Closure of f(A): Is it a Closed Set?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around whether the closure of the image of a set under a continuous function is itself a closed set. Participants explore definitions and properties related to closures in the context of real analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that the closure of any set is, by definition, a closed set and suggests rephrasing the question.
  • Another participant questions how to prove the closure is a closed set if using the definition that a set is closed if its complement is open.
  • A participant proposes that the closure of a set can be defined as the union of the set and its limit points, leading to a discussion on proving that this closure is closed.
  • A detailed argument is presented regarding the complement of the closure and the existence of an open ball around points not in the closure, which would imply that the complement is open, thus showing the closure is closed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definitions and implications of closure, with some agreeing on the definitions while others seek clarification and proof regarding the properties of closures.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of closure and limit points, as well as the implications of these definitions on the properties of sets in real analysis.

poutsos.A
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Given that f is a function from R(=real Nos) to R continuous on R AND ,A any subset of R,IS THE closure of f(A) ,a closed set??
 
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The closure of any set is by definition a closed set. I think you should rephrase your question.
 
Last edited:


Yes, you right thank you. But if we define a set to be closed if its complement is open,
how then we prove its closure to be a closed set??
 
Last edited:


What definition of "closure of A" are you using?
 


poutsos.A said:
Yes, you right thank you. But if we define a set to be closed if its complement is open,
how then we prove its closure to be a closed set??

what? by definition the closure of a set A is the smallest closed set that contains A.
 


I presume the OP had in the mind the definition that the closure of S is the union of S and the set of its limit points. In this case:

Denote by S' the closure of S. Then we wish to show that S' is closed. Suppose x is in the complement of S'. Then x is not in S and is not a limit point of S. So there is an open ball around x that doesn't intersect S. This open ball cannot contain any limit point of S since if y is inside it, then there is a smaller ball centered at y contained in the bigger - and so there is an open ball around y that doesn't intersect S, so y is not a limit point of S. It follows that the open ball around x does not intersect S'. Therefore the complement of S' is open; so S' is closed.
 

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