Introduction to Analysis: Fall 2008

Practice problems IV

MTH 4101/5101 10/13/2008

1. Let K = {0, n1 , n = 1, 2 · · ·}. Prove that K is compact, directly from the

definition.
Solution: Let {Gα } be an open cover for K. That is K ⊂ ∪α Gα . Since 0 ∈ K
we have 0 ∈ Gα0 for some α0 . Also, since Gα0 is an open set, 0 is an interior
point of Gα0 . So, there exists a r > 0 such that Nr (0) ⊂ Gα0 . By Archimedean
principle, there exists a N such that r > N1 . Therefore, n1 ∈ Nr (0) for all
n ≥ N . So,
1 1
{ , , · · ·} ⊂ Nr (0) ⊂ Gα0 .
N N +1
1
Now let, n
∈ Gαn , for n = 1, 2, ..(N − 1). Clearly,

K ⊂ Gα0 ∪ Gα1 ∪ · · · ∪ Gα(N −1) .

We have thus produced a finite subcover for K for every open cover {Gα }.
Thus, K is compact.

2. Construct a compact set of real numbers whose limit points form a countable
set.
Solution: Let S = { n1 + 1m|n, m ∈ IN }. For each n ∈ IN N, 1
n
+ m1 → n1 as
m → ∞. Thus, { n1 , n ∈ IN } constitutes a countable set of limit points of S.

3. Give an example of an open cover of the segment (0, 1) which has no finite
subcover.
Solution: Let Gn = ( n1 , 1 − n1 ), n ∈ IN. Clearly, (0, 1) ⊂ ∪∞ n=3 Gn . But there
N
exists no finite subcover. For, if (0, 1) ⊂ ∪n=3 Gn for any positive integer
N > 3, then we have (0, 1) ⊂ ( N1 , 1 − N1 ). But, for any n > N we have
1
n
∈ (0, 1) and n1 ∈/ ( N1 , 1 − N1 ). Hence, {Gn , n = 3, 4 · · · N } cannot be an cover
for (0, 1) for any N .

4. Regard Q, the set of rational numbers, as a metric space with d(p, q) = |p − q|.
Let E be the set of all p ∈ Q such that 2 < p2 < 3. Show that E is closed and
bounded in Q is not compact. Is E open in Q?
Solution: From the definition of E, clearly E ⊂ {p ∈ Q| − 3 < p < 3}. So, it
is bounded. We show that E is closed by showing E c is open.√Let p ∈ Q ∩ E c .
Then, either p2 < 2 or p2 > 3. Suppose p2 < 2. Choose, r = ( 2−p)
3
. Let
c
U = Nr (p) ∩ Q. Then, U ∩ E = Φ. Thus, U ⊂ E ∩ Q. Thus, p is an interior
point of E c proving that E c is open. To show that E is not compact, consider

1
 1
the open cover, Gn = {p ∈ Q|2 + n
< p2 < 3 − n1 }, n ∈ IN. Verify that there is
no subcover.
5. Let E be the set of all x ∈ [0, 1] whose decimal expansions contain only the
digits 4 and 7. Is E compact.
Solution: Note that E not countable. Map such a decimal expansion
0.a0 a1 a2 · · · to a subset A of IN as follows: n is in A iff an = 7. So A = N
corresponds with the all 7 expansion, the empty set with the all 4 expansion,
and so on. All subsets of N correspond with some number in the set E, so E
has as many members as there are subsets of IN hence E has uncountably
many elements. Compactness is equivalent to being closed in [0,1], since E is
bounded. We show that E c is open. Any decimal x ∈ E c has at least one digit
different from 4 and 7. Use this to produce a neighborhood of x whose
intersection with E is empty.
6. Let H = [0, ∞). Prove, from the definition, that H is not compact.
Solution: Let Gn = (−1, n). Then, H ⊂ ∪∞ n=1 Gn . {Gn , n ∈ IN } is an open
cover for H. Show that there is no finite subcover.
7. Prove, using the definition that, if K1 and K2 are compact sets, then K1 ∪ K2
is compact.
Solution: Let {Gα } be an open cover for K1 ∪ K2 . Then {Gα } is an open
cover for each of K1 and K2 . Since, K1 and K2 are compact, there exist
Gαi , i = 1, ..., N such that K1 = ∪N i=1 Gαi and Gβi , i = 1, ..., M such that
M
such that K2 = ∪i=1 G βi . It then follows
 that
N M
K1 ∪ K2 = ∪i=1 Gαi ∪ ∪i=1 Gβi .
8. Prove that arbitrary intersection of compact sets is compact.
Solution: Let Kα be a family of compact sets in a metric space X. Define
K = ∩Kα . Let {Gβ } be an open cover for K. Clearly, {{Gβ }, K c } is an open
cover Kα , for any α. Since Kα is compact, there exists a finite subcover for Kα .
This finite subcover results in a finite subcover for K. Hence, K is compact.
9. Find an infinite collection of {Kn |n ∈ IN } of compact sets of IR such that
∪∞
n=1 Kn is not compact.
Solution; Let Kn = [n, n + 1], n = 1, 2... Clearly, each Kn is compact.
∪∞
n=1 Kn = [1, ∞) which clearly is not compact.

10. Let K 6= Φ be a compact set in IR. Show that infK and supK exist and
belong to K.
Solution: K is compact implies K is a bounded subset of IR. Hence, by the
least upper bound property of IR both supK and infK exist. Let α = supK.
Now, for every  > 0, α −  is not an upper bound of K and hence there exists
a x ∈ K such that α −  < x < α. That is, in every neighborhood of α there is
an element of K implies α is a limit point of K which is in K since K is closed.