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

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the compactness of the interval (0,1) within the context of metric spaces, specifically addressing a statement from an analysis textbook regarding closed and bounded subsets being compact. Participants explore whether the completeness of the metric space is a necessary condition for the statement to hold true.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the validity of a statement from their analysis book, which claims that "Any closed bounded subset of E^n is compact," suggesting that the completeness of the space is not mentioned and may be a necessary condition.
  • Another participant asserts that the statement does not hold for arbitrary metric spaces, emphasizing that closed and bounded subsets in general metric spaces are not necessarily compact.
  • A counterexample is provided using the interval (0,1), which is closed and bounded in itself but not compact, as it can be covered by the open sets (1/n, 1-1/n) as n approaches infinity.
  • There is a suggestion that the notation used in the book may be misinterpreted, with a participant referencing their topology text that defines \mathbb{E} differently.
  • Some participants recommend alternative textbooks for clarity on the topic, indicating a lack of confidence in the original source.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the statement from the analysis book is problematic, but there is disagreement regarding the necessity of completeness in the context of compactness. The discussion remains unresolved as to whether the original statement is correct without additional conditions.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the definitions of closed and bounded subsets in arbitrary metric spaces, as well as the implications of completeness on compactness. The notation used in the analysis book is also questioned, leading to potential confusion.

deckoff9
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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?
 
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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 [itex]\mathbb{R}^n[/itex] 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, [itex]\mathbb{E}[/itex] 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.
 

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