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tavrion
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I am trying to better my understanding of [itex]\sigma[/itex]-[itex]algebra[/itex]s, and I have a bit of an issue with one of the examples. This is from Cohn Measure Theory, and before I give the problem, here are two definitions:
Let [itex]X[/itex] be an arbitrary set. A collection [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] of subsets of [itex]X[/itex] is an [itex]algebra[/itex] on [itex]X[/itex] if:
(a) [itex]X \in Z[/itex]
(b) for each set [itex]A[/itex] that belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex], the set [itex]A^c[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
(c) for each finite sequence [itex]A_{1}, ... , A_{n}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{n}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] and
(d) for each finite sequence [itex]A_{1}, ... , A_{n}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcap_{i=1}^{n}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
Let [itex]X[/itex] be an arbitrary set. A collection [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] of subsets of [itex]X[/itex] is a [itex]\sigma[/itex]-[itex]algebra[/itex] on [itex]X[/itex] if:
(a) [itex]X \in Z[/itex]
(b) for each set [itex]A[/itex] that belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex], the set [itex]A^c[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
(c) for each infinite sequence [itex]\{A_{i}\}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{\infty}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] and
(d) for each infinite sequence [itex]\{A_{1}\}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcap_{i=1}^{\infty}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
Okay, with all that. Here is what I am having issues with.
If [itex]X[/itex] is an infinite set, and [itex]\delta[/itex] is the collection of all subsets [itex]A[/itex] such that either [itex]A[/itex] or [itex]A^c[/itex] is finite. Then [itex]\delta[/itex] is an algebra on [itex]X[/itex] but not closed under the formation of countable unions, and so not a [itex]\sigma[/itex]-[itex]algebra[/itex].
So, if I take, for example [itex]X[/itex] to be the set of all positive integers, that is [itex]X = {1,2,3,...}[/itex] and define [itex] A_{i} = i [/itex].
Then, I have [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{n}A_{i} = {1,2,3,...,n}[/itex] which belongs to [itex]\delta[/itex] but [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{\infty}A_{i} = {1,2,3,...}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta[/itex] as well, so why does this fail to be a [itex]\sigma[/itex]-[itex]algebra[/itex]? Where have I gone wrong?
Let [itex]X[/itex] be an arbitrary set. A collection [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] of subsets of [itex]X[/itex] is an [itex]algebra[/itex] on [itex]X[/itex] if:
(a) [itex]X \in Z[/itex]
(b) for each set [itex]A[/itex] that belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex], the set [itex]A^c[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
(c) for each finite sequence [itex]A_{1}, ... , A_{n}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{n}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] and
(d) for each finite sequence [itex]A_{1}, ... , A_{n}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcap_{i=1}^{n}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
Let [itex]X[/itex] be an arbitrary set. A collection [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] of subsets of [itex]X[/itex] is a [itex]\sigma[/itex]-[itex]algebra[/itex] on [itex]X[/itex] if:
(a) [itex]X \in Z[/itex]
(b) for each set [itex]A[/itex] that belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex], the set [itex]A^c[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
(c) for each infinite sequence [itex]\{A_{i}\}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{\infty}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] and
(d) for each infinite sequence [itex]\{A_{1}\}[/itex] of sets that belong to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex] the set [itex]\bigcap_{i=1}^{\infty}A_{i}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta\Large[/itex]
Okay, with all that. Here is what I am having issues with.
If [itex]X[/itex] is an infinite set, and [itex]\delta[/itex] is the collection of all subsets [itex]A[/itex] such that either [itex]A[/itex] or [itex]A^c[/itex] is finite. Then [itex]\delta[/itex] is an algebra on [itex]X[/itex] but not closed under the formation of countable unions, and so not a [itex]\sigma[/itex]-[itex]algebra[/itex].
So, if I take, for example [itex]X[/itex] to be the set of all positive integers, that is [itex]X = {1,2,3,...}[/itex] and define [itex] A_{i} = i [/itex].
Then, I have [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{n}A_{i} = {1,2,3,...,n}[/itex] which belongs to [itex]\delta[/itex] but [itex]\bigcup_{i=1}^{\infty}A_{i} = {1,2,3,...}[/itex] belongs to [itex]\delta[/itex] as well, so why does this fail to be a [itex]\sigma[/itex]-[itex]algebra[/itex]? Where have I gone wrong?