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Understanding Compact Sets in Metric Spaces

Nov 16, 2024

Lecture: Properties of Compact Sets in Metric Spaces

Introduction

  • The lecture focuses on the properties of compact sets in metric spaces.
  • Main theorem discussed: A compact set must be closed and bounded.
  • Second property: If ( K ) is closed and ( X ) is compact, then ( K ) is also compact.

Main Theorem

Statement

  1. If a set ( K ) is compact, it must be both closed and bounded.
  2. If ( K ) is closed and ( X ) is compact, then ( K ) is compact.

Proof of Theorem

Proving ( K ) is Closed

  • Goal: Show the complement of ( K ) is open.
  • Take a point ( P ) in the complement.
    • Show ( P ) has a neighborhood fully contained in the complement.
  • Idea: Distance ( d(P, Q) ) for ( P ) not in ( K ) is positive.
    • Dividing this distance by 4 maintains positivity.
  • Create disjoint balls around ( P ) and ( Q ).
    • Using compactness, cover ( K ) with a finite number of such balls.
    • Conclude that ( K ) is closed as its complement is open.

Proving ( K ) is Bounded

  • Use the concept of covering ( K ) with balls of a fixed radius.
  • Compactness implies a finite number of such balls suffices.
  • For each point ( x ) in ( K ), there exists a finite bound ( M ) such that:
    • Distance ( d(x, q_j) < 1 ) for some center ( q_j ).
    • Hence, ( K ) is included in a ball of finite radius ( 2M ).
    • Concludes that ( K ) is bounded.

Second Property

Proving Closed Subset of Compact Set is Compact

  • Given: ( X ) is compact, ( K ) is closed.
  • Complement of ( K ) is open; take an arbitrary open cover.
  • ( X ) can be covered by a finite number of open sets and possibly ( K^c ).
  • Since ( X ) is compact, a finite subcover exists for ( X ).
  • Conclude that ( K ), being part of ( X ), can also be finitely covered, proving compactness of ( K ).

Conclusion

  • The lecture concludes with the proof that compact sets are closed and bounded in metric spaces, and any closed subset of a compact set is also compact.