Proving non homeomorphism between a closed interval & ##\mathbb{R}##

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether a closed interval ##[a,b]## can be homeomorphic to the real line ##\mathbb{R}##. Participants explore various arguments and counterarguments related to the properties of these two spaces, focusing on concepts such as continuity, injectivity, and connectedness. The discussion includes both theoretical considerations and hints for potential proofs.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a proof strategy involving the decomposition of the closed interval and the real line into unions of subsets, questioning the nature of the images under a homeomorphism.
  • Several participants challenge the assumption that the images of the subsets under a homeomorphism must be open intervals, pointing out that this conclusion is not necessarily valid.
  • Another participant suggests that a continuous injection from a closed interval to ##\mathbb{R}## must be monotonic and examines the implications for surjectivity.
  • Hints are provided regarding the use of the intermediate value theorem and the concept of compactness to argue against the existence of a homeomorphism.
  • Some participants discuss the connectivity properties of the closed interval versus the real line, noting that removing points from ##\mathbb{R}## disconnects it, while removing points from ##[a,b]## does not.
  • There is a suggestion that the removal of endpoints from ##[a,b]## affects its connectedness differently than the removal of points from ##\mathbb{R}##.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the images under a homeomorphism and the implications of continuity and connectedness. There is no consensus on a definitive proof or resolution to the question of homeomorphism between ##[a,b]## and ##\mathbb{R}##.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the assumptions made about the nature of the subsets and their images under homeomorphisms. The discussion also reflects varying interpretations of connectedness and the implications of compactness in the context of the problem.

  • #31
I think I have found a problem. Consider ##(0, 2 \pi]## and ##[-1,1]##, and the function ##\text{Sin(x)}##. There seems to be a surjection from ##(0, 2 \pi]## to ##[-1,1]##.

- By compactness theorem, this can't be true, since the former is not compact while the latter is.
- By connectedness, this is true, since both are connected.

How do we solve this problem?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
davidge said:
By compactness theorem, this can't be true, since the former is not compact while the latter is.
What is the "compactness theorem"? What does it say?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #33
Krylov said:
What is the "compactness theorem"? What does it say?
Well, a half-open space requires infinite unions of closed spaces, approaching its open end element, but never reaching it. So isn't it not compact?
 
  • #34
davidge said:
I think I have found a problem. Consider ##(0, 2 \pi]## and ##[-1,1]##, and the function ##\text{Sin(x)}##. There seems to be a surjection from ##(0, 2 \pi]## to ##[-1,1]##.

- By compactness theorem, this can't be true, since the former is not compact while the latter is.
How do we solve this problem?

I think the theorem you're talking about is that the image of a compact space under a continuous map is compact. This says nothing about when the domain is not compact. It is of course possible for a non-compact space to map surjectively onto a compact one. Take the constant function (0,1)\to\{1\} for a simpler example.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #35
Infrared said:
I think the theorem you're talking about is that the image of a compact space under a continuous map is compact.
Yes
Infrared said:
This says nothing about when the domain is not compact
Why not? Can you point out where I'm wrong in the following? Suppose ##X## is a non compact space and suppose we have a surjection ##f## from ##X## to another space ##Y##. Then

$$X = \bigcup_{i \in I} U_i = \bigcup_{i \in F \subset I} U_i \Longleftrightarrow F = I$$

Also, ##Y = f(X)##. That is, ##Y## is the image of ##X## under ##f##. But $$ f(X) = f \bigg(\bigcup_{i \in I} U_i \bigg) = f \bigg(\bigcup_{i \in F \subset I} U_i \bigg)$$ with ##F = I##, which means ##Y## is also not compact.
 
  • #36
davidge said:
Yes

Why not? Can you point out where I'm wrong in the following? Suppose ##X## is a non compact space and suppose we have a surjection ##f## from ##X## to another space ##Y##. Then

$$X = \bigcup_{i \in I} U_i = \bigcup_{i \in F \subset I} U_i \Longleftrightarrow F = I$$

Also, ##Y = f(X)##. That is, ##Y## is the image of ##X## under ##f##. But $$ f(X) = f \bigg(\bigcup_{i \in I} U_i \bigg) = f \bigg(\bigcup_{i \in F \subset I} U_i \bigg)$$ with ##F = I##, which means ##Y## is also not compact.

