If $K$ compact then $K$ is closed (a proof by sequences)

1k Views Asked by At

Let be $(X,d)$ a metric space and $K \subset X$ a compact set. I would like to prove that $K$ is closed.

I think that this solution is not correct. I will use the following definition:

"$K$ is compact if every sequence, in $K$, has a convergent subsequence that converges to $x \in K$."

Let be $(x_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ a sequence in $K$ such that $x_n$ converges to $x$. Then I will show that $x \in K$. If $x_n$ is in $K$ - compact -, then it has a subsequence $(x_{n_{k}})$ that converges to $y \in K$. Then $y = x$. That is, $x\in K$.

I think that the definition, that I used, is not correct. There is some counterexample?

1

There are 1 best solutions below

0
On BEST ANSWER

If your definition of compactness is by sequences (which is an equivalent formulation in metric spaces) and the definition/characterisation of closed sets is by sequences, yes such a proof works.

You do use essentially that limits of sequences are unique : $x_n \to a$ and $x_n \to b$ implies $a=b$ for all sequences $(x_n)$.

So explicitly: suppose $(x_n)_n$ is a sequence in $C$ that converges (in $X$, the whole (metric) space) to $p$. As $C$ is (sequentially) compact, there is a subsequence $(x_{n_k})_k$ of $(x_n)_n$ and a $c \in C$ such that $x_{n_k} \to c$.

By the fact that we have a subsequence, we also know that $x_{n_k} \to p$ (this holds in all spaces: a subsequence of a convergent sequence converges to the same limit). Finally, by unicity of limits $p=c \in C$, so $ p \in C$ and $C$ is (sequentially) closed.

This only proves the statement "a compact set is closed" if you know you're in a context where sequentially compact is equivalent to compactness and sequentially closed implies closed. A valid context is metric spaces, as I said. But if you're required to prove this statement in a more general setting, you will need that $X