Set inclusion in topological space

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around set inclusion properties in a topological space, specifically addressing two statements involving subsets and closures. The participants explore the implications of these properties when one of the sets is open.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of the openness of set A in the first statement and how it relates to closure properties. They also explore the definitions of closure and intersection to derive conclusions.
  • Some participants suggest using nets to approach the problem, while others focus on direct applications of definitions and properties of closures.
  • There is a consideration of how to demonstrate the containment of subsets through open sets and intersections.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided insights and suggestions for approaching the problems, particularly emphasizing the need to utilize the openness of set A in their reasoning. There is a recognition of the need to work from first principles, and some participants appear to be making progress towards understanding the implications of the statements.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problems require careful consideration of the definitions involved and that assumptions about the sets being open or closed are crucial to the discussion. There is also mention of the necessity of using elementary results depending on the definitions of closure being applied.

mahler1
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Homework Statement .

Let ##X## be a topological space and let ##A,B \subset X##. Then

(1) ##A \cap \overline{B} \subset \overline{A \cap B}## when ##A## is open

(2) ##\overline{A} \setminus \overline{B} \subset \overline {A \setminus B}##.

The attempt at a solution.

In (1), using the properties (which I've already proved) that ##\overline{A \cap B} \subset \overline {A} \cap \overline{B}## and ##\overline{\overline{A}}=\overline{A}##, I have ##\overline{A \cap \overline{B}} \subset \overline{A} \cap \overline{\overline{B}}=\overline{A} \cap \overline {B}##. From here I couldn't arrive to anything and I don't know how to use the fact that ##A## is open.

In (2), I've tried to express ##\overline{A} \setminus \overline{B}=\overline{A} \cap {\overline {B}}^c##. I want to show that the subset is contained in ##\overline{A \setminus B}##, in order to do this I should show that for every ##x \in \overline{A} \cap {\overline {B}}^c## and for every open set ##U## with ##x \in U##, I have ##U \cap (\overline{A \setminus B}) \neq \emptyset.## So, if ##x \in \overline {A} \cap {\overline B}^c##, then for every ##U## open with ##x \in U##, ##U \cap A \neq \emptyset## and there is an open set ##V## with ##x \in V \subset \overline {B}^c##. I didn't know how to continue from that point.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
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Are you familiar with nets? For all ##E\subset X##, we have ##x\in\overline E## if and only if x is the limit of a net in E. Also, every open neighborhood of x contains a point from E.

This is an example of how a convergent net can be found: For all x in X, the set of all open neighborhoods of x is a directed set. If you choose one point from each of those sets, you end up with a net that converges to x.

One idea for problem 1 is to let ##x\in A\cap\overline B## be arbitrary, and then use that x is an interior point of A to find a net in ##A\cap B## that converges to x. This approach seems to work, but I haven't made 100% sure.

I don't have time to think about problem 2 right now. Need to get some sleep.
 
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mahler1 said:
Homework Statement .

Let ##X## be a topological space and let ##A,B \subset X##. Then

(1) ##A \cap \overline{B} \subset \overline{A \cap B}## when ##A## is open

(2) ##\overline{A} \setminus \overline{B} \subset \overline {A \setminus B}##.

The attempt at a solution.

In (1), using the properties (which I've already proved) that ##\overline{A \cap B} \subset \overline {A} \cap \overline{B}## and ##\overline{\overline{A}}=\overline{A}##, I have ##\overline{A \cap \overline{B}} \subset \overline{A} \cap \overline{\overline{B}}=\overline{A} \cap \overline {B}##. From here I couldn't arrive to anything and I don't know how to use the fact that ##A## is open.

In (2), I've tried to express ##\overline{A} \setminus \overline{B}=\overline{A} \cap {\overline {B}}^c##. I want to show that the subset is contained in ##\overline{A \setminus B}##, in order to do this I should show that for every ##x \in \overline{A} \cap {\overline {B}}^c## and for every open set ##U## with ##x \in U##, I have ##U \cap (\overline{A \setminus B}) \neq \emptyset.## So, if ##x \in \overline {A} \cap {\overline B}^c##, then for every ##U## open with ##x \in U##, ##U \cap A \neq \emptyset## and there is an open set ##V## with ##x \in V \subset \overline {B}^c##. I didn't know how to continue from that point.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

For (1), ##A## open is a necessary condition. So you need to use it somewhere. I would recommend working from "first principles" - i.e. the definitions of closure and intersection - rather than trying to invoke other theorems or De Morgan's laws. Though depending on your definition of closure, you may need to use some elementary results.

For (2), you might find (1) at least partly useful. Remember, ##\overline B^c## is an open set. I haven't worked it all the way through, but it could turn out to be a follow-your-nose kind of deal after using that.
 
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gopher_p said:
For (1), ##A## open is a necessary condition. So you need to use it somewhere. I would recommend working from "first principles" - i.e. the definitions of closure and intersection - rather than trying to invoke other theorems or De Morgan's laws. Though depending on your definition of closure, you may need to use some elementary results.

For (2), you might find (1) at least partly useful. Remember, ##\overline B^c## is an open set. I haven't worked it all the way through, but it could turn out to be a follow-your-nose kind of deal after using that.


You're right about using (1) for (2): Since ##{\overline{B}}^c## is open, then ##\overline{A} \cap {\overline{B}}^c \subset \overline {A \cap B^c}=\overline {A \setminus B}##.

I think I could solve (1). Suppose ##x \in A \cap \overline{B}##. I want to show that for all ##U## open such that ##x \in U##, we have ##U \cap (A \cap B) \neq \emptyset##. So let ##x \in U## open, since ##x \in A##, ##U \cap A \neq \emptyset##. Now, ##A## is also open, so ##U \cap A## is open and as ##x \in \overline{B}##, then ##\emptyset \neq (U \cap A) \cap B=U \cap (A \cap B)##, which is what I wanted to prove.

Thanks for the help!
 

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