MHB Discrete sets and uncountability of limit points

Click For Summary
A subset D of ℝ is defined as discrete if each point x in D has a neighborhood that contains no other points of D. The discussion explores whether a discrete set can have an uncountable set of limit points, concluding that the set of limit points, D', must be nowhere dense. The proof shows that D' is closed and has an empty interior, leading to the conclusion that constructing a counterexample requires a nowhere dense set of limit points. A suggestion is made to use the midpoints of intervals from the Cantor set as a potential counterexample, with further verification needed to confirm D's discreteness.
caffeinemachine
Gold Member
MHB
Messages
799
Reaction score
15
Definition: A subset $D$ of $\mathbb R$ is said to be discrete if for every $x\in D$ there exists $\epsilon>0$ such that $(x-\epsilon,x+\epsilon)\cap D=\{x\}$.

Question: Does there exist a discrete subset $D$ of $\mathbb R$ such that the set of limit points of $D$ is an uncountable set.
___

Progress:
We claim that the set of limit points, $D'$, of a discrete set $D$ has to be nowhere dense.

To prove the above claim we just need to show that:
1. D' is a closed set (This doesn't even require $D$ to be discrete).
2. $\text{Int}(D')$ is empty.

(1) is obvious.
To show (2) assume the contradictory. Let $(a,b)\subseteq D'$. Now let $x\in (a,b)\cap D$ (such an $x$ has to exist). Now clearly since $D$ is discrete, $x\notin D'$. Also, using the property of discrete sets, we know that there is an open set $O$ which contains $x$ and satisfies $O\cap D=\emptyset$. Thus $O\cap D'=\emptyset$. This means $O\cap (a,b)=\emptyset$ and we get our contradiction.
___

So if we are construct a counterexample we should be aiming towards constructing a nowhere dense set of limit points of a discrete set.

cleardot.gif

 
Physics news on Phys.org
As an off-the-cuff suggestion, can you take $D$ to consist of the midpoints of the intervals in the construction of the Cantor set?
 
Opalg said:
As an off-the-cuff suggestion, can you take $D$ to consist of the midpoints of the intervals in the construction of the Cantor set?
Thanks Opalg. I think this is a counterexample.

$D=\displaystyle \bigcup_{m=0}^{\infty} \left( \bigcup_{k=0}^{3^m-1} \left\{\frac{2k+1}{2\cdot 3^m}\right\}\right)$

Let me wrestle with the details though. The first thing is to verify that this actually is a discrete set.
 
We all know the definition of n-dimensional topological manifold uses open sets and homeomorphisms onto the image as open set in ##\mathbb R^n##. It should be possible to reformulate the definition of n-dimensional topological manifold using closed sets on the manifold's topology and on ##\mathbb R^n## ? I'm positive for this. Perhaps the definition of smooth manifold would be problematic, though.

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K