Open subspace of a compact space

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on whether an open subspace of a compact topological space is also compact. Participants explore the implications of the Heine-Borel property and provide examples and counterexamples related to this concept.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that if a space X is compact, then every closed subspace is compact, questioning whether the same holds for open subspaces.
  • One participant presents a proof suggesting that every open subspace of a compact space is compact, but others challenge the validity of this proof.
  • Another participant provides a counterexample using the interval (0,1) within the compact space [0,1], arguing that it is not compact as it does not have a finite subcover for a specific open cover.
  • Some participants express confusion about the reasoning behind the claims and seek clarification on the relationship between open covers of G and X.
  • There is a humorous exchange regarding a previous comment, which some participants clarify was not intended seriously.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; there are multiple competing views regarding the compactness of open subspaces in compact spaces, with some arguing for it and others providing counterexamples.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the limitations of the original proof and the necessity of considering specific examples to illustrate the properties of open and closed sets in compact spaces.

de_brook
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It is a fact that if X is a compact topoloical space then a closed subspace of X is compact.
Is an open subspace G of X also compact?
please consider the following and note if i am wrong;

proof: Since G is open then the relative topology on G is class {H_i}of open subset of X such that the union of all sets in this class is G. but X is compact and each H_i is the intersection of G with P_i for corresponding i. The result foolow from the fact {p_i} has a finite subclass which contains X.
hence every open subspace of a compact space is compact.

pls, am i right?
 
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It is a fact that if X is a compact topoloical space then a closed subspace of X is compact.
Is an open subspace G of X also compact?
please consider the following and note if i am wrong;

proof: Since G is open then the relative topology on G is class {H_i}of open subset of X such that the union of all sets in this class is G. but X is compact and each H_i is the intersection of G with an open subset P_i of X for corresponding i. The result foolow from the fact {p_i} has a finite subclass which contains X.
hence every open subspace of a compact space is compact.

pls, am i right?
 
Not quite enough! "What I tell you three times is true" and you only said it twice!:rolleyes:

How does that result follow? An open cover of G is not necessarily an open cover of X nor can it always be extended to one. If G were closed in X, then its complement in X would be open add adding it to an open cover for G would give an open cover for X which is why a closed subset of a compact set is closed- but you can't do that for an open set. In particular, suppose X is the compact space [0, 1] with the usual metric on the real numbers (d(x,y)= |x -y|) Let G be (0,1). Finally, let Un be (1/n, 1-1/n). That is an open cover for G. Does it have a finite subcover?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
HallsofIvy said:
Not quite enough! "What I tell you three times is true" and you only said it twice!
what do you mean?
 
Sorry, that was a joke (based on a line by the famous mathematician Rev. Dodgson) in his poem "The hunting of the snark". I meant to continue and accidently posted it. I have editted it.
 
Probably the easiest way to disprove this theorem, would be to find a counter example.



The interval [0,1] is a topological space that has the Heine-Borrel property.

It follows that every closed and bounded subset of [0,1], is compact.

The interval (0,1) is an open subset of [0,1] that is not a closed subset of [0,1].

Therefore, (0,1) is not compact, and so there exists an open cover of (0,1) that has no finite subcover. This provides, I think, a counter-example to the claim.

Please let me know if I am mistaken.
 
Nevermind, HallsofIvy constructed one! Even better. Should the open cover be

(1-1/n, 1/n) though?
 
HallsofIvy said:
Not quite enough! "What I tell you three times is true" and you only said it twice!:rolleyes:

How does that result follow? An open cover of G is not necessarily an open cover of X nor can it always be extended to one. If G were closed in X, then its complement in X would be open add adding it to an open cover for G would give an open cover for X which is why a closed subset of a compact set is closed- but you can't do that for an open set. In particular, suppose X is the compact space [0, 1] with the usual metric on the real numbers (d(x,y)= |x -y|) Let G be (0,1). Finally, let Un be (1/n, 1-1/n). That is an open cover for G. Does it have a finite subcover?


thank you. i can understand that not every open cover in G has a finite some subcover
 

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