An approximation property and the sphere of \(L_1\) (Q1960908)

The author gives a very elementary and short proof that any infinite dimensional \(L^1\) space does not satisfy the following property: A normed linear space \(E\) is said to have property \(P\) if for every \(\varepsilon>0\), there is a \(\delta>0\) such that, for every \(x\in E\), there is a \(z\in E\) with \(\|z\|\leq\varepsilon\) such that \(\|y\|\leq 1+\delta\) and \(\|x-y\|\leq 1\) imply \(\|y-z\|\leq 1\). A stronger property, called \(P_1\), had been introduced by \textit{J. Mach} [Math. Ann. 240, 157-164 (1979; Zbl 0388.41014); J. Approx. Theory 25, 258-265 (1979; Zbl 0422.41022)] in connection with the simultaneous approximation of functions and the approximation of compact operators. J. Mach showed that uniformly convex spaces and spaces of continuous functions satisfy \(P_1\), and asked whether \(L^1\) also satisfies this property. A complicated proof was given by \textit{A. Kamal} [Int. J. Math. Math. Sci. 21, No. 1, 159-163 (1998; Zbl 0911.41020)], which originates this one.