All Questions
Tagged with set-theory gn.general-topology
433 questions
155
votes
4
answers
18k
views
Does there exist a bijection of $\mathbb{R}^n$ to itself such that the forward map is connected but the inverse is not?
Let $(X,\tau), (Y,\sigma)$ be two topological spaces. We say that a map $f: \mathcal{P}(X)\to \mathcal{P}(Y)$ between their power sets is connected if for every $S\subset X$ connected, $f(S)\subset Y$ ...
- 39k
107
votes
9
answers
36k
views
solving $f(f(x))=g(x)$
This question is of course inspired by the question How to solve f(f(x))=cosx
and Joel David Hamkins' answer, which somehow gives a formal trick for solving equations of the form $f(f(x))=g(x)$ on a ...
- 41.4k
92
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Is every sigma-algebra the Borel algebra of a topology?
This question arises from the excellent question posed on math.SE
by Salvo Tringali, namely, Correspondence
between Borel algebras and topology.
Since the question was not answered there after some ...
- 236k
91
votes
19
answers
20k
views
Injectivity implies surjectivity
In some circumstances, an injective (one-to-one) map is automatically surjective (onto). For example,
Set theory
An injective map between two finite sets with the same cardinality is surjective.
...
80
votes
5
answers
6k
views
How do the compact Hausdorff topologies sit in the lattice of all topologies on a set?
This question is about the space of all topologies on a
fixed set X. We may order the topologies by refinement, so
that τ ≤ σ just in case every τ open set is open in σ.
...
- 236k
47
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Which topological spaces admit a nonstandard metric?
My question is about the concept of nonstandard metric space that would arise from a use of the nonstandard reals R* in place of the usual R-valued metric.
That is, let us define that a topological ...
- 236k
37
votes
14
answers
5k
views
What are interesting families of subsets of a given set?
Motivation
The usual starting point of both Topology and Measure Theory is the definition of a family of subsets of a set $S$.
Indeed, one defines a topology on $S$ to be a family of subsets ...
- 33.3k
36
votes
4
answers
4k
views
How far is Lindelöf from compactness?
A while ago I heard of a nice characterization of compactness but I have never seen a written source of it, so I'm starting to doubt it. I'm looking for a reference, or counterexample, for the ...
- 2,396
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, ...
- 1,005
34
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are the Sierpiński cardinal $\acute{\mathfrak n}$ and its measure modification $\acute{\mathfrak m}$ equal to some known small uncountable cardinals?
This question was motivated by an answer to this question of Dominic van der Zypen.
It relates to the following classical theorem of Sierpiński.
Theorem (Sierpiński, 1921). For any countable partition ...
- 41.9k
33
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is it still an open problem whether $\mathbb{R}^\omega$ is normal in the box topology?
On page 205 of his Topology textbook, James Munkres made an interesting remark:
It is not known whether $\mathbb{R}^\omega$ is normal in the box topology. Mary-Ellen Rudin has shown that the answer ...
- 4,597
32
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Bidi: A new cardinal characteristic of the continuum?
This question assumes familiarity with combinatorial cardinal
characteristics of the continuum.
Identify an infinite set $a\subseteq\mathbb{N}$ with its increasing
enumeration. Thus, for each natural ...
- 3,104
32
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Is "compact implies sequentially compact" consistent with ZF?
Over at the nForum, we've been discussing sequential compactness. The discussion led me to realise that I naively assumed that nets were simply Big Sequences, and that I could make a reasonable guess ...
- 26.8k
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
24
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Which are the rigid suborders of the real line?
Which are the rigid suborders of the real line?
If A is any set of reals, then it can be viewed as an order structure itself under the induced order (A,<). The question is, when is this structure ...
- 236k
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
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 ...
user5810
23
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Continuous functions taking uncountably many values countably often
Let $f$ be a continuous function defined on the closed interval $[0,1]$. Clearly $f$ is bounded and attains its bounds.
Then my question is how often can $f$ take a value in its range countably many ...
- 4,862
23
votes
3
answers
2k
views
An ultrafilter is a set of subsets containing exactly one element of each finite partition: reference request
There are probably dozens of ways of defining "ultrafilter". The definition I've seen most often involves first defining "filter", then declaring an ultrafilter to be a maximal filter.
But there's ...
- 27.7k
22
votes
1
answer
754
views
Undetermined Banach-Mazur games in ZF?
This question was previously asked and bountied on MSE, with no response. This MO question is related, but is also unanswered and the comments do not appear to address this question.
Given a ...
- 21.2k
21
votes
3
answers
610
views
Which partitions of $[0,1]$ are collection of level sets of a real continuous function?
Let $f:[0,1]\to[0,1]$ be given. The level sets of $f$ (ie the collection of all sets of the form $\{x\in[0,1]:f(x)=y\}$, for each fixed $y\in[0,1]$) partition the domain of $f$. I am curious for set ...
- 1,014
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
19
votes
1
answer
657
views
A large separable space of countable tightness
Is there a ZFC example of a Tychonoff space $X$ such that:
$X$ is separable.
$X$ has countable tightness (that is, a subset of $X$ is closed if and only if it contains the closure of each one of its ...
- 4,413
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 ...
- 21.2k
19
votes
0
answers
703
views
The cofinality of $(\mathbb{N}^\kappa,\le)$ for uncountable $\kappa$?
For a partially ordered set $P$, a set $A\subseteq P$ is cofinal if for each element of $P$ there is a larger element in $A$. The cofinality of $P$, ${\rm cof}(P)$, is the minimal cardinality of a ...
