Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2009
In this paper topological linear spaces are categorised according to the differentiability properties of their continuous convex functions. Mazur's Theorem for Banach spaces is generalised: all separable Baire topological linear spaces are weak Asplund. A class of spaces is given for which Gateaux and Fréchet differentiability of a continuous convex function coincide, which with Mazur's theorem, implies that all Montel Fréchet spaces are Asplund spaces. The effect of weakening the topology of a given space is studied in terms of the space's classification. Any topological linear space with its weak topology is an Asplund space; at the opposite end of the topological spectrum, an example is given of the inductive limit of Asplund spaces which is not even a Gateaux differentiability space.