MHB Understand Example 3.10 (b) Karl R. Stromberg, Chapter 3: Limits & Continuity

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Example 3.10 (b) in Karl R. Stromberg's "An Introduction to Classical Real Analysis" illustrates that if X is any set and T is the family of all subsets of X, then T represents the metric topology derived from the discrete metric. The discrete metric defines open sets as single points, meaning that for any point x in X, the open ball B1(x) contains only x. Consequently, any subset S of X can be expressed as a union of these single-point open sets, confirming that every subset of X is open. This establishes that the topology from the discrete metric encompasses all subsets of X. Understanding this concept is essential for grasping the properties of topological spaces as outlined in the chapter.
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I am reading Karl R. Stromberg's book: "An Introduction to Classical Real Analysis". ... ...

I am focused on Chapter 3: Limits and Continuity ... ...

I need help in order to fully understand Example 3.10 (b) on page 95 ... ... Example 3.10 (b) reads as follows:

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My question is as follows:Stromberg says that if $$X$$ is any set and $$\mathscr{T}$$ is the family of all subsets of $$X$$ ...

... then $$\mathscr{T}$$ is nothing but the metric topology obtained from the discrete metric ...Can someone demonstrate/explain exactly how/why this is true ...?

Help will be much appreciated ...

Peter

===================================================================================Example 3.10 (b) above refers to Example 3.2 (a) ... ... so I am providing access to the same ... as follows:

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It may help readers of the above post to have access to Stromberg's definition of a topological space ... so I am providing access to the same ... as follows:
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Stromberg's definition of a topological space refers to Theorem 3.6 ... ... so I am providing access to the statement of the same ... as follows:
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Stromberg's definition of a topological space also refers to Definition 3.3 ... ... so I am providing access to the same ... as follows:

View attachment 9211

Hope that helps ...

Peter
 

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  • Stromberg - Example 3.10 (b) ...  .png
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  • Stromberg -  Defn 3.9  ... Defn of a Topological Space ... .png
    Stromberg - Defn 3.9 ... Defn of a Topological Space ... .png
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  • Stromberg - Statement of Theorem 3.6 ... .png
    Stromberg - Statement of Theorem 3.6 ... .png
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  • Stromberg -  Defn 3.3  ... Defn of a Ball of Radius r with Center a  ... .png
    Stromberg - Defn 3.3 ... Defn of a Ball of Radius r with Center a ... .png
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  • Stromberg - Example 3.2 (a) ... Discrete Metric Space .png
    Stromberg - Example 3.2 (a) ... Discrete Metric Space .png
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Peter said:
Stromberg says that if $$X$$ is any set and $$\mathscr{T}$$ is the family of all subsets of $$X$$ ...

... then $$\mathscr{T}$$ is nothing but the metric topology obtained from the discrete metric ...Can someone demonstrate/explain exactly how/why this is true ...?
Let $\rho$ be the discrete metric on the set $X$, and let $x\in X$. Then $\rho(x,y) = 1$ whenever $y\ne x$. Therefore $B_1(x) = \{y\in X:\rho(x,y)<1\} = \{x\}$. In words, that says that $B_1(x)$ is an open set consisting of the single point $x$.

Now let $S$ be a subset of $X$. Then $$S = \bigcup_{x\in S}\{x\} = \bigcup_{x\in S}B_1(x)$$. That is a union of open sets and is therefore open. Again putting it in words, this says that in the discrete metric every subset of $X$ is open.

So the topology obtained from the discrete metric (which by definition is the family of all open subsets of $X$) is the family of all subsets of $X$.
 
Opalg said:
Let $\rho$ be the discrete metric on the set $X$, and let $x\in X$. Then $\rho(x,y) = 1$ whenever $y\ne x$. Therefore $B_1(x) = \{y\in X:\rho(x,y)<1\} = \{x\}$. In words, that says that $B_1(x)$ is an open set consisting of the single point $x$.

Now let $S$ be a subset of $X$. Then $$S = \bigcup_{x\in S}\{x\} = \bigcup_{x\in S}B_1(x)$$. That is a union of open sets and is therefore open. Again putting it in words, this says that in the discrete metric every subset of $X$ is open.

So the topology obtained from the discrete metric (which by definition is the family of all open subsets of $X$) is the family of all subsets of $X$.
Thanks for a most helpful post, Opalg ...

Just reflecting on what you have said ...

Thanks again ...

Peter
 
We all know the definition of n-dimensional topological manifold uses open sets and homeomorphisms onto the image as open set in ##\mathbb R^n##. It should be possible to reformulate the definition of n-dimensional topological manifold using closed sets on the manifold's topology and on ##\mathbb R^n## ? I'm positive for this. Perhaps the definition of smooth manifold would be problematic, though.

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