How Can I Prove These Topology Statements?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around proving certain statements in topology related to the interior of subsets within a metric space. Participants are exploring the relationships between the interiors of unions and intersections of sets, as well as providing counterexamples to illustrate these concepts.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Post 1 presents a proof challenge regarding the relationships Int(A) ∪ Int(B) ⊆ Int(A ∪ B) and Int(A) ∩ Int(B) = Int(A ∩ B).
  • Post 2 begins a proof by assuming an element x is in Int(A) ∪ Int(B) and discusses the implications for the union of sets.
  • Post 3 seeks clarification on the term "WLOG" (without loss of generality) used in the proof process.
  • Post 4 explains the meaning of "WLOG" and notes that the first statement can be generalized to any collection of subsets.
  • Post 5 provides a counterexample where Int(A) ∪ Int(B) ≠ Int(A ∪ B) using the sets A = [-1,0] and B = [0,1], and also presents a counterexample for the second statement with an infinite collection of subsets.
  • Post 6 expresses gratitude for the assistance received in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants are engaged in a collaborative exploration of the proof and counterexamples, with some agreeing on the validity of the counterexamples while the proof of the initial statements remains under discussion. No consensus has been reached on the proofs themselves.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the properties of metric spaces and the definitions of interior points, which may not be explicitly stated. The generalizations mentioned in Post 4 are not fully explored within the thread.

rolylane
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Hello

I have a proof that I need to try to work out but I'm not really getting too far and need help if you could at all. The question is

Let A and B be two subsets of a metric space X. Prove that:
Int(A)[tex]\bigcup[/tex]Int(B)[tex]\subseteq[/tex]Int(A[tex]\bigcup[/tex]B) and Int(A)[tex]\bigcap[/tex]Int(B) = Int(A[tex]\bigcap[/tex]B)
I also have to give an example of two subsets A and B such that Int(A) [tex]\bigcup[/tex] Int (B) ≠ Int (A[tex]\bigcup[/tex] B)

Any help at all would be so great
Cheers
 
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Let x be in intA U int B. Then, WLOG, assume x is in int A. Then there exist a basis element U containing x and contained in A and therefore contained in A U B. The second question requires doing this in both directions.
 
Topology

Hi andytoh

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my question. Just one thing, I'm new to this so could you tell me what WLOG means?

Thanks again



andytoh said:
Let x be in intA U int B. Then, WLOG, assume x is in int A. Then there exist a basis element U containing x and contained in A and therefore contained in A U B. The second question requires doing this in both directions.
 
"Without loss of generality", since the roles of A and B are symmetric.

Incidentally, #1 can be generalized to any collection (finite or infinite) of subsets, and #2 can be generalized to any finite collection of subsets.
 
Last edited:
Counterexample of Int(A) U Int (B) ≠ Int (A U B):
A=[-1,0], B=[0,1]

Counterexample of #2 with an infinite collection of subsets:
Use {(-1,1), (-1/2,1/2), (-1/3,1/3), (-1/4,1/4), ... }
Left side = {0}, but right side = empty.
 
Last edited:
topology

Thank you so much, once again, for your replies. I really appreciate your help

Cheers
 

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