All Questions
5,183 questions
8
votes
1
answer
322
views
Does every cancellative duo semigroup embed into a group?
Prompted by the comments to a recent answer by YCor to a related question (here), I'd like to ask the following:
Q. Does every cancellative duo semigroup embed into a group?
A (multiplicatively ...
- 10.5k
13
votes
3
answers
670
views
How algebraic can the dual of a topological category be?
(I'm going to try to use definitions from Abstract and Concrete Categories: The Joy of Cats by Adámek, Herrlich, and Strecker, since both of the adjectives in the title of my question seem to have at ...
- 12.5k
1
vote
0
answers
104
views
Commutative Banach $\mathbb{R}$-algebras without complex structure, but with path-connected group of units
For a finite-dimensional commutative (associative, unital) $\mathbb{R}$-algebra $A$, the condition $\pi_0(A^\times) = 1$ (i.e. the group of units of $A$ being path-connected) is equivalent to $A$ ...
- 7,127
24
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why are extremally disconnected spaces so hard to give examples of?
Recall that an extremally disconnected space is a Hausdorff topological space in which the closure of any open set is still open.
On the surface, this doesn't seem like a very remarkable condition ...
- 32.5k
0
votes
1
answer
231
views
Questions on the compactness of $L_1([0,1]^2)$'s unit sphere
Let $U$ denote the set of functions $f\in L_1([0,1]^2)$ such that $\int f=1$ and $f(x,y)\geq 0: a.e. (x,y)\in [0,1]^2$. Recently in my study I need to study the compactness of $U$. By Riesz's theorem ...
- 349
4
votes
0
answers
97
views
Is there a concept of a map of Grothendieck sites having dense image?
Someone recently asked if one can talk about a map being etale dense just like one can talk about it being Zariski dense. My main question is: has anyone discussed such a notion?
On a simple ...
- 15.4k
0
votes
1
answer
100
views
Embeddings of pseudo metric spaces into seminormed Spaces
There is a theorem stating that every metric space embeds isometrically into $\ell _{\infty}$.
My question: is there a generalized result for pseudo metric spaces embedding isometrically into semi-...
- 85
1
vote
1
answer
91
views
When is a 2-bridge knot hyperbolic?
It is known that 2-bridge knots in $S^3$ can be classified by the Schubert form. My question is: which 2-bridge knots are hyperbolic? (Do we have a complete classification for hyperbolicity in 2-...
- 605
0
votes
1
answer
101
views
Limit sequence of regular function in $L_1$‘s unit sphere
Let $U$ denote the set of functions $f\in L_1([0,1]^2)$ such that $\int f=1$. For any $f\in U$, we say it is regular if $\int_{x_0\times [0,1]}f=\int_{[0,1]\times y_0}f=1$ for a.e. every $x_0, y_0\in [...
- 349
-1
votes
1
answer
168
views
Space of distributions on $[0,1]^2$: weakly compact or not?
Let $X_1,X_2$ be distributions on $[0,1]$ and let $X=(X_1,X_2)$ be the joint distribution of $X_1,X_2$. Let $\mathcal{X}$ be the set of all such joint distribution $X$.
Question 1: Does $\mathcal{X}$ ...
- 349
5
votes
3
answers
286
views
On a metrized $n$-dimensional manifold $X$, does every $x \in X$ have a small ball $B_\delta(x)$ that is homeomorphic to $\mathbb R^n$?
Suppose that $X$ is an $n$-dimensional topological manifold that is also metrizable, and hence equipped with some metric that induces the topology.
For every point $x \in X$, let $B_\delta(x)$ be the ...
- 5,327
3
votes
0
answers
77
views
Can we generalize the Kuratowski Extension Theorem to Souslin spaces?
The Kuratowski Extension Theorem says: Let $(X,\mathcal{A})$ be a measurable space, $Y$ be a polish space, $A\subseteq X$, and $f:A\to Y$ be a measurable map. Then there is a measurable function $F:X\...
- 647
3
votes
1
answer
351
views
How to define relative orientation in terms of (co)homology?
