What is an example of a separable Hausdorff space with a non-separable subspace?

In summary, the conversation discusses constructing a separable Hausdorff space with a non-separable subspace. The idea is to first construct the subspace A, which must be non-separable, and then find a corresponding separable superset. The book "Counterexamples in Topology" by Steen and Seebach is recommended as a resource for finding non-separable spaces. The misconception that the real numbers are non-separable is corrected, as a countable dense subset, such as the rational numbers, can be used to make it separable.
  • #1
tylerc1991
166
0

Homework Statement



Give an example of a separable Hausdorff space (X,T) with a subspace (A,T_A) that is not separable.

The Attempt at a Solution



well since a separable space is one that is either finite or has a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers, the separable Hausdorff space has to be some infinite set that has a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers (since if I use some finite set for the separable Hausdorff set (X,T), any subset of (X,T) is also finite and therefore separable)

so the next step was trying to think of spaces that are not separable, then working backwards to think of a superset that is separable. but this is where I am getting stuck. for example, the real numbers are not separable, but any superset I can think of is also not separable. can someone give me a little push in the right direction? thank you very very much!
 
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  • #2
OK, let's first construct our space A. A must be nonseparable. Now, what nonseparable spaces do you know?

Hint: a good book in topology is the book "counterexamples in topology" by Steen and Seebach. It contains a whole lot of counterexamples to various thingies...
 
  • #3
tylerc1991 said:
the real numbers are not separable

This is NOT true! The real numbers ARE separable. A countable dense subset is given by [tex]\mathbb{Q}[/tex]!
 
  • #4
oh crap, I was thinking of COUNTABLE spaces. ok so that makes the problem make a lot more sense. thanks for the help!
 

1. What is a subspace in topology?

A subspace in topology is a subset of a topological space that inherits its topology from the larger space. This means that the open sets in the subspace are the intersections of the open sets in the larger space with the subspace itself.

2. How do you determine if a set is a subspace?

To determine if a set is a subspace, you must check if it satisfies the three conditions for a subspace: it is a subset of the larger space, it contains the point 0, and it is closed under vector addition and scalar multiplication.

3. What is the difference between a subspace and a subset?

A subset is simply a collection of elements from a larger set, while a subspace is a subset that also inherits the structure of the larger space. This means that a subspace has additional properties, such as being closed under certain operations.

4. Can a subspace have a different topology than the larger space?

Yes, a subspace can have a different topology than the larger space. This can happen if the subspace is given a different set of open sets, which can result in a different set of open sets for the subspace.

5. What is the importance of studying subspaces in topology?

Studying subspaces in topology is important because it allows us to understand the structure and properties of a topological space in a more detailed way. It also helps us to generalize concepts and theorems from the larger space to the subspace. Additionally, many applications in mathematics and other fields involve working with subspaces, making it a useful concept to understand.

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