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35 votes
1 answer
1k views

Chromatic number of a topological space

Here is a question I asked myself years ago. Since it is not really in my field, I hope to find some (partial) answers here... Since it was unclear, I precise that I am looking for an answer in ZFC, ...
N. de Rancourt's user avatar
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: ...
Nate Eldredge's user avatar
24 votes
0 answers
2k views

Subfields of $\mathbb{C}$ isomorphic to $\mathbb{R}$ that have Baire property, without Choice

While sitting through my complex analysis class, beginning with a very low level introduction, the teacher mentioned the obvious subfield of $\mathbb{C}$ isomorphic to $\mathbb{R}$, and I then ...
user avatar
18 votes
0 answers
370 views

Čech functions and the axiom of choice

A Čech closure function on $\omega$ is a function $\varphi:\mathcal P(\omega)\to\mathcal P(\omega)$ such that (i) $X\subseteq\varphi(X)$ for all $X\subseteq\omega$, (ii) $\varphi(\emptyset)=\emptyset$,...
bof's user avatar
  • 13.4k
17 votes
1 answer
429 views

Axiom of Countable Choice and meager sets

Let us recall that the Axiom of Countable Choice (denoted by ACC) says that the countable product $\prod_{n\in\omega}X_n$ of nonempty sets $X_n$ is nonempty. It is easy to see that ACC implies that ...
Taras Banakh's user avatar
  • 41.9k
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 ...
Paulo Henrique's user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
341 views

Do we need full choice to "efficiently" use (sub)bases?

This question was previously asked and bountied at MSE without success. Suppose $(X,\tau)$ is a topological space, $B$ is a base for $\tau$, and $U\in \tau$ is an open set. Consider the following two ...
Noah Schweber's user avatar
15 votes
1 answer
1k views

In ZF, when is a disjoint union of metrizable spaces metrizable?

It is easy to see that the disjoint union $\bigsqcup_i X_i$ of a collection of metric spaces is metrizable, simply by rescaling or chopping off the individual metrics to have diameter at most one, and ...
David Feldman's user avatar
10 votes
0 answers
293 views

Undetermined Banach-Mazur games: beyond DC

This question is a follow-up to this one; see that question for the definition of Banach-Mazur games. There James Hanson showed that ZF+DC proves that there is an undetermined Banach-Mazur game; ...
Noah Schweber's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Compact Hausdorff spaces without isolated points in ZF

$S$ is uncountable := $\vert\mathbb{N}\vert<\vert S\vert$ $S$ is noncountable := $\vert S\vert \not\leq \vert\mathbb{N}\vert$ $(X,T)$ is a nice space := $(X,T)$ is a compact Hausdorff space ...
user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
367 views

A $\mathsf{ZF}$ example of two Baire spaces whose product is not Baire?

Motivated by this question I'm looking for a pair of Baire topological spaces whose product is not Baire and whose construction does not need the axiom of choice. The example of such spaces I'm ...
Alessandro Codenotti's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
937 views

BCT equivalent to DC

Do you know where I can find proof of equivalence Baire Category Theorem and DC (Axiom of Dependent Choice)? It is well known fact but I can't find appropriate literature with the proof.
Michael's user avatar
  • 143
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Axiom of Choice and continuous functions

Do you know if the following statement is an equivalent form of the axiom of choice or not? If $X$ is a compact metric space, then every continuous function $f: X \longrightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is ...
Ivan's user avatar
  • 249
7 votes
2 answers
722 views

Consistency of a strange (choice-wise) set of reals

Consider a set $X\subseteq \mathbb{R}$ such that $X$ is not separable wrt its subspace topology For all $r\in\mathbb{R}$ there exists a sequence $(x_n)_{n\in\omega} \subset X$ converging to $r$ In a ...
Lorenzo's user avatar
  • 2,286
7 votes
1 answer
531 views

Totally bounded spaces and axiom of choice

Wikipedia article on totally bounded spaces states "... the completion of a totally bounded space might not be compact in the absence of choice." Where is the axiom of choice used, and do you need it ...
C. Eratosthene's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
281 views

Well-ordering with a topological property

Assuming the axiom of choice, is there a well-ordering of the reals such that every initial segment is closed for the usual topology? If the continuum hypothesis helps, we can also assume it. An ...
Denis's user avatar
  • 1,341
6 votes
0 answers
210 views

Failure of Baire's grand theorem when the hypothesis is weakened to separable metric space

The statement of Baire grand theorem gives a characterization of Baire class 1 functions between a completely metrizable separable space (aka Polish space) and a separable metrizable space. The ...
Lorenzo's user avatar
  • 2,286
5 votes
0 answers
237 views

Polish transversals

A subset of $X$ an indecomposable continuum $Y$ is called a composant transversal if $X$ has exactly one point from each composant of $Y$. So a continuum has a composant transversal precisely when ...
D.S. Lipham's user avatar
  • 3,317
4 votes
0 answers
142 views

Consistency of a strange (choice-wise) set of reals, pt. 2

This is a follow-up on this question. Consider a set $X\subseteq \mathbb{R}$ such that $X$ is not separable wrt its subspace topology Every countable family of non-empty pairwise disjoint subsets of $...
Lorenzo's user avatar
  • 2,286
3 votes
0 answers
209 views

Compactification of Tychonoff spaces without full axiom of choice

If $X$ is a Tychonoff space, then using the Tychonoff theorem and thus the full axiom of choice, it follows that $X$ admits a Hausdorff compactification. My question is : what remains true if we do ...
LCO's user avatar
  • 506