Proff of half infinite intervals through set theory

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on proving properties of half infinite intervals defined in set theory. Specifically, it establishes that (a, ∞) ⊆ [b, ∞) if and only if a ≥ b, and [a, ∞) ⊆ (b, ∞) if and only if a > b. The proof involves demonstrating that any member of (a, ∞) is also a member of [b, ∞) when a ≥ b, and that the converse requires a limit argument. The second part of the proof is noted to be simpler.

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congtongsat
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Problem:
We define half infinite intervals as follows:
(a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) = {x[tex]\in[/tex] R | x>a};
[a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) = {x[tex]\in[/tex] R | x[tex]\geq[/tex]a};

Prove that:
(i) (a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\subseteq[/tex] [b, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\Leftrightarrow[/tex] a[tex]\geq[/tex]b,
(ii) [a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\subseteq[/tex] (b, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\Leftrightarrow[/tex] a>b.

I've got pretty much no idea how to do this. Then again I've been struggling at this for a couple hours and my mind doesn't work particularly well at 2:25 am PST. Help would be greatly appreciated on this.

Thanks.
 
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congtongsat said:
Problem:
We define half infinite intervals as follows:
(a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) = {x[tex]\in[/tex] R | x>a};
[a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) = {x[tex]\in[/tex] R | x[tex]\geq[/tex]a};

Prove that:
(i) (a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\subseteq[/tex] [b, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\Leftrightarrow[/tex] a[tex]\geq[/tex]b,
(ii) [a, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\subseteq[/tex] (b, [tex]\infty[/tex]) [tex]\Leftrightarrow[/tex] a>b.

I've got pretty much no idea how to do this. Then again I've been struggling at this for a couple hours and my mind doesn't work particularly well at 2:25 am PST. Help would be greatly appreciated on this.

Thanks.
You prove that [itex]A\subseteq B[/itex] by proving that any member of A is a member of B.
If [itex]a\geq b[/itex], then for any member, x, of [itex](a, \infty)[/itex], [itex]x> a\ge b[/itex] so x> b and therefore [itex]x\in [b, \infty)[/itex].

The converse is a litlle harder because we are looking at [itex](a, \infty)[/itex] rather than [itex][a,\infty)[/itex], for all [itex]\epsilon> 0[/itex], [itex]a+ \epsilon> a[itex]so [itex]a+ \epsilon\in (a, \infty)[/itex]. If [itex](a,\infty)\subseteq [b, \infty)[/itex] and so [itex]a+\epsilon\ge b[/itex]. Taking the limit as [itex]\epsilon[/itex] goes to 0, [itex]a\le b[/itex].<br /> <br /> (ii) is actually simpler.[/itex][/itex]
 
much appreciated. cleared things up for me.
 

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