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Show that the Cantor set, C, is totally disconnected.

Let $x,y\in C$ and suppose (WLOG) that $x. Since $x,y\in C$, then $x,y\in C_n$ $\forall n\in$ℕ . Then, by construction of C, $\exists$ N$\in$ℕsuch that $|x-y|>\frac{1}{3^N}$ (where $\frac{1}{3^N}$ is the length of a closed interval in $C_N$. This implies that $x$ and $y$ belong to different closed intervals in $C_N$ and also, there must exist an element, $z$, where $x, but $z\notin C_N$ and hence, $z\notin C$ (i.e. $z$ was in the open interval "removed" when constructing the Cantor set). Let $A$={$a|a} and $B$={$b|b>z, b\in C$}. Then $x\in A$ and $y\in B$. Note that $\bar A\cup B$=$\emptyset$ and $A\cup \bar B$=$\emptyset$, implying that $A$ and $B$ are separated sets. Then, since $A$ is the set of all elements in $C$ less than $z$ and $B$ is the set of all elements in $C$ greater than $z$ (and $z$ is not in $C$), it follows that $C=A\cup B$, and therefore $C$ is totally disconnected.

Is this correctly done? I am concerned about the part where I stated that $A$ and $B$ are separated sets, do I need to prove this point further? Feedback is appreciated.

Thanks.

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I think that it’s acceptable as is, except that you have a typo: you wrote $\overline A\cup B$ and $A\cup\overline B$ where you wanted intersections. However, it’s possible to give more justification quite easily, so you might want to do so. Just note that $A=C\cap(\leftarrow,z)$, so $A$ is open in $C$, and $A=C\cap(\leftarrow,z]$, so $A$ is closed in $C$, and $A=C\cap(\leftarrow,z)$, so $A$ is also open in $C$ and therefore $B=C\setminus A$ is closed in $C$. Thus, $\operatorname{cl}_CA=A$ and $\operatorname{cl}_CB=B$, and $\operatorname{cl}_CA\cap\operatorname{cl}_C=A\cap B=\varnothing$.

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    Thank you. Oh yes, I will be sure to correct it. In the 3rd line, do you mean A closure when you said A is closed? Does the **cl** in the last line mean "closure"?2012-12-08
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    @Alti: No, I mean that $A$ itself is closed: it’s the intersection of $C$ with the closed set $(\leftarrow,z]$. And yes, $\operatorname{cl}XA$ is a standard notation for the closure of a set $A$ in a space $X$.2012-12-08
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    I'm sorry, I don't see how $z$ is included in the set $A$ because my definition of $A$ implies that $z$ is in not $A$...2012-12-08
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    @Alti: $z$ **isn’t** in $A$; that’s the whole point! That’s why $A=C\cap(\leftarrow,z)=C\cap(\leftarrow,z]$ is both open and closed in $C$.2012-12-08
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    Ohh okay, I wasn't thinking correctly, thank you for the help/clarification.2012-12-08
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    @Alti: You’re welcome.2012-12-08