All Questions
826 questions
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is every closed set of Q² the intersection of some connected closed set of R² with Q²
Let $F\subset\mathbb{Q}^2$ a closed set. Does there exists some closed and connected set $G\subset\mathbb{R}^2$ such that $F=G\cap\mathbb{Q}^2$?
For example if $F=\{a,b\}$, you can take $G$ the ...
- 3,033
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can a continuous real-valued function on a large product space depend on uncountably many coordinates?
Is there a reasonably well-behaved topological space $X$ (ideally Polish), a set $\kappa$, and a continuous function $g: X^\kappa\to\mathbb{R}$ that depends on uncountable many coordinates?
If $X$ is ...
21
votes
7
answers
1k
views
Reference for topological graph theory (research / problem-oriented)
I would be interested in recommendations for topological graph theory texts. I think Gross and Yellen has a great chapter on topological graph theory, and I find Mohar and Thomassen's Graphs on ...
21
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Characterization of Fréchet-Urysohn spaces using sequential continuity at a point
A map $f \colon X \to Y$ is called sequentially continuous at the point $a$ if for every sequence $(x_n)$ such that $x_n\to a$, we also have $f(x_n)\to f(a)$.
$$x_n\to a \qquad \Rightarrow \qquad f(...
- 4,713
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
An order type $\tau$ equal to its power $\tau^n, n>2$
(This is a re-post of my old unanswered question from Math.SE)
For purposes of this question, let's concern ourselves only with linear (but not necessarily well-founded) order types.
Recall that:
$...
- 6,819
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Connected and locally connected, but not path-connected
Allow me to use some non-standard terminology:
A h-contractible space is a non-empty topological space $X$ such that, for any topological space $T$ and any pair of continuous maps $f_0, f_1 : T \to X$...
- 15.9k
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
A function composed with itself produces the identity
Let $B$ be the closed unit ball in $\mathbb R^3$ and $f: B\to B$ continuous, such that $f\circ f$ is the identity (i.e., $f\circ f=\mathbb 1_B$) and $f$ restricted on $\partial B$ is also the identity ...
- 2,933
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The Gelfand duality for pro-$C^*$-algebras
The Gelfand duality says that
$$X\to C(X)$$
is a contravariant equivalence between the category of compact Hausdorff spaces and continuous maps and the category of commutative unital $C^*$-algebras ...
- 1,344
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Duality between topology and bornology
I want to understand in what sense topology is dual to bornology at a most basic level. Therefore, I rephrased the definition of a bornology in the following way:
Let $X$ be a set and let $\mathcal{P}(...
- 1,813
20
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is every compact topological ring a profinite ring?
There are a lot of compact (Hausdorff) groups, whereas every compact field is finite. What about rings? Is there a classification theorem for compact rings? If you take a cofiltered limit of finite ...
- 2,210
20
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Rugged manifold
It is well known that any compact smooth $m$-manifold can be obtained from $m$-ball by gluing some points on the boundary.
Is it still true for topological manifold?
Comments:
To proof the smooth ...
- 45k
19
votes
0
answers
563
views
What algebraic properties are preserved by $\mathbb{N}\leadsto\beta\mathbb{N}$?
Given a binary operation $\star$ on $\mathbb{N}$, we can naturally extend $\star$ to a semicontinuous operation $\widehat{\star}$ on the set $\beta\mathbb{N}$ of ultrafilters on $\mathbb{N}$ as ...
- 20.5k
19
votes
1
answer
772
views
convexity of images of space-filling curves
Suppose $f:[0,1]\to[0,1]^2$ is continuous and for each $t\in[0,1]$, the area of $\lbrace f(s) : 0\le s\le t \rbrace$ is $t$. For what sets of values of $t\in[0,1]$ can $\lbrace f(s) : 0\le s\le t \...
19
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Non-homeomorphic spaces such that taking away a point makes them homeomorphic
Are there topological spaces $X,Y$, each having more than $2$ points, satisfying the following two properties?
$X\not\cong Y$, and
there is a bijection $\varphi: X\to Y$ such that for all $x\in X$ ...
- 48.9k
19
votes
4
answers
4k
views
When is a finite cw-complex a compact topological manifold?
I think the statement of the question is pretty straightforward. Given a finite $n$-dimensional CW complex, are there necessary and sufficient conditions for determining that it is also a compact $n$-...
- 732
19
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Unique limits of sequences plus what implies Hausdorff?
It is known that there are non-Hausdorff spaces which admit unique limits for all convergent sequence (see here) and it is also known that unique limits for nets implies Hausdorff.
