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Given that $K$ is a connected subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ such that $\forall x\in K, K\setminus\{x\}$ is not connected, then

  1. K must be homeomorphic to an interval of $\mathbb{R}$
  2. K must have empty interior.

Well, I feel that 1 is correct but I'm not able to make it formal, and I'm not sure about 2.

Thank you for help.

  • 0
    Is $K$ connected?2012-07-08
  • 1
    2. is correct: removing a point of interior does not disconnect a set, because a disk minus a point is still connected.2012-07-08
  • 0
    @LeonidKovalev You are assuming that $K$ is connected. If a set is not connected, it is possible that removing a point from the interior of the set keeps the set disconnected.2012-07-08
  • 0
    @LeonidKovalev Nevermind, the post has been edited to say that $K$ is connected.2012-07-08
  • 3
    1 is false: take the union of two axes.2012-07-08

1 Answers 1

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Copying & expanding comments:

1 is false: take the union of two axes. You can find a topological characterization of intervals in Analytic Topology by Whyburn.

2 is correct: removing a point of interior does not disconnect a set, because a disk minus a point is still connected.