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Let $X_1, X_2$ be non-empty sets and let $R\subseteq X_1\times X_2$ such that for all $x\in X_1$ there is $y\in X_2$ such that $(x,y)\in R$.

Are there topologies $\tau_i$ on $X_i$ for $i=1,2$ and a continuous function $f:X_1\to X_2$ such that $R$ is the topological closure of $\text{graph}(f)$, where $\text{graph}(f) = \bigl\{\bigl(x,f(x)\bigr) \, : \, x\in X_1\bigr\}$?

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2 Answers 2

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Take $X_1=X_2=\{1,2,3\}$ and $R=\{(x,y):x\neq y\}$. Then the diagonal is open as a complement of the closed subset $R$. As an open subset, the diagonal is a union of products $A_i\times B_i$ of some open subsets $A_i\subseteq X_1$ and $B_i\subseteq X_2$. But these must be singletons so both $X_i$'s are discrete. Therefore any graph of a function is closed - a contradiction since $R$ is not a graph.

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According to https://mathoverflow.net/a/8994/4600, $\log_2$ of the number of topologies on $n$ elements is $\sim n^2/4$. So let's say there are $2^{n^2/4}$ topologies. Then the number of topologies on $X_1=[n]=\{0,\dots,n-1\}$ and $X_2=[n]$ is $$ 2^{n^2/4}\cdot 2^{n^2/4} = 2^{n^2/2}. $$ Consider now sets $R$ which contain $(k,0)$ for each $k<n$. There are $$ 2^{n(n-1)} $$ such sets. But there are only $$n^n = 2^{n\log_2 n}$$ functions, so the total number of $(\tau_1,\tau_2,f)$ is only $$ 2^{n^2/2}2^{n\log_2 n} < 2^{n(n-1)} $$ for large $n$. So there are just too many sets $R$.


Edit: This is rather complicated compared to Adam Przeździecki's solution, but it does have the virtue of showing that "closure of" could be replaced by any other method of uniquely obtaining $R$ from $f$, $\tau_1$, and $\tau_2$.

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  • $\begingroup$ Two answers 16 seconds apart :) $\endgroup$ May 26, 2015 at 9:12
  • $\begingroup$ @AdamPrzeździecki well I had the unfounded worry that your solution would be the same as mine. $\endgroup$ May 26, 2015 at 9:21

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