- 3,104
18
votes
2
answers
630
views
Is the notion of fixed point property for topological spaces an absolute notion?
Recall that a topological space $X$ has the fixed point property (FPP) if any continuous function $f: X\to X$ has a fixed point.
Is the notion of FPP for topological spaces an absolute notion? More ...
- 32.1k
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A topological version of the Lowenheim-Skolem number
This is a continuation of an MSE question which received a partial answer (see below).
Given a topological space $\mathcal{X}$, let $C(\mathcal{X})$ be the ring of real-valued continuous functions on $...
- 21.2k
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) $\varphi(\emptyset)=\emptyset$,...
- 13.4k
17
votes
2
answers
905
views
Intersection of compact sets in the unit interval
Let $\mathscr K$ be an uncountable set such that every $K\in\mathscr K$ is a compact subset of $[0,1]$ with positive Lebesgue measure. Does it then follow that there exists an uncountable $\mathscr A\...
- 3,584
17
votes
1
answer
988
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 ...
- 32.1k
17
votes
1
answer
569
views
Does a completely metrizable space admit a compatible metric where all intersections of nested closed balls are non-empty?
(cross-posted from this math.SE question)
It is well-known that given a metric space $(X,d)$, the metric is complete if and only if every intersection of nested (i.e. decreasing with respect to ...
- 775
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 ...
- 41.9k
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 ...
- 21.2k
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
607
views
The dominating number $\mathfrak{d}$ and convergent sequences
All spaces considered below are compact Hausdorff.
If $K$ is a space, then $w(K)$ is its weight. For a Boolean algebra $\mathcal{A}$, $K_\mathcal{A}$ denotes its Stone space. I am interested in ...
- 1,151
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
15
votes
2
answers
965
views
$\mathfrak{ufo}$: An unidentified combinatorial cardinal characteristic of the continuum?
An ultrafilter ornament is a chain of free filters on $\mathbb{N}$ that are not ultrafilters, whose union is an ultrafilter.
Let $\mathfrak{ufo}$ be the minimal cardinality of
an ultrafilter ...
- 3,104
15
votes
3
answers
717
views
Does every set $X$ have a topology for which the only continuous self-surjection is the identity map?
This question is a special case of Dominic van der Zypen's question Reconstructing relations with the image relation of a topology, as discussed in the comments, particularly the comment of Eric ...
- 236k
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 ...
- 21.2k
15
votes
1
answer
480
views
Topology and pcf theory
$\DeclareMathOperator\pcf{pcf}$For simplicity say $\aleph_\omega$ is a strong limit. Let $A=\pcf\{\aleph_n:n\in\omega\}$. Then it follows from basic properties of pcf operation that $X\subseteq A\...
- 667
15
votes
1
answer
521
views
Is there a locally compact, $\omega_1$-compact, not $\sigma$-countably compact space of size $\aleph_1$?
There are old ZFC examples due to Eric van Douwen that satisfy all the properties in the title, except that they are of cardinality $2^{\aleph_0}$, so the answer to the title question is YES if the ...
- 291
15
votes
1
answer
673
views
Question about product topology
Suppose $S\subset\mathbb{R}$ is dense without interior point, and for every open interval $I,J\subset\mathbb{R}$, $I\cap S$ is homeomorphic to $J\cap S$.
Is $S\times S$ homeomorphic to $S$?
By Luzin ...
- 153
15
votes
1
answer
525
views
A problem of Keisler and Tarski
The following question dates back to Keisler and Tarski: From accessible to inaccessible cardinals, Fund. Math. 53, 1964 and also perhaps Mazur: On continuous mappings of Cartesian products, Fund. ...
- 9,631
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 ...
- 17.6k
14
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Products of Baire spaces
I could not find any references about this fact. I apologize if this is completely trivial, but is the product of two Baire spaces, or for that matter of finitely many of them a Baire space? Now is a ...
- 3,804
14
votes
2
answers
502
views
Near permutation $n\mapsto n+1$ not conjugate to its inverse on the Stone-Čech remainder?
Let $\beta\omega$ be the Stone-Čech compactification of the discrete infinite countable space $\omega$, and $\beta^*\omega=\beta\omega\smallsetminus \omega$ is the Stone-Čech remainder.
The map $j:n\...
- 63.9k
14
votes
1
answer
581
views
How “disconnected” can a continuum be?
A continuum is a compact connected metrizable topological space.
Given a cardinal $\kappa$, a topological space $X$ is called $\kappa$-connected if it is not possible to write $X$ as the disjoint ...
- 3,011
14
votes
1
answer
604
views
Continuum Hypothesis and the fact that every co-finite topological space, with uncountable underlying set , is contractible
Let $X$ be a co-finite topological space. If $|X| \ge 2^{\aleph_0}=\mathfrak c$, then $X$ is contractible (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contractible_space) . Indeed, there is a bijection $f: X \times ...
user111524
14
votes
2
answers
841
views
Proper topological spaces
Recall that a topological space is ccc, or has the countable chain condition, if every family of pairwise disjoint open sets is countable.
But equivalently, we can say that the forcing defined with ...
- 39.7k
14
votes
1
answer
272
views
Is there a countably infinite closed interval in the lattice of topologies?
Is there an interval of the form $[\sigma,\tau]$ in the lattice of topologies on some set $X$ such that $|[\sigma,\tau]| = \aleph_0$?
In other words, do there exist two topologies $\sigma$ and $\tau$ ...
- 18.5k