All Questions
5,184 questions
10
votes
0
answers
455
views
Quotients of topological groupoids
The issues that arise when moving from topological groups to topological groupoids are (at least to me) both subtle and interesting. Recently, I was reading a paper of R. Brown and J.P.L. Hardy from ...
- 7,193
27
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Countable connected Hausdorff space
Let me start by reminding two constructions of topological spaces with such exotic combination of properties:
1) The elements are non-zero integers; base of topology are (infinite) arithmetic ...
- 109k
21
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is every locally connected subset of Euclidean space R^n locally path connected ?
This is not actually a question asked by me. But since I do not know the answer, I would love to know if someone here could answer it.
- 1,598
5
votes
0
answers
501
views
Profinite topologies
We can define two topologies on a group $G$ by considering all normal subgroups of finite index (resp. of index a finite power of $p$ - where $p$ is a prime) as basis of $1\in G$.
My questions: Under ...
- 51
4
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Closed connected subset of a connected set
Let $A$ be a closed set and let $B$ be a connected set such that $A \subset B$.
Does there always exist a closed connected subset $C$ of $B$ that contains $A$?
What if $B$ is path connected, is ...
- 230
12
votes
3
answers
1k
views
If Q is a subset of the plane of size less than continuum, then does every closed F in Q extend to a closed connected G in the plane with the same trace on Q? (Or is this independent of ZFC?)
This question arises in connection with this MO
question
and especially with Sergei Ivanov's wonderful
answer,
which showed that for any countable set
$Q\subset\mathbb{R}^2$ and every closed set $F\...
- 236k
140
votes
7
answers
34k
views
Is the boundary $\partial S$ analogous to a derivative?
Without prethought, I mentioned in class once that the reason the symbol $\partial$
is used to represent the boundary operator in topology is
that its behavior is akin to a derivative.
But after ...
- 151k
10
votes
2
answers
752
views
Adding a formal inverse of an element to a free monoid
Let $FM_2=\langle a,b\rangle$ be the free monoid of rank 2. If we add a formal inverse to the word $aba$, we get the free group $F_2$ (because both $a$ and $b$ will have inverses).
Question: For ...
user6976
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
16
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is the space of continuous functions from a compact metric space into a Polish space Polish?
Let $K$ be a compact metric space, and $(E,d_E)$ a complete separable metric space.
Define $C:=C(K,E)$ to be the continuous functions from $K$ to $E$ equipped with
the metric $d(f,g)=\sup_{k\in K}\ ...
user6096
1
vote
1
answer
208
views
When do maps of ineffective orbifolds descend to their effective part?
If $$f:\mathscr{X} \to \mathscr{Y}$$ is a map between (possibly ineffective) orbifolds (in the sense of differentiable stacks, or orbifold groupoids), does it follow that $f$ induces a map between ...
- 15.5k
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
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Lattice-ordered commutative monoids
By a lattice-ordered monoid, I mean a structure $(A,0,{+},{\vee},{\wedge})$ such that $(A,0,{+})$ is a (not necessarily commutative) monoid, $(A,{\vee},{\wedge})$ is a lattice, and the two ...
- 44.4k
26
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Does Arzelà-Ascoli require choice?
Inspired by a recent Math.SE question entitled Where do we need the axiom of choice in Riemannian geometry?, I was thinking of the Arzelà--Ascoli theorem. Let's state a very simple version:
...
- 29.8k
1
vote
1
answer
400
views
Transitive Semigroups of $2\times 2$ matrices
Suppose $G$ is a semigroup (i.e., closed under matrix multiplication) of invertible $2\times 2$ real matrices. Suppose also that $G$ is transitive i.e., for any two non-zero vectors $u$ and $v$ there ...
- 1,045
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Abelian groups as fundamental groups of topological groups
Hi,
It is well known that the fundamental group of a topological group is abelian, and that every group is the fundamental group of some topological space.
My question is: Does every abelian group ...
- 3,033
3
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Locally compact separable metric spaces
Hi,
Is it true that for every locally compact separable metric space $E$ there exists a sequence $(K_n)_{n\in\mathbb{N}}$ of compact subsets of $E$ such that $K_n\subset\stackrel{\circ}{K_{n+1}}$ and $...
- 3,033
5
votes
0
answers
196
views
Is there a Whitney-type theorem Cauchy manifolds?
Let $M$ be a Cauchy space whose induced topological space is a second-countable Hausdorff space that is locally homeomorphic to $\mathbb{R}^m$.