Let $f\colon X\to Y$ be a smooth surjective map of smooth manifolds of dimension $n$ which are not necessarily orientable. A relative orientation of $X$ over $Y$ consists of an isomorphism $\psi\colon ...
- 3,031
9
votes
1
answer
456
views
Topos notions coming from topology and uniqueness of generalizations
Let's note that the bifunctor $Sh \circ Op : Top \rightarrow Topos$, taking Topos as Grothendieck topoi + geometric morphisms, does not have any adjoints as discussed here on MO before. Yet we call ...
- 1,347
6
votes
3
answers
264
views
Can a scattered profinite set continuously surject onto a non-scattered profinite set?
A topological space is scattered if every nonempty subset has an isolated point. Are there any continuous surjections from a scattered profinite set to non-scattered profinite set?
- 2,356
4
votes
1
answer
136
views
$\bf2$-Stone-Čech compactification of a product of topological spaces
Let $\beta_{\bf2} S$ be a compact, totally-disconnected space containing a dense, discrete subspace $S$ such that any function $f:S\to\bf2$ extends to a continuous map $\hat f:\beta_{\bf2} S\to\bf2$, ...
- 1,644
3
votes
0
answers
250
views
Action (of a graded monoid) required
Reference request: Did the construction below appear anywhere before? Any mentions of it or especially any links to something commonly known would be really helpful. I feel that it might be related to ...
- 321
0
votes
0
answers
128
views
The smallest dihedral angle of convex polyhedrons
Given a set of points $\{x_{k}\}_{k=0}^{m} \subset \mathbb{R}^n$, is it always possible to find a constant $c=c(m,n)>0$, depending only on the dimension $n$ and the number $m$, such that, after ...
- 705
0
votes
0
answers
61
views
Defining rank of an abelian subgroup using the second centralizer
I recently posted this on MSE, but didn't receive any feedback; so I'm posting it on MO.
I recently came across this article which explored the maximal abelian subgroups of the symmetric group $S_n$. ...
- 195
7
votes
1
answer
170
views
Topological rigidity of cartesian product with $\mathbb{R}$
It seems that the following is true : if $V$ and $W$ are compact differentiable manifold of the same dimension, and $\mathbb{R} \times V$ is diffeomorphic to $\mathbb{R} \times W$, then $V$ and $W$ ...
8
votes
2
answers
723
views
Could there be any homotopy group without "Lebesgue Number Lemma"?
This is about a comment that I have made in my general topology class while I was proving the abovementioned lemma as a consequence of compactness!
As far as I know, essentially, there is only one ...
- 3,173
3
votes
1
answer
161
views
Stone-Čech compactification of a Boolean subalgebra of $\{0,1\}^S$
Setup: Let $S$ be a set. Let $B$ be a Boolean subalgebra of $\{0,1\}^S$; i.e., just to be clear $B$ contains the constant $0$ and $1$ functions, and is stable under binary pointwise $\land$, $\lor$ ...
- 32.5k
6
votes
1
answer
360
views
On connected sum of compact manifolds along a submanifold
Let $M_1$ and $M_2$ be two compact manifolds of dimension $n\ge 3$. Let us have embeddings $i_1: K \to M_1$ and $i_2: K \to M_2$ for a closed manifold $K$ of dimension at most $n-1$ such that the ...
- 506
3
votes
1
answer
127
views
Perfectly normal but not collectionwise normal space in ZFC
In the article A Perfectly Normal, Locally Compact, Noncollectionwise Normal Space Form $\lozenge^\ast$ by Daniels and Gruenhage (I presume "form" is a typo and it should be "from",...
- 1,211
9
votes
0
answers
221
views
Continuous maps between Peano continua
A Peano continuum is a compact connected metrizable space which is locally connected. It is called nondegenerate if it has more than one point.
Denote by $C(X,Y)$ the space of all continuous maps from ...
- 770
1
vote
0
answers
262
views
Is every self homeomorphism of the open disk conjugate to a homeomorphism extendable to the boundary?
