G-delta set

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In the mathematical field of topology a G-delta set or Gδ set is a set in a
topological space which is in a certain sense simple. The notation
originated in Germany with G for Gebiet (German:area) meaning open set
in this case and δ for Durchschnitt (german:intersection).
Contents
[hide]
 1 Definition
 2 Examples
 3 Properties

 4 See also

[edit] Definition
In a topological space a Gδ set is a countable intersection of open sets.

[edit] Examples
 Any open set is trivially a Gδ set

 The irrational numbers are a Gδ set in R, the real numbers, as they can be written as
the intersection over all rational numbers q of the complement of {q} in R.

 The rational numbers Q are not a Gδ set. If we were able to write Q as the intersection
of open sets An, each An would have to be dense in R since Q is dense in R. However,
the construction above gave the irrational numbers as a countable intersection of open
dense subsets. Taking the intersection of both of these sets gives the empty set as a
countable intersection of open dense sets in R, a violation of the Baire category
theorem.

 The set of points at which a function from R to itself is continuous can be shown to be
a G δ.

Thus while it may be possible for the irrationals to be the set of continuity
points of a function (in fact, such a function does exist), it is impossible to
construct a function which is continuous only on the rational numbers.

[edit] Properties
 In metrizable spaces, every closed set is a Gδ set.
  The complement of a Gδ set is an Fσ. In a metrizable space, every open set is an Fσ set.

 The intersection of countably many Gδ sets is a Gδ set, and the union of finitely many
Gδ sets is a Gδ set.

 A subspace A of a topologically complete space X is itself topologically complete if

and only if A is a Gδ set in X

[edit] See also

 F-sigma set, the dual concept

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