Does it follow that there exists a subspace $N$ of $\...
user5810
6
votes
0
answers
360
views
The Space of Cellular Maps
Let $X$ and $Y$ be CW complexes.
Inside of the space of maps $\mathrm{map}(X,Y)$, we have the subspace $\mathrm{CW}(X,Y)$, consisting of just the cellular maps from $X$ to $Y$. The Cellular ...
- 12.5k
17
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What abstract nonsense is necessary to say the word "submersion"?
This question is closely related to these two, but the former doesn't go far enough and the latter didn't attract much attention, and anyway I want to ask the question slightly differently.
Recall ...
- 54.6k
13
votes
1
answer
719
views
Homotopy theory for spanning trees of a graph
I am studying a paper of L. Lovász, ``A homology theory for spanning trees of a graph,'' but professor Babai has told me that Lovász later realized that this work is better framed in the language of ...
- 5,898
4
votes
1
answer
798
views
Topological dimension, is it local?
Let $n\in\mathbb N$ and $X$ be a complete metric space.
Assume that there is $\epsilon>0$ such that
$$\dim B_\epsilon(x)\le n$$
for any $x\in X$.
Is it true that $\dim X\le n$?
Here $\...
- 1,785
2
votes
1
answer
350
views
simple connectedness problem
Hi all. Can you help me with this? I have a square $S$ in euclidean plane with edges $A,B,C,D$ and a closed set $F$ in $S$ such that $F\cap A=F\cap C=\emptyset$, and $F\cap B$ and $F\cap D$ are ...
- 972
4
votes
4
answers
1k
views
An example of a non-paracompact tvs (over the reals, say)
What is an example of a non-paracompact topological vector space?
I'm aware of this question, but I don't care if my tvs is locally convex. In fact the wilder the better. The only criterion is that ...
- 35.5k
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
CW complexes and paracompactness
It seems like when we assume "niceness" in homotopy theory we assume that $X$ has the homotopy type of a CW complex, and in fiber bundle theory we assume that $X$ is paracompact. How do these two ...
- 1,207
5
votes
2
answers
537
views
If $k[S]$ is noetherian, is S finitely generated?
Let $S$ be a semigroup. If $S$ is abelian, then it follows that the semigroup algebra $k[S]$ is finitely generated if and only if $S$ is.
What if we relax the condition on $k[S]$, so that $k[S]$ is ...
- 11.6k
8
votes
1
answer
223
views
local structure of free $\mathbb{R}$ actions
Assume the topological group $\mathbb{R}$ acts properly on a space $X$. Does then the projection map $p:X\rightarrow \mathbb{R}\backslash X$ have local sections ?
(for every $\mathbb{R}x\in \mathbb{R}...
- 11.1k
2
votes
1
answer
153
views
chains and countability
Given a point $x$ in a topological space $X$. I was wondering, whether one can always find a local basis at $x$, which is totally ordered (a chain) under inclusion. For example this is true for spaces,...
- 11.1k
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
compact-open topology
Is there a natural reason for defining the compact-open topology on the set of continuous functions between two locally compact spaces. For example "to make ... functions continuous". Or in another ...
- 295
6
votes
2
answers
482
views
A property of continuous maps with respect to compact subsets
I'm interested in continuous maps between topological spaces $f:X\to Y$ such that for any compact subset $L$ of $Y$ contained in $f(X)$, there is a compact subset $K$ of $X$ such that $L$ is contained ...
- 205
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How many simply connected subsets of an n-by-m grid?
Given an n-by-m square grid graph, how many ways are there to choose a subset of the vertices which is simply connected? Here, a subset of vertices is simply connected if the vertices, together with ...
- 2,649
67
votes
11
answers
11k
views
How should one think about non-Hausdorff topologies?
In most basic courses on general topology, one studies mainly Hausdorff spaces and finds that they fit quite well with our geometric intuition and generally, things work "as they should" (sequences/...
4
votes
4
answers
943
views
An ultrafilter and a partition
Let $S$ is a partition of a set $U$. Let $c$ is an ultrafilter on $U$.
Prove or disprove this conjecture:
At least one of the following is true:
$\exists D\in S, C\in c:C\subseteq D$
or
$\exists C\...
- 765
6
votes
2
answers
262
views
Partial orders arising from $l$-spaces
Let $X$ be a $l$-space, i.e. a locally compact totally disconnected hausdorff space, which is not compact. Then $P = \{K : K \subseteq X \text{ compact-open}\}$ is a basis for the topology. Regard $P$ ...