What I am ...
- 12.7k
18
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Generalization of Darboux's Theorem
Darboux's Theorem. If $f:[a,b]\to\mathbb R$ is differentiable and $f'(a)<\xi<f'(b)$, then there exists a $c\in (a,b)$, such that $\,f'(c)=\xi$.
Does any of the following generalizations
Let $U\...
- 2,933
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
compact-open topology on $B(H)$
In topology, it is common to use the compact-open topology on the set of continuous maps between two given topological spaces.
Let now $H$ be a Hilbert space and $B(H)$ the set of continuous linear ...
- 43.2k
18
votes
2
answers
619
views
In the internal language of the topos of sheaves on a topological space, can we define locally constant real-valued functions?
For the purposes of this question, in a Grothendieck topos, we will call “definable” the objects and relations obtained from the terminal object, the natural numbers object and the subobject ...
- 32.5k
18
votes
1
answer
793
views
Closed totally disconnected subspaces
It is a remarkable property of uncountable compact metric spaces that each of them contains a homeomorphic copy of the Cantor set. In general, one cannot expect containment of Cantor cubes (in ...
- 505
18
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Is every real n-manifold isomorphic to a quotient of $\mathbb{R}^n$?
I'm curious about the following:
Is every real $n$-manifold isomorphic to a quotient of $\mathbb{R}^n$?
Thanks.
EDIT: As Tilman points out, the manifold should be connected. Also, yes, I'm thinking ...
- 761
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Comparing "axiomatized function spaces"
This was previously asked and bountied at math.stackexchange with no response. I've also tweaked the language for clarity; see the edit history for the broader context, and note that the existing ...
- 20.5k
18
votes
1
answer
11k
views
Is every continuous function measurable?
This question has already been asked on Math StackExchange here, but was too old to be migrated, and I think will be more appropriate to MathOverflow.
In non-Hausdorff topology it is standard to ...
- 321
17
votes
1
answer
414
views
Compact manifold $X$ having fixed-point property but $X\times X$ does not
A manifold $X$ has the fixed-point property if for every continuous map $f:X→X$ there is $x∈X$ with $f(x)=x$. Examples of such spaces are disks and the real projective plane $\mathbb{RP}^2$.
Question:...
- 9,501
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is symmetric power of a manifold a manifold?
A Hausdorff, second-countable space $M$ is called a topological manifold if $M$ is locally Euclidean. Let $SP^n(M): = \left(M \times M \times \cdots \times M \right)/ \Sigma_m$, where product is done $...
- 506
17
votes
1
answer
989
views
Can two-point sets be Borel?
Recall that a two-point set is a subset of the plane which meets every line in exactly two points. Such a set was first constructed by Mazurkiewicz in 1914.
I wonder if the following question of ...
- 32.2k
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
The letters of the word "ART"
Edit: According to the Gelfand duality between topological spaces and commutative $C^{*}$algebras, I add some new tags. So the question is that what is the structure of $ Ext (A,A)$ where $A$ is $...
- 356
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Foundations of topology
I recently went to a talk of Oleg Viro where he expressed his dissatisfaction with current foundations of differential topology parallel to what has been discussed here.
Also some time ago I read ...
- 1,190
17
votes
10
answers
3k
views
References for homotopy colimit
(1) What are some good references for homotopy colimits?
(2) Where can I find a reference for the following concrete construction of a homotopy colimit? Start with a partial ordering, which I will ...
- 12.8k
17
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why are inverse images more important than images in mathematics?
Why are inverse images of functions more central to mathematics than the image?
I have a sequence of related questions:
Why the fixation on continuous maps as opposed to open maps? (Is there an ...
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Which Fréchet manifolds have a smooth partition of unity?
A classical theorem is saying that every smooth, finite-dimensional manifold has a smooth partition of unity. My question is:
Which Fréchet manifolds have a smooth partition of unity?
How is the ...
- 4,519
17
votes
6
answers
2k
views
The reals as continuous image of the irrationals
In the Wikipedia article about descriptive set theory I read that $\mathbb{R}$ (with its usual topology) is a Polish space, and that every Polish space
1) can be obtained as a continuous image of ...
- 23.3k
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
The symmetric monoidal category of finite sets
It is well-known that the (augmented) simplex category is the universal monoidal category with a monoid object. What about a commutative analogue? Consider the category $\mathsf{FinSet}$ of finite ...
- 63.1k
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Pullbacks as manifolds versus ones as topological spaces
My question is: Does the forgetful functor F:(Mfd) $\to$ (Top) preserve pullbacks?