Let $\mathbb{D}=\{z\in \mathbb{R}^2\mid |z|<1\}$
Is it true to say that every homeomorphism of $\mathbb{D}$ is conjugate to a self homeomrphism of the disk extendable to a homeomorphism of $\bar{\...
- 356
34
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Why study finite topological spaces?
In rereading Thurston's essay On Proof and Progress in Mathematics I ran across this passage:
… this means that some concepts that I use freely and naturally in
my personal thinking are foreign to ...
- 737
7
votes
1
answer
134
views
Universally closed implies proper for locales
It is well known that:
Theorem.
For a locale (resp. topological space) $X$, the following are equivalent:
$X$ is compact, i.e. every open cover of $X$ has a finite subcover.
For every locale (resp. ...
- 15.9k
2
votes
0
answers
29
views
When are canonical maps of a filtered colimit open/closed, given that the transition maps are open/closed?
Let $X_i$ be a filtered diagram of topological spaces. I am interested in when the canonical maps $f_i:X_i\rightarrow \text{colim } X_i$ are open/closed. It is pretty easy to show that if the ...
- 41
3
votes
0
answers
94
views
Pseudocompactness, countable compactness and locally finite open covers
Let $(P_1)$ be the property: Every locally finite open cover of $X$ has finite subcover.
Let $(P_2)$ be the property: Every locally finite open cover of $X$ is finite.
Let $(P_3)$ be the property: ...
- 1,211
15
votes
1
answer
601
views
Topological spaces in which countable intersections of dense open sets have dense interior
In certain topological spaces, known as Baire spaces (e.g., completely metrizable spaces), a countable intersection of dense open sets is dense.
Now consider the following strengthening of the Baire ...
- 32.5k
3
votes
0
answers
101
views
A problem on the box topology
Let $S$ be a set and let $\mathbb{R}$ be the real number set with the usual topology.
Define
$$\mathbb{R}^{S}_f=\{t\in \mathbb{R}^S\mid t(s)=0 \mbox{ except for finitely many } s\in S\}. $$
Consider ...
- 123
1
vote
0
answers
111
views
Unique Hausdorff topology on trivial vector bundle?
Question: Is there a Hausdorff topology other than the product topology on $X\times \mathbb{C}^n$, that turns $(X\times \mathbb{C}^n, \mathrm{pr}_1)$ into a vector bundle, where $\mathrm{pr_1}$ ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
145
views
Can we describe open cover compactness of a space in how the space relates to other spaces?
I've seen two definitions of connectedness of categorical flavour which I present below:
(Maps into two point set): A topological space $X$ is connected iff the only continous functions $f:X \to \{ 0,...
- 1,525
0
votes
1
answer
60
views
Hereditary property of bionto (bi-onto) functions
Let $\,\ X\,\ Y\ $ be topological spaces. Set $\ A\subseteq X\ $ is said to be clopen in $\ X\ $ iff both $\ A\ $ and $\ X\setminus A\ $ are open. Continuous function $\ f:X\to Y\ $ is said to be ...
- 4,786
3
votes
0
answers
145
views
What is an example of a non-tight probability measure?
Billingsley (Convergence of Probability Measures, 1968) and van der Vaart and Wellner (Weak Convergence and Empirical Processes, 2023) discuss the concept of tight probability measures and use the ...
- 277
1
vote
2
answers
220
views
A question on unit norm elements of $\ell^2 \setminus \bigcup_{0<p<2 }\ell^p$
Let $A\subset \ell^2$ consist of all $x\in \ell^2$ with $|x|_2=1$ which does not belong to any $\ell^p$ for all $0<p<2$.
Note that $A$ is non-empty with a Baire category argument.
I ...
- 356
7
votes
2
answers
534
views
Does there exist a Dehn filling of an irreducible 3-manifold with toroidal boundaries which is still irreducible?
Let $M$ be a compact, orientable, irreducible 3-manifold with incompressible toroidal boundary (there might be more than one boundary component). Is it always possible to choose appropriate slopes on ...
