'Fake' identity regarding the closure in the subspace topology

114 Views Asked by At

I have the following argument which I encountered, and can't seem to find why it's not true:

Let $X$ be a topological space and let $A$ and $B$ be nonempty subsets of $X$. Then $\overline{A\cap B}^A=\overline{A\cap B}^X\cap A$.

"Proof"

$\overline{A\cap B}^A =\cap \{ F\subset A: \; F\supseteq A\cap B, F \text{ is closed in } A \}$.

Since $F$ is closed in $A$ if and only if $F=F'\cap A$ where $F$ is closed in $X$. Hence

$\overline{A\cap B}^A= \cap \{ F'\cap A: \; F'\supseteq A\cap B, F' \text{ is closed }\}= \Big( \cap \{ F': \; F'\supseteq A\cap B, F' \text{ is closed }\}\Big) \cap A $.

And using an equivalent characterization of the closure,

$ \cap \{ F': \; F'\supseteq A\cap B, F' \text{ is closed }\}=\overline{A\cap B} $.

And finally we conclude

$ \overline{A\cap B}^A=\overline{A\cap B}^X\cap A $.

I can't seem to find where this argument falters, but this thread makes me think that it's wrong, and would appreciate any pointers.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

4
On BEST ANSWER

I am not sure whether this answers your question but in general if $D\subseteq A$ then $\overline D^A=A\cap\overline D$.


Proof:

Observe that $A\cap\overline D$ is closed in $A$ with $D\subseteq A\cap\overline D$ telling us that $\overline D^A\subseteq A\cap\overline D$.

Conversely $\overline D^A$ is closed in $A$ so that $\overline D^A=A\cap F$ for some closed set $F$.

Then from $D\subseteq\overline D^A$ it follows that $D\subseteq F$ and consequently $\overline D\subseteq F$.

Then $A\cap\overline D\subseteq A\cap F=\overline D^A$.


Applying this on $D:=A\cap B$ we find the statement in your question.