Detailed explanation is following.
A pullback is defined as a manifold/topological space satisfying a universal ...
- 811
16
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Compactness of the Hilbert cube without the Axiom of Choice
I am just curious: is there a published proof of the compactness of the Hilbert cube that does not use the Axiom of Choice, or is it well known?
- 1,481
16
votes
5
answers
9k
views
A G-delta-sigma that is not F-sigma?
A subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ is
$G_\delta$ if it is the intersection
of countably many open sets
$F_\sigma$ if it is the union of countably many closed sets
$G_{\delta\sigma}$ if it is the union
of ...
- 1,981
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there always a way up?
I am trying to find a simple criterion for a real continuous function $f$ on a connected, open subset $U$ of $\mathbb R^n$ that would imply the following property (P)
For any $x, y \in U$ such that $f(...
- 1,608
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Characterization of Stone-Cech compactifications
Suppose I have an infinite discrete topological space $X$ of cardinality $\kappa$. Then I know some things about the Stone-Cech compactification, $\beta X$: it is Hausdorff and compact but not ...
- 20.5k
16
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Regular spaces that are not completely regular
In the undergraduate toplogy course we were given examples of spaces that are $T_i$ but not $T_{i+1}$ for $i=0,\ldots,4$. However, no example of a space which is $T_3$ but not $T_{3.5}$ was given. ...
- 2,104
16
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Continuity on a measure one set versus measure one set of points of continuity
In short: If $f$ is continuous on a measure one set, is there a function $g=f$ a.e. such that a.e. point is a point of continuity of $g$?
Now more carefully, with some notation: Suppose $(X, d_X)$ ...
- 2,221
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Physical interpretations/meanings of the notion of a sheaf?
I fairly understand the fiber bundles, both the mathematical concept of fiber bundles and the physics use of fiber bundles. Because the fiber bundles are tightly connected to the gauge field theory in ...
- 10.5k
16
votes
0
answers
372
views
On projectively countable sets in the Hilbert cube
A subset $A$ of a topological space $X$ is called projectively countable if for any continuous map $f:X\to\mathbb R$ the image $f(A)$ is countable.
It is easy to see that each projectively countable ...
- 41.9k
16
votes
4
answers
1k
views
HOMFLY and homology; also superalgebras
My understanding is that an analogy along the following lines is (roughly) true:
"The Alexander polynomial is to knot Floer homology is to gl(1|1)
as the Jones polynomial is to Khovanov homology is ...
- 2,806
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does Urysohn's Lemma imply Dependent Choice?
It's widely known$^{1}$ that in the proof of Urysohn's Lemma (UL) one uses the Principle of Dependent Choice (DC). Inspired by the equivalence between DC and Baire's Category Theorem$^{2}$, I'd like ...
- 405
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
$\infty$-topoi versus condensed anima
Let $ExDisc_\kappa$ denote the category of $\kappa$-small extremally disconnected topological spaces (for now fix a strong limit cardinal $\kappa$). There's a functor $ExDisc_\kappa \to \mathsf{RTop}$ ...
- 15.9k
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why it is convenient to be cartesian closed for a category of spaces?
In 1967 Steenrod wrote what later became a quite celebrated paper, A convenient category of topological spaces (Michigan Math. J. 14 (1967) 133–152). The paper conveys the work of many (among the most ...
- 9,111
15
votes
1
answer
477
views
What are the algebras for the ultrafilter monad on topological spaces?
Motivation: Let $(X,\tau)$ be a topological space. Then the set $\beta X$ of ultrafilters on $X$ admits a natural topology (cf. Example 5.14 in Adámek and Sousa - D-ultrafilters and their monads), ...
- 64k
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Automorphisms of $P(\Bbb N)$
I believe I've proved that the power semigroup of non-negative integers with addition has a trivial automorphism group. The proof is a bit long, completely elementary and rather unremarkable (as the ...
- 1,445
15
votes
0
answers
259
views
Spaces locally modelled on $L^2(\mathbb R)$
In this recent question, I learned that any two separable Banach spaces are homeomorphic. Based on some readings, I'm guessing that $L^2(\mathbb R)$ is homeomorphic to $\prod_{n=1}^{\infty} (0,1)$ (...
- 43.2k
15
votes
4
answers
734
views
Continuously selecting elements from unordered pairs
The symmetric square of a topological space $X$ is obtained from the usual square $X^2$ by identifying pairs of symmetric points $(x_1,x_2)$ and $(x_2,x_1)$. Thus, elements of the symmetric square can ...
- 44.4k