Sigma Algebra: Seeking Help on Closure & Countable Unions

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of sigma algebras, specifically focusing on closure under complementation and countable unions. Participants are seeking clarification on how to demonstrate these properties within the context of a function's inverse image.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a method to show closure under complementation by starting with a set \( C \in G \) and analyzing its complement.
  • Another participant questions the equality \( f^{-1}(Y) \setminus f^{-1}(B) = f^{-1}(Y \setminus B) \) and seeks clarification on this relationship.
  • A further contribution outlines a step-by-step approach to demonstrate the inclusion \( f^{-1}(Y) - f^{-1}(B) \subseteq f^{-1}(Y - B) \), emphasizing the need to show both inclusions for equality.
  • Participants discuss the utility of visual aids to enhance understanding of the concepts being explored.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the equality \( f^{-1}(Y) \setminus f^{-1}(B) = f^{-1}(Y \setminus B) \), as participants are actively questioning and exploring this relationship. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the proof of closure under complementation and countable unions.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the steps required to prove the properties of sigma algebras, particularly in relation to the definitions and implications of inverse images. The discussion highlights the need for clarity on the assumptions involved in these proofs.

Arenholt
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Hi everyone, didn't know where to post question on sigma algebra so here it is:-
View attachment 5671

What I've tried till now:
Let $$C\in G$$
1) For $$C=X, f^{-1}(B)=X$$ which will be true for $$B=Y$$ (by definition)
2) For closure under complementation, to show $$C^{c}\in G. So, C^{c}=X\setminus C=X\setminus f^{-1}(B)=f^{-1}(Y)\setminus f^{-1}(B).$$

Can someone suggest how to proceed from here in order to show that the set G is closed under complementation? And how to prove the third property of Countable unions of subsets of X lying in G?
Thanks
 

Attachments

  • Lec-4 sigma algebra.PNG
    Lec-4 sigma algebra.PNG
    9.7 KB · Views: 141
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Arenholt said:
Hi everyone, didn't know where to post question on sigma algebra so here it is:-What I've tried till now:
Let $$C\in G$$
1) For $$C=X, f^{-1}(B)=X$$ which will be true for $$B=Y$$ (by definition)
2) For closure under complementation, to show $$C^{c}\in G. So, C^{c}=X\setminus C=X\setminus f^{-1}(B)=f^{-1}(Y)\setminus f^{-1}(B).$$

Can someone suggest how to proceed from here in order to show that the set G is closed under complementation? And how to prove the third property of Countable unions of subsets of X lying in G?
Thanks
Note that $f^{-1}(Y)\setminus f^{-1}(B)=f^{-1}(Y\setminus B)$. Now since $B$ is in the sigma algebra, so is $Y\setminus B$.
 
caffeinemachine said:
Note that $f^{-1}(Y)\setminus f^{-1}(B)=f^{-1}(Y\setminus B)$. Now since $B$ is in the sigma algebra, so is $Y\setminus B$.
This is exactly what I am trying to wrap my head around. I thought of this but how is $f^{-1}(Y)\setminus f^{-1}(B)$ equal to $f^{-1}(Y\setminus B)$.
 
Arenholt said:
This is exactly what I am trying to wrap my head around. I thought of this but how is $f^{-1}(Y)\setminus f^{-1}(B)$ equal to $f^{-1}(Y\setminus B)$.
To show that a set $A$ is equal to a set $B$, we show that $A\subseteq B$ and $B\subseteq A$.

Now we want to show $f^{-1}(Y)-f^{-1}(B)=f^{-1}(Y-B)$.

Step 1: We show $f^{-1}(Y)-f^{-1}(B)\subseteq f^{-1}(Y-B)$. To do this, pick $x\in f^{-1}(Y)-f^{-1}(B)$ arbitrarily. All we need to do is show that $x\in f^{-1}(Y-B)$. Now saying that $x\in f^{-1}(Y)-f^{-1}(B)$ is same as saying that $x\notin f^{-1}(B)$ since $X=f^{-1}(Y)$. This in turn is equivalent to saying that $f(x)\notin B$. Thus $f(x)\in Y-B$. This means the same thing as $x\in f^{-1}(Y-B)$ and we are done with step 1.

Can you do step 2, that is, show the reverse containment?

It is useful to draw some pictures to get an intuition about these things. Make a blob denoting $Y$ and a subblob denoting B etc.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K