MHB Is \(X \times Y\) Lindelöf if \(X\) is Lindelöf and \(Y\) is Compact?

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If \(X\) is a Lindelöf space and \(Y\) is compact, then the product space \(X \times Y\) is also Lindelöf. This conclusion is supported by two distinct proofs presented in the discussion. The first proof constructs a countable subcover from an open cover of \(X \times Y\) by leveraging the properties of compactness in \(Y\). The second proof utilizes the tube lemma to demonstrate that for each point in \(X\), a countable collection of neighborhoods can be formed to cover \(X \times Y\). Both arguments confirm that the product of a Lindelöf space and a compact space retains the Lindelöf property.
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Here's the last Graduate POTW of 2013!

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Problem: Let $X$ and $Y$ be topological spaces. Show that if $X$ is Lindelöf and $Y$ is compact, then $X\times Y$ is Lindelöf.

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This week's question was correctly answered by caffeinemachine and Opalg.

Here's Opalg's solution: [sp]Suppose that $X$ is Lindelöf, $Y$ is compact, and let $\mathcal{U} = \{U_\alpha\}$ be an open cover of $X\times Y$. Fix $z\in X$. For each $y\in Y$ the point $(z,y)$ belongs to some $U_\alpha$. Let $L_y\times M_y$ be a basic open neighbourhood of $(z,y)$ contained in $U_\alpha$ (so that $L_y$ is an open neighbourhood of $z$ in $X$, $M_y$ is an open neighbourhood of $y$ in $Y$, and $L_y\times M_y \subseteq U_\alpha$). Then $\{M_y\}$ is an open cover of $Y$ and so has a finite subcover $\{M_1, \ldots,M_n\}.$ Let $\{L_1, \ldots,L_n\}$ be the corresponding open subsets of $X$ and let $\{U_1,\ldots, U_n\}$ be the corresponding sets in $\mathcal{U}$, so that $L_j\times M_j\subseteq U_j$. Let $\mathcal{U}_z = \{U_1,\ldots,U_n\}.$

Let $$V_z = \bigcap_{1\leqslant j\leqslant n} L_j$$. Then $V_z$ is an open neighbourhood of $z$, and $$(x,y) \in \bigcup_{U\in \mathcal{U}_z}U$$ for all $(x,y)\in V_z\times Y.$

Now let $z$ vary. The sets $V_z$ form an open cover of $X$ and therefore have a countable subcover $\{V_{z_k}\}$ say. For each $k$, the set $\mathcal{U}_{z_k}$ is finite, so that $\bigcup_k \mathcal{U}_{z_k}$ is countable. Finally, every element of $X\times Y$ is in one of those sets, so they form a countable subcover of $\mathcal{U}.$ This shows that $X\times Y$ is Lindelöf.[/sp]

Here's another solution, which makes use of the tube lemma.

[sp]Let $\mathcal{U}$ be an open cover of $X\times Y$. Then for each $x\in X$, $\mathcal{U}$ is also an open cover for $\{x\}\times Y$. Since $Y$ is compact, there exists for each $x\in X$ a finite subcollection $\mathcal{U}_x$ of $\mathcal{U}$ which covers $\{x\}\times Y$. Let $U_x$ be the set obtained by unioning the elements of $\mathcal{U}_x$. This set is open in $X\times Y$ and contains $\{x\}\times Y$. Once again, using the fact that $Y$ is compact, it follows by the tube lemma that for each $x\in X$, there exists an open neighborhood $N_x$ of $x$ such that $N_x\times Y \subset U_x$. Now, consider the collection $\{N_x:x\in X\}$. Since $X$ is Lindelöf, there exists a countable subset $I\subset X$ such that $\{N_x:x\in I\}$ covers $X$. Thus, we see that $\bigcup_{x\in I} \mathcal{U}_x$ is a countable subcollection of $\mathcal{U}$ that covers $X\times Y$. Therefore, $X\times Y$ is Lindelöf.[/sp]
 

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