- 63.1k
0
votes
1
answer
386
views
The functor of continuous functions from compact CW-spaces to the reals
The contravariant functor $C(-)$ given by
$$
\hom_{Top}(-,\mathbb{R}):cCW\to Rng
$$
where $cCW$ is the category of compact CW complexes is injective on objects. What is known about surjectivity, ...
- 2,782
17
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Nonseparable example in dimension theory?
Could you give me an example of a complete metric space with covering dimension $> n$ all of which closed separable subsets have covering dimension $\le n$?
The question closely related to this ...
- 1,785
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Every real-valued continuous function on a closed set of compact Hausdorff space has an extension.
I've noted, that the following fact can be proven in a few lines using $C^*$-algebra theory. I wonder if it has a simple elementary proof or not. Probably you can give me a reference.
Suppose $X$ ...
- 1,284
2
votes
1
answer
727
views
pseudo-Anosov maps on surfaces with boundary
In "Automorphisms of Surfaces after Nielsen & Thurston" by Casson & Bleiler (on pages 75 - 80) they discuss classifying automorphisms of a surface. They show that, if $S$ is a closed ...
- 3,165
3
votes
2
answers
300
views
Discriminant locus in knot space
Consider the space $K$ of all immersions of $S^1$ into $\mathbb R^3$.
The set of knots with self-intersection is a discriminant in $K$ and divide it into "chambers".
Let $f$ be a knot with $n$ double ...
- 5,063
60
votes
7
answers
17k
views
Is there a measure zero set which isn't meagre?
A subset of ℝ is meagre if it is a countable union of nowhere dense subsets (a set is nowhere dense if every open interval contains an open subinterval that misses the set).
Any countable set ...
- 24.1k
10
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Topological dimension versus cohomological dimension
This should be really well known but I don't seem to find a statement about it nor a question in MO answering this.
Consider a Compact Hausdorff topological space $X$. The cohomological dimension of ...
- 3,928
4
votes
2
answers
607
views
Invertible elements in monoid rings of unital monoids without non-trivial invertible elements
This question is somewhat related to Tilmans notorious problem in this post. Let $(M,\cdot)$ be a monoid with unit $1$ and set
$$(M,\cdot)^{\times} := \lbrace x \in M \mid \exists y \in M : xy=yx=1 \...
- 25.5k
1
vote
1
answer
390
views
Isocontours of depth and magnitude of gradient
We are interested in characterizing a 2D surface $z(x,y)$, where $(x,y)$ is the regular 2D Cartesian grid. Let $\nabla z = (z_x, z_y)$ denote the gradient. The surface is a "general" one, that is, ...
- 13
0
votes
1
answer
319
views
Hilbert space automorphisms realized as induced by transformations of some base-spaces
Following question may be soft. Fix abstract hilbert space H and consider any automorphism A in banach-spaces sence (i.e. no conditions on metric). Call A is realizable if exist measure space $(X,\mu)$...
- 789
9
votes
3
answers
991
views
Is there a list of all connected T_0-spaces with 5 points?
Is there some place (on the internet or elsewhere) where I can find the number and preferably a list of all (isomorphism classes of) finite connected $T_0$-spaces with, say, 5 points?
In know that a $...
- 3,184
17
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Topological spaces whose continuous image is always closed
If $X$ a topological space one says that $X$ is universally closed if for every Hausdorff space $Y$ and every (continuous) map $f:X\rightarrow Y$, the image of $X$ is a closed subset of $Y$.
It is ...
- 3,033
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
End point compactification for metric spaces
Freundenthal introduced ends of topological spaces and the end point compactification of locally compact topological spaces adding one point for each end of the topological space (see here).
For ...
- 3,033
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Are coordinate functions on topological vector spaces always continuous?
Let $V$ be a Hausdorff locally convex topological vector space over the field $\mathbb{K}$.
Let $B$ be a subset of $V$ such that
$\;$ for all functions $c : B\to \mathbb{K}$, if $\displaystyle\sum_{...
user5810
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
pro-discrete = locally compact and open normal subgroups have trivial intersection?
EDIT: After talking to some experts on the subject, I have concluded that a) the answer is not obvious or well-known for locally compact groups in general, b) the answer should be 'no' and I have some ...
- 4,728
28
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Is Furstenberg's topology useful?
It's hard not to be amused and perhaps even amazed when first encountering Furstenberg's clever "topological" proof that there are infinitely many primes. Closer inspection, however, reveals ...