Compactness of (0,1) when that is the whole metric space

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the claim from the book "Introduction to Analysis" by Rosenlicht, which states that "Any closed bounded subset of E^n is compact" for an arbitrary metric space E. Participants clarify that this statement is incorrect without the assumption of completeness, as demonstrated by the example of the metric space (0,1), which is closed and bounded but not compact. The correct condition for compactness in arbitrary metric spaces is that a set must be both complete and totally bounded. The consensus is that the book's assertion lacks necessary qualifications.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of metric spaces and their properties
  • Familiarity with the concepts of compactness, completeness, and total boundedness
  • Knowledge of closed and bounded sets in the context of real analysis
  • Experience with counterexamples in mathematical proofs
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of compactness in metric spaces, focusing on complete and totally bounded sets
  • Review the proof of the Heine-Borel theorem in Euclidean spaces
  • Explore the differences between closed sets in various topological spaces
  • Read "Elementary Classical Analysis" by Marsden for a deeper understanding of analysis concepts
USEFUL FOR

Mathematics students, particularly those studying real analysis, educators teaching analysis concepts, and anyone interested in the properties of metric spaces and compactness.

deckoff9
Messages
21
Reaction score
0
Hello. In my analysis book, it says that "Any closed bounded subset of E^n is compact" where E is an arbitrary metric space. I looked over the proof and it used that fact that E^n was complete, but it does not say that in the original condition so I was wondering if the book made a mistake in not adding that.

For my counter example, consider the metric space (0,1), with the usual distance metric. The subset of itself is closed by definition, and it is bounded. However, it is not compact, since (1/n, 1-1/n) covers it as n→∞. Is there something wrong with my logic or did the book screw up by not mentioning complete in the conditional?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your analysis book is wrong (or you misinterpreted it). Which book are you using? Can you quote the statement.

The only thing we can say that any closed and bounded subset of \mathbb{R}^n is compact. It does NOT hold for arbitrary metric spaces!
Indeed, ]0,1[ is closed and bounded in itself but not compact!

In arbitrary metric spaces, we got the statement: any complete and totally bounded set is compact.
 
Thanks for the quick answer micromass. Yeah that's what I thought. The book I'm using is Introduction to Analysis by Rosenlicht. The statement is exactly what I wrote, "Any closed bounded subset of E^n is compact." and the notation has been E is an arbitrary metric space.
 
Then I guess you need to change the book. Rudin I believe wrote a good book on real analysis.
 
deckoff9 said:
..."Any closed bounded subset of E^n is compact." and the notation has been E is an arbitrary metric space.

Are you sure about this notation? In my topology text, \mathbb{E} denotes the real numbers with the topology induced by the Euclidean norm.
 
deckoff9 said:
Hello. In my analysis book, it says that "Any closed bounded subset of E^n is compact" where E is an arbitrary metric space. I looked over the proof and it used that fact that E^n was complete, but it does not say that in the original condition so I was wondering if the book made a mistake in not adding that.

For my counter example, consider the metric space (0,1), with the usual distance metric. The subset of itself is closed by definition, and it is bounded. However, it is not compact, since (1/n, 1-1/n) covers it as n→∞. Is there something wrong with my logic or did the book screw up by not mentioning complete in the conditional?

(),1) is closed in itself but no closed in R. Any topological space is closed in itself.
 
Since he used the fact E^n was complete in the proof I guess I'll give the benefit of the doubt and say maybe I misunderstood the notation. Anyways thanks for the helps~
 
Use Marsden Elementary Classical Analysis.

But it is strange, I don't think any author would do that big of a mistake.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 32 ·
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
5K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K