# Prove that the intersection of any collection of closed sets in a topological space X

by son
Tags: collection, intersection, prove, sets, space, topological
 P: 7 Prove that the intersection of any collection of closed sets in a topological space X is closed. 1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data 2. Relevant equations 3. The attempt at a solution 1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data 2. Relevant equations 3. The attempt at a solution
 Emeritus Sci Advisor HW Helper PF Gold P: 7,246 What have you tried? Where are you stuck? How is a closed set defined?
 HW Helper P: 3,309 think about complements
P: 3

## Prove that the intersection of any collection of closed sets in a topological space X

I believe, the shortest and the easiest way is to start with the definition of a closed set and what an intersection is.

Good Luck.
 Math Emeritus Sci Advisor Thanks PF Gold P: 38,706 Indeed, the shortest and easiest way to prove anything is to start with the definitions! However, there are many different ways to define "closed set". son, what definition are you using?
 P: 7 the theorem i am using for a closed set is... Let X be a topological space. the following statements about the collection of closed set in X hold: (i) the empty set and X are closed (ii) the intersection of any collection of closed sets is a closed set (iii) the union of finitely many closed sets is a closed set
 P: 3 I am new in the forum ( although I have read it for some time ) and I am not quite sure how much of a hint I am allowed to give you but: You can prove that a set is closed using "balls". I would suggest you to work in this direction.
Mentor
P: 15,911
 Quote by son the theorem i am using for a closed set is... Let X be a topological space. the following statements about the collection of closed set in X hold: (i) the empty set and X are closed (ii) the intersection of any collection of closed sets is a closed set (iii) the union of finitely many closed sets is a closed set
Yes, that's the theorem you are trying to prove. But what is the definition of a closed set??
 Sci Advisor P: 905 This follows directly from the definition. Please show us what part you're having trouble with. This is not a homework answer generator.
 Emeritus Sci Advisor HW Helper PF Gold P: 7,246 A closed set is the complement of ___?___ .
 P: 7 the definition of a closed set is.... a subset A of a topological space X is closed if the set X - A is open. but im not sure how i would start the proof...
 P: 7 the definition of a closed set is.... a subset A of a topological space X is closed if the set X - A is open. but im not sure how i would start the proof...
 Sci Advisor HW Helper PF Gold P: 2,655 What is the definition of a topological space? Doesn't it say something about the union of a collection of open sets?
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HW Helper
PF Gold
P: 7,246
 Quote by son the definition of a closed set is.... a subset A of a topological space X is closed if the set X - A is open. but i'm not sure how i would start the proof...
I would start it something like:

$$\text{Let }\left\{A_\alpha\right\}\text{ be an arbitrary collection of closed sets in a topological space }X, \text{ where }\alpha\in I,\ I \text{ an indexing set.}$$

$$\text{The set }C=\bigcup_{\alpha\in I}\,A_\alpha\ \text{ is the union of an arbitrary collection of closed sets in }X.$$

...

Now show that the compliment of set C is open in X.
 P: 7 Let F={F_i} be a collection of closed sets. Then F_i=X-U_i for some collection {U_i} of open sets of X, because of the definition of closed. Then De-Morgans rules give intersection F_i = intersection (X-U_i) = X - (union U_i) But union U_i is an open set because the unions of open sets are open. Thus the set on the right hand side of the above equation is the complement of an open set. Hence the intersection F_i is closed. does this look RIGHT??
 Emeritus Sci Advisor HW Helper PF Gold P: 7,246 That's the general idea. It could be a bit more polished.
Math
Emeritus
 Emeritus Sci Advisor PF Gold P: 8,863 Suppose that $\{F_i|i\in I\}$ is a collection of closed sets. You want to prove that $$\bigcap_{i\in I}F_i$$ is closed. By the definition you posted, this is the same thing as showing that $$\Big(\bigcap_{i\in I}F_i\Big)^c$$ is open. Can you think of a way to rewrite this last expression as something that's obviously open?