- 605
4
votes
0
answers
98
views
Let $ G $ be a Lie group and $ H $ a connected subgroup of $ G $. If $ N_G(H)/H $ is finite does that imply $ H $ must be closed in $ G $?
Let $ G $ be a Lie group and $ H $ a connected subgroup of $ G $. If $ N_G(H)/H $ is finite does that imply $ H $ must be closed in $ G $?
The assumption that $ N_G(H)/H $ is finite cannot be weakened ...
- 4,081
3
votes
1
answer
161
views
How to properly define a slice knot (or a locally flat disk)?
A knot $K\subset\Bbb S^3=\partial \Bbb D^4$ is said to be (topolopgically) slice if there is a locally flat disk $D\subset\Bbb D^4$ with $\partial D=D\cap \Bbb S^3=K$. As far as I understand, locally ...
- 13.6k
3
votes
1
answer
165
views
Menger and Scheepers subsets of $\mathbb R$
$\Omega$: The collection of all $\omega$-covers of a space $X$. An open cover $\mathcal U$ of $X$ is said to be $\omega$-cover if $X\notin\mathcal U$ and for each finite $F\subseteq X$ there exists a $...
- 505
15
votes
1
answer
507
views
Is there an infinite subset of $\Bbb{R}$ not homeomorphic to any of its proper subsets?
Is there an infinite subset of $\Bbb{R}$ that is not homeomorphic to any of its proper subsets? Clearly, any finite subset of $\Bbb{R}$ is not homeomorphic to any of its proper subsets by mere ...
- 255
333
votes
34
answers
96k
views
Why is a topology made up of 'open' sets? [closed]
I'm ashamed to admit it, but I don't think I've ever been able to genuinely motivate the definition of a topological space in an undergraduate course. Clearly, the definition distills the essence of ...
6
votes
0
answers
98
views
Rigid plane curves
A curve is a continuous one-to-one image of the real line $\mathbb R$.
A space $X$ is rigid if the only homeomorphism of $X$ onto itself is the identity.
Is there a rigid curve in the plane?
I am ...
- 3,317
2
votes
0
answers
146
views
Two open contractible subset of $\mathbb{R}^3$ which are not homeomorphic but are polynomial preimage of open sets of $\mathbb{R}$
About 2 decades ago I heared from some one that there are infinitely many open contractible subsets of space mutually non homeomorphic to each other. I confess that I do not remember the ...
- 356
1
vote
1
answer
130
views
A finite dimensional continuum with a subset $A$ such that both $A$ and $X\setminus A$ are dense and contractible
Inspired by this question we ask the following question.
Note that the comment conversation and answers to the above question imply that
There are two complementary subsets of the unit ...
- 356
5
votes
1
answer
215
views
Is it possible to fill a boundary component of an irreducible 3-manifold using a handlebody so that the resulting manifold is still irreducible?
Let $M$ be a compact, orientable, irreducible 3-manifold with boundary (possibly more than one component). Let $S\subseteq\partial M$ be one of its boundary components, which is an orientable surface ...
- 605
6
votes
1
answer
99
views
Continuous collections of arcs
Let $X$ be a separable metric space. Suppose there is a mapping $f:X\to C$ of $X$ onto the Cantor set $C$, whose point preimages are arcs (homeomorphic to $[0,1]$), and such that if $c_n\to c$ in $C$ ...
- 3,317
3
votes
0
answers
93
views
Finiteness of non-orientable 3-manifolds with the same orientable two-fold cover
Given a compact, orientable and boundary incompressible 3-manifold $M$. Suppose that either $M$ is closed, or $\partial M$ consists of tori.
For which non-orientable 3-manifolds $N$, the orientable ...
- 605
0
votes
1
answer
89
views
Monto functions (multiply onto functions)
This is an improvement over Hereditary property of bionto (bi-onto) functions.
Let $\,\ X\,\ Y\ $ be topological spaces. Set $\ A\subseteq X\ $ is said to be clopen in $\ X\ $ iff both $\ A\ $ and $\ ...
- 4,786