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Let $X$ be a metric space such that for every pair of disjoint open sets $U$ and $W$ we have $\overline{U} \cap \overline{W} = \emptyset$. How to prove $X$ is a discrete space?

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The basic idea is to show that if there is a non-isolated point, there must be two disjoint open sets that both have that point as a limit point. One way to do that is to take a sequence converging to a non-isolated point and to put disjoint open sets around the odd-numbered and the even-numbered terms.

In more detail, suppose that $X$ is not discrete; then there’s some point $x\in X$ that isn’t isolated. Pick $x_0 \in N(x,1) \setminus \{x\}$, the open ball about $x$ of radius $1$ minus the point $x$, let $r_0 = d(x,x_0)/3$, where $d$ is the metric, and let $V_0 = N(x_0,r_0)$. Now pick $x_1 \in N(x,r_0)$, let $r_1 = d(x,x_1)/3$, and let $V_1 = N(x_1,r_1)$. At stage $n$ with $n>0$ pick $x_n \in N(x,r_{n-1})$, let $r_n = d(x,x_n)/3$, and let $V_n = N(x_n,r_n)$. You can check that the sequence $\langle x_n:n\in\omega\rangle$ converges to $x$, and the open sets $V_n$ are pairwise disjoint.

Let $U = \bigcup\limits_{n\in\omega} V_{2n}$ and $W = \bigcup\limits_{n\in\omega}V_{2n+1}$; $U$ and $W$ are disjoint open sets, so $\operatorname{cl}U \cap \operatorname{cl}W = \varnothing$. But $\langle x_{2n}:n\in\omega\rangle$ and $\langle x_{2n+1}:n\in\omega\rangle$ both converge to $x$, so $x\in \operatorname{cl}U \cap \operatorname{cl}W$, a contradiction.

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    @Dylan: Thanks, and you’re absolutely right; fixed.2011-08-08