Is it possible to prove that any metric topology is Hausdorff?

In summary, you can generate a Hausdorff topology on a set consisting of any sequences of real numbers, as long as you define a metric on it.
  • #1
sutupidmath
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Suppose we define a set A to consist of all sequences x=<x_i> of real numbers, for which some condition holds, define a metric on it, and show that it generates a topology T on A.

What i am a little unclear about is when we try to show if (A,T) is Hausdorff or not, do we pick now two points(single real numbers) x,y from A, and show that there are(are not) neighgorhoods U,V or x and y respectively that are disjoint, or do we pick sequences x and y of real numbers, instead?

My intuition says they should be sequences, but not quite sure about it.

Thanks for your help?
 
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  • #2
What i am a little unclear about is when we try to show if (A,T) is Hausdorff or not, do we pick now two points(single real numbers) x,y from A, and show that there are(are not) neighgorhoods U,V or x and y respectively that are disjoint, or do we pick sequences x and y of real numbers, instead?
When you're working with (A,T), then a point is not a real number, but a sequence of real numbers (i.e. an element of A). So you take two points and see if you can separate them by open neighborhoods, but a point is a sequence. Thus you pick two sequences satisfying your given condition and try to find open neighborhoods of them in T that separates them (or alternatively prove that this is impossible).

How would you suggest to pick a real number x from A anyway? There are no real numbers in A.
 
  • #3
rasmhop said:
When you're working with (A,T), then a point is not a real number, but a sequence of real numbers (i.e. an element of A). So you take two points and see if you can separate them by open neighborhoods, but a point is a sequence. Thus you pick two sequences satisfying your given condition and try to find open neighborhoods of them in T that separates them (or alternatively prove that this is impossible)..

This is what i went ahead and did. I proved, for my particular space, that it is Hausdorff.

rasmhop said:
How would you suggest to pick a real number x from A anyway? There are no real numbers in A.

What i think i confused it with, is that, i was thinking of A as if it were defined to consist of the terms of such sequences, instead of the sequences themselves.

Thanks for clarifying it further.
 
  • #4
Suppose we define a set A to consist of all sequences x=<x_i> of real numbers, for which some condition holds, define a metric on it, and show that it generates a topology T on A.

If you already defined a metric, say d, and T is the topology generated by it, then it's immediately Hausdorff. All metric topologies are Hausdorff, you don't have to consider the particulars of the space involved.

This is a consequence of the triangle inequality: if you have two distinct elements x,y of A, no matter what they are, then d(x,y) = r > 0. Consider the open balls of radius r'<r/2, centred at x and y, respectively, and apply the triangle inequality to prove that these balls are disjoint.
 
  • #5
JSuarez said:
This is a consequence of the triangle inequality: if you have two distinct elements x,y of A, no matter what they are, then d(x,y) = r > 0. Consider the open balls of radius r'<r/2, centred at x and y, respectively, and apply the triangle inequality to prove that these balls are disjoint.

This is precisely what i did.

But now when you bring it up, i realize that i have, indeed, proved the general case (that any metric topology is Hausdorff) rather than for my particular topology... since i never really made explicitly specific reference to my particular sequences, rather than just saying let x,y be any two such points(sequences in my case).
 

FAQ: Is it possible to prove that any metric topology is Hausdorff?

What is a sequence?

A sequence is a list of numbers or objects that follow a specific pattern or rule. It can be finite or infinite.

How is a sequence different from a single point?

A sequence is a set of ordered elements, while a single point is a specific location or value in a graph or coordinate system.

What is the importance of understanding sequences in science?

Sequences are important in science because they help us identify patterns and make predictions about future events. They also allow us to model and analyze complex systems and processes.

Can a sequence be both arithmetic and geometric?

Yes, a sequence can have both arithmetic and geometric properties. This is known as an arithmetic-geometric sequence, where each term is the product of the previous term and a constant value.

How are sequences used in data analysis and statistics?

In data analysis and statistics, sequences are often used to represent and analyze large sets of data. They can also be used to calculate measures of central tendency, such as mean, median, and mode.

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