Like Infrared pointed out: what if ##Y##={##pt##}, a singleton? Or consider ##[-1,1)## under ##f(x)=x^2 ##.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #37
WWGD said:
Like Infrared pointed out: what if ##Y##={##pt##}, a singleton? Or consider ##[-1,1)## under ##f(x)=x^2 ##.
Oh, I see. So what can we conclude from all this? Connectedness is a stronger condition than compactness when determining whether or not two spaces are homeomorphic?
 
  • #38
davidge said:
Connectedness is a stronger condition than compactness when determining whether or not two spaces are homeomorphic?

No, neither compactness nor connectedness implies the other. (0,1) is connected but not compact. \{0,1\} is compact but not connected.

Edit: Also, sorry but I can't understand your attempted proof that the image of a non-compact space is non-compact.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #39
davidge said:
Oh, I see. So what can we conclude from all this? Connectedness is a stronger condition than compactness when determining whether or not two spaces are homeomorphic?
I think, if I( understood you correctly) that you are trying to argue ## (A \rightarrow B) \rightarrow (\neg A \rightarrow \neg B )## e.g., if compact is sent to compact then non-compact is mapped into non-compact, through continuous functions.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #40
Infrared said:
No, neither compactness nor connectedness implies the other. (0,1) is connected but not compact. \{0,1\} is compact but not connected.
I see
Infrared said:
sorry but I can't understand your attempted proof that the image of a non-compact space is non-compact.
Suppose there is a surjection ##f## from a non compact space ##X## to another space ##Y##. As ##f## is a surjection, each ##y \in Y## will be the image of at least one ##x \in X##. So we can write ##Y## as the image of ##X## under ##f##, can't we? If so, it follows that ##Y## is also not compact, by the arguments shown in my post #34.
WWGD said:
I think, if I( understood you correctly) that you are trying to argue ## (A \rightarrow B) \rightarrow (\neg A \rightarrow \neg B )## e.g., if compact is sent to compact then non-compact is mapped into non-compact, through continuous functions.
Excuse me. I was actually trying to ask whether we should test for connectedness or compactness when we want to know whether two spaces are homeomorphic.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: WWGD
  • #41
davidge said:
I see
Suppose there is a surjection ##f## from a non compact space ##X## to another space ##Y##. As ##f## is a surjection, each ##y \in Y## will be the image of at least one ##x \in X##. So we can write ##Y## as the image of ##X## under ##f##, can't we? If so, it follows that ##Y## is also not compact, by the arguments shown in my post #34.

Excuse me. I was actually trying to ask whether we should test for connectedness or compactness when we want to know whether two spaces are homeomorphic.
Ah, sorry. I can't see a general argument to be made, I just think it is more of a case-by-case basis.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #42
davidge said:
Suppose there is a surjection ##f## from a non compact space ##X## to another space ##Y##. As ##f## is a surjection, each ##y \in Y## will be the image of at least one ##x \in X##. So we can write ##Y## as the image of ##X## under ##f##, can't we? If so, it follows that ##Y## is also not compact, by the arguments shown in my post #34.

I really don't understand this argument at all, so I'll just guess at where you're going wrong. Writing a space as an infinite union of open sets does not make a space non-compact. Not being compact would only follow if this open cover had no finite sub-cover.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #43
Infrared said:
Writing a space as an infinite union of open sets does not make a space non-compact. Not being compact would only follow if this open cover had no finite sub-cover.
Yes, but in most cases, a open cover doesn't have a finite sub-cover only when there are infinite elements in the index set, i.e. when a infinite number of unions is needed to cover the space.
 
  • #44
WWGD said:
Ah, sorry. I can't see a general argument to be made, I just think it is more of a case-by-case basis.
Oh, ok
 
  • #45
davidge said:
Yes, but in most cases, an open cover doesn't have a finite sub-cover only when there are infinite elements in the index set, i.e. when a infinite number of unions is needed to cover the space.

I don't know what you mean by 'most' here. You're interested in the case that the image is compact, which means you can find a finite sub-cover..

In any event, this thread has drifted from the topic question. I'd suggest making a new thread.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davidge
  • #46
Infrared said:
I don't know what you mean by 'most' here. You're interested in the case that the image is compact, which means you can find a finite sub-cover..

In any event, this thread has drifted from the topic question. I'd suggest making a new thread.
Ok. Thanks.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 61 ·
3
Replies
61
Views
7K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K