# Combining Norms

• December 23rd 2013, 04:26 PM
SlipEternal
Combining Norms
The p-adic norms are all of the possible norms on the rationals (any other norm is equivalent to one of the p-adic norms, where p is prime or infinity). Given two norms on a space (say the p-adic and q-adic norms), is there a way to combine them? For example, given $r \in \mathbb{Q}$, would $\sqrt{|r|_p^2 + |r|_q^2}$ be a norm on the rationals? If not, is there an intuitive way to "combine" norms?
• December 23rd 2013, 10:04 PM
chiro
Re: Combining Norms
Hey SlipEternal.

What do you want to do? Do you want to show that some new combination of norms meets the requirements for a norm in some space? In other words, do you want to show that your expression involving the square root meets the criteria for a norm?
• December 24th 2013, 01:22 AM
SlipEternal
Re: Combining Norms
Hey Chiro,

I am looking for a way to describe sequences that are Cauchy with respect to multiple norms simultaneously. For example, I want to extend the rationals by all sequences that converge with respect to both the p-adic and q-adic norms. So, I hoped each sequence that converges with respect to both of those norms might also converge with respect to a third norm (one that somehow combines the two). But, I think an easier way of dealing with it might be to avoid norms and use a metric, instead. I can define $d:\mathbb{Q} \times \mathbb{Q} \to [0,\infty)$ by $d(a,b) = \max\{|b-a|_p,|b-a|_q\}$. Then, I can use that metric to evaluate sequences, and extend the rationals that way.