\). Applications to the theory of differential operators and to the theory of numbers are given.