How can you prove that a retract of a Hausdorff space is always closed?

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In summary, a Hausdorff space is a topological space where any two distinct points have disjoint neighborhoods, and a retract is a continuous function that maps a space onto a subspace of itself, acting as the identity map on the subspace. It is important to prove that a retract of a Hausdorff space is always closed because it helps us understand the relationship between a space and its subspaces. The proof involves showing that the pre-image of any closed set under a retract is also closed. An example of a retract of a Hausdorff space that is not closed is given by the function f(x) = x for x ∈ [0, 1] and f(x) = 0 for x ∈ [1
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Euge
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Here is this week's POTW:

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Give two different proofs of the following result: Every retract of a Hausdorff space is closed.

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No one answered this week's problem. You can read my solution below.
Let $X$ be a Hausdorff space, $A\subset X$ a subspace, and $r : X \to A$ a retraction. I'll show $A$ is closed in two ways.

Proof 1. Since $X$ is Hausdorff, its diagonal $\Delta$ is closed. Since $r$ is continuous and $A = (\operatorname{id},r)^{-1}(\Delta)$, then $A$ is closed.

Proof 2. Let $x$ be a closure point of $A$. There is a net $\{x_\alpha\}$ in $A$ which converges to $x$. Continuity of $r$ implies $r(x_\alpha)$ converges to $r(x)$. Since $r$ is a retraction, $r(x_\alpha) = x_\alpha$. Hence, $\{x_\alpha\}$ converges to $r(x)$ as well. The Hausdorff property of $X$ implies $x = r(x)$. In particular, $x\in A$. As $x$ was arbitrary, $A$ is closed.
 

1. Can you explain the concept of a Hausdorff space and a retract?

A Hausdorff space is a type of topological space where any two distinct points have disjoint neighborhoods. This means that given any two points in the space, there exist open sets that contain one point but not the other. A retract is a continuous function that maps a topological space onto a subspace of itself, with the property that the function is the identity map on the subspace.

2. Why is it important to prove that a retract of a Hausdorff space is always closed?

This proof is important because it helps us understand the relationship between a topological space and its subspaces. It also allows us to make conclusions about the structure of a space based on its subspaces, which can be useful in many areas of mathematics and science.

3. What is the proof for showing that a retract of a Hausdorff space is always closed?

The proof involves showing that the pre-image of any closed set under a retract is also closed. This is done by using the fact that the retract is continuous and the definition of a closed set in a topological space. By showing that the pre-image of any closed set is closed, we can conclude that the retract is a closed map, and thus the subspace is also closed in the original space.

4. Can you provide an example of a retract of a Hausdorff space that is not closed?

Yes, one example is the retract of the real line given by the function f(x) = x for x ∈ [0, 1] and f(x) = 0 for x ∈ [1, 2]. The subspace [0, 1] is closed in the real line, but its pre-image under f is the open interval (0, 1), which is not closed. Therefore, this retract is not a closed map.

5. Are there any other important properties of a Hausdorff space that are related to the concept of a retract?

Yes, another important property is the Hausdorff maximality principle, which states that any topological space can be embedded into a Hausdorff space as a retract. This means that a space can always be extended to a larger Hausdorff space while preserving its structure. This principle is useful in proving many results in topology and geometry.

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