Is it possible to prove that any metric topology is Hausdorff?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether any metric topology is Hausdorff. Participants explore the definitions and implications of metric spaces, particularly focusing on the nature of points within a defined set of sequences of real numbers and the conditions necessary to demonstrate the Hausdorff property.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether to consider points as single real numbers or as sequences when determining if the topology (A,T) is Hausdorff.
  • Another participant clarifies that in the context of (A,T), points are sequences of real numbers, and thus the focus should be on separating these sequences with open neighborhoods.
  • A participant claims to have proven that their particular space is Hausdorff, but acknowledges confusion regarding the nature of the elements in A.
  • One participant asserts that if a metric is defined, the topology generated is immediately Hausdorff, citing the triangle inequality as the basis for this claim.
  • Another participant reflects on their realization that they have proven the general case that any metric topology is Hausdorff, rather than focusing on their specific topology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of points in the set A and the implications for proving the Hausdorff property. While some assert that any metric topology is Hausdorff, others are focused on the specifics of their defined sequences and the conditions that apply.

Contextual Notes

There is a lack of consensus on how to approach the proof of the Hausdorff property in the context of sequences versus real numbers, and the discussion reflects varying interpretations of the definitions involved.

sutupidmath
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Suppose we define a set A to consist of all sequences x=<x_i> of real numbers, for which some condition holds, define a metric on it, and show that it generates a topology T on A.

What i am a little unclear about is when we try to show if (A,T) is Hausdorff or not, do we pick now two points(single real numbers) x,y from A, and show that there are(are not) neighgorhoods U,V or x and y respectively that are disjoint, or do we pick sequences x and y of real numbers, instead?

My intuition says they should be sequences, but not quite sure about it.

Thanks for your help?
 
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What i am a little unclear about is when we try to show if (A,T) is Hausdorff or not, do we pick now two points(single real numbers) x,y from A, and show that there are(are not) neighgorhoods U,V or x and y respectively that are disjoint, or do we pick sequences x and y of real numbers, instead?
When you're working with (A,T), then a point is not a real number, but a sequence of real numbers (i.e. an element of A). So you take two points and see if you can separate them by open neighborhoods, but a point is a sequence. Thus you pick two sequences satisfying your given condition and try to find open neighborhoods of them in T that separates them (or alternatively prove that this is impossible).

How would you suggest to pick a real number x from A anyway? There are no real numbers in A.
 
rasmhop said:
When you're working with (A,T), then a point is not a real number, but a sequence of real numbers (i.e. an element of A). So you take two points and see if you can separate them by open neighborhoods, but a point is a sequence. Thus you pick two sequences satisfying your given condition and try to find open neighborhoods of them in T that separates them (or alternatively prove that this is impossible)..

This is what i went ahead and did. I proved, for my particular space, that it is Hausdorff.

rasmhop said:
How would you suggest to pick a real number x from A anyway? There are no real numbers in A.

What i think i confused it with, is that, i was thinking of A as if it were defined to consist of the terms of such sequences, instead of the sequences themselves.

Thanks for clarifying it further.
 
Suppose we define a set A to consist of all sequences x=<x_i> of real numbers, for which some condition holds, define a metric on it, and show that it generates a topology T on A.

If you already defined a metric, say d, and T is the topology generated by it, then it's immediately Hausdorff. All metric topologies are Hausdorff, you don't have to consider the particulars of the space involved.

This is a consequence of the triangle inequality: if you have two distinct elements x,y of A, no matter what they are, then d(x,y) = r > 0. Consider the open balls of radius r'<r/2, centred at x and y, respectively, and apply the triangle inequality to prove that these balls are disjoint.
 
JSuarez said:
This is a consequence of the triangle inequality: if you have two distinct elements x,y of A, no matter what they are, then d(x,y) = r > 0. Consider the open balls of radius r'<r/2, centred at x and y, respectively, and apply the triangle inequality to prove that these balls are disjoint.

This is precisely what i did.

But now when you bring it up, i realize that i have, indeed, proved the general case (that any metric topology is Hausdorff) rather than for my particular topology... since i never really made explicitly specific reference to my particular sequences, rather than just saying let x,y be any two such points(sequences in my case).
 

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