Closures and Infinite Products

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter joeboo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Infinite
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the closure properties of indexed collections of spaces under the box topology versus the product topology, specifically addressing the statement that for a collection of subsets A_\alpha in spaces X_\alpha, the closure of the product of A_\alpha is equal to the product of the closures of A_\alpha. The user successfully proves the inclusion \overline{\prod_\alpha{A_\alpha}} \subset \prod_\alpha{\overline{A_\alpha}}, but questions the validity of the reverse inclusion under the box topology. The conversation highlights the potential pitfalls of the box topology, suggesting that the finiteness property of the product topology may be crucial in establishing the equivalence.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Munkres' Topology concepts
  • Familiarity with product and box topologies
  • Knowledge of closure operations in topological spaces
  • Ability to work with indexed collections of topological spaces
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the differences between product topology and box topology in detail
  • Learn about closure properties in various topological spaces
  • Investigate counterexamples related to closure in box topology
  • Explore the implications of the finiteness property in topology proofs
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, topology students, and researchers interested in advanced concepts of topological spaces and their properties, particularly those studying closure operations and the nuances of different topological structures.

joeboo
Messages
35
Reaction score
0
( This is from an exercise in Munkres' Topology )

Let [itex]X_\alpha[/itex] be an indexed collection of spaces, and [itex]A_\alpha \subset X_\alpha[/itex] be a collection of subsets.
Under the product topology, show that, as a subset of [itex]X = \prod_\alpha{X_\alpha}[/itex]

[tex]\overline{\prod_\alpha{A_\alpha}} = \prod_\alpha{\overline{A_\alpha}}[/tex]

This part I have no problem with. However, he then asks if this holds under the box topology on [itex]X[/itex]

Clearly ( closure being the intersection of all containing closed sets ):

[tex]\overline{\prod_\alpha{A_\alpha}} \subset \prod_\alpha{\overline{A_\alpha}}[/tex]

The reverse inclusion, on the other hand, has me in a twist.

The following is my attempt at a proof:

Let [itex]x = (x_\alpha) \in \prod_\alpha{\overline{A_\alpha}}[/itex], and [itex]U \subset X[/itex] be a neighborhood of [itex]x[/itex]. We can assume [itex]U[/itex] is a basis element for the box topology on [itex]X[/itex]
Then [itex]\exists \hspace{3} U_\alpha \subset X_\alpha[/itex] such that [itex]U = \prod_\alpha{U_\alpha}[/itex], where [itex]U_\alpha[/itex] are open.

Then we have:
[tex]x = (x_\alpha) \in U \longrightarrow x_\alpha \in U_\alpha[/tex]

Because the [itex]U_\alpha[/itex] are neighborhoods of the [itex]x_\alpha[/itex], and [itex]x_\alpha \in \overline{A_\alpha}[/itex] for all [itex]\alpha[/itex], we have:

[tex]U_\alpha \cap A_\alpha \neq \varnothing[/tex] for all [itex]\alpha[/itex]

so that:

[tex]\prod_\alpha{U_\alpha} \cap \prod_\alpha{A_\alpha} \neq \varnothing[/tex]

That, and [itex]x \in U[/itex] gives:

[tex]x \in \overline{\prod_\alpha{A_\alpha}}[/tex]

and therefore:

[tex]\prod_\alpha{\overline{A_\alpha}} \subset \overline{\prod_\alpha{A_\alpha}}[/tex]

I can't see the flaw in this proof, yet I can't somehow shake the feeling that this inclusion shouldn't hold. I know the box topology can give some funky results ( like the closure of the set of sequences with finitely many non-zero entries, or the product of continuous functions not necessarily being continuous ), so I'm a bit weary of it. That, and the way Munkres states the question gives me the suspicion it's a trick question.
So, is there a flaw with my proof? Or am I just being paranoid ( which I often tend to be )

Thanks in advance for any comments, and also for putting up with my anal-latex exactness.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
joeboo said:
This part I have no problem with.
I have no proof in mind, but a plan. Write it down (I would do it with open sets instead), and find out where you used the finiteness property of the product topology. Either you didn't use it, in which case the proof holds for the box topology, too, or you see how to construct a counterexample, namely such that this step of the proof is hurt.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K