Prove that f is a homeomorphism iff g is continuous, fg=1 and gf=1

Click For Summary
The discussion centers on proving that a function f is a homeomorphism if and only if there exists a continuous inverse g such that fg=1 and gf=1. In Part I, it is established that if f is a homeomorphism, then g is continuous and bijective, leading to the identities fg=1 and gf=1. Part II argues that if g is continuous and fg=1 and gf=1, then f must also be continuous, which some participants find less obvious. The necessity of proving f's continuity is debated, with some asserting that the definition of a homeomorphism inherently includes continuity. The conversation highlights the complexities of the proof and the definitions involved in topology.
docnet
Messages
796
Reaction score
488
Homework Statement
Prove that ##f:X\longrightarrow Y
## is a homeomorphism if, and only if, there exists a continuous map ##g:Y\longrightarrow X## so that ##fg=1## and ##gf=1## are both the identity.
Relevant Equations
none.
Outline of proof:

Part I:

##1.## ##f## is a homeomorphism, so there exists a continuous inverse ##g:Y\longrightarrow X##.

##2.## ##f## is a bijection, hence there is a unique ##f(x)## in ##Y## for every ##x## in ##X##. For every ##f(x)\in Y##, the preimage under ##f## is ##f^{-1}f(x)=x=gf(x)##, so ##gf=1## is the identity.

##3.## There is a unique ##g(y)## in ##X## for every ##y## in ##Y##. For every ##g(y)## in ##X##, the preimage under ##g## is ##g^{-1}g(y)=y=fg(y)##, so ##fg=1## is the identity.

Thus, we have found a continuous ##g:Y\longrightarrow X## such that ##fg## and ##gf## are the identity.

Part II:

##4.## We are given ##g## is continuous and ##f## is arbitrary, so that ##fg=1## and ##gf=1## are both the identity .

##5.## It follows from earlier results (that follows from ##4.##) that ##g## is the continuous inverse of ##f## and it is bijective.

##6.## Continuous functions form a ##\mathbb{R}##-algebra, so ##f## is a continuous function, hence ##f## is a homeomorphism.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
docnet said:
Homework Statement:: Prove that ##f:X\longrightarrow Y
## is a homeomorphism if, and only if, there exists a continuous map ##g:Y\longrightarrow X## so that ##fg=1## and ##gf=1## are both the identity.
Relevant Equations:: none.

Outline of proof:

Part I:

##1.## ##f## is a homeomorphism, so there exists a continuous inverse ##g:Y\longrightarrow X##.

##2.## ##f## is a bijection, hence there is a unique ##f(x)## in ##Y## for every ##x## in ##X##. For every ##f(x)\in Y##, the preimage under ##f## is ##f^{-1}f(x)=x=gf(x)##, so ##gf=1## is the identity.

##3.## There is a unique ##g(y)## in ##X## for every ##y## in ##Y##. For every ##g(y)## in ##X##, the preimage under ##g## is ##g^{-1}g(y)=y=fg(y)##, so ##fg=1## is the identity.

Thus, we have found a continuous ##g:Y\longrightarrow X## such that ##fg## and ##gf## are the identity.
Part I is true by definition. There's nothing to prove.
docnet said:
Part II:

##4.## We are given ##g## is continuous and ##f## is arbitrary, so that ##fg=1## and ##gf=1## are both the identity .

##5.## It follows from earlier results (that follows from ##4.##) that ##g## is the continuous inverse of ##f## and it is bijective.

##6.## Continuous functions form a ##\mathbb{R}##-algebra, so ##f## is a continuous function, hence ##f## is a homeomorphism.
I'm not convinced by that. Clearly ##g## is an inverse for ##f##, so ##f## is a bijection (one-to-one and onto) - I don't think that needs a proof.

The thing that needs proving is that ##f## must be continuous. That is the one thing that is not obvious about the proposition.

I suggest you need to do more than quote something about an ##\mathbb{R}##-algebra!
 
docnet said:
Homework Statement:: Prove that ##f:X\longrightarrow Y
## is a homeomorphism if, and only if, there exists a continuous map ##g:Y\longrightarrow X## so that ##fg=1## and ##gf=1## are both the identity.
Where did you get this question?
 
  • Like
Likes jim mcnamara
You may want to find an exception to the claim that every continuous injection has a continuous inverse.
 
docnet said:
Homework Statement:: Prove that ##f:X\longrightarrow Y
## is a homeomorphism if, and only if, there exists a continuous map ##g:Y\longrightarrow X## so that ##fg=1## and ##gf=1## are both the identity.

You being asked to show that if f is a homeomorphism then its inverse is continuous. But isn't a homeomorphism by definition a continuous map with a continuous inverse? If not, what definition of homeomorphism are you using? You don't state it in your post.
 
pasmith said:
You being asked to show that if f is a homeomorphism then its inverse is continuous. But isn't a homeomorphism by definition a continuous map with a continuous inverse? If not, what definition of homeomorphism are you using? You don't state it in your post.
That implication follows from the definition, but not the converse. Which, despite being proved by the OP, appears not to hold!
 
First, I tried to show that ##f_n## converges uniformly on ##[0,2\pi]##, which is true since ##f_n \rightarrow 0## for ##n \rightarrow \infty## and ##\sigma_n=\mathrm{sup}\left| \frac{\sin\left(\frac{n^2}{n+\frac 15}x\right)}{n^{x^2-3x+3}} \right| \leq \frac{1}{|n^{x^2-3x+3}|} \leq \frac{1}{n^{\frac 34}}\rightarrow 0##. I can't use neither Leibnitz's test nor Abel's test. For Dirichlet's test I would need to show, that ##\sin\left(\frac{n^2}{n+\frac 15}x \right)## has partialy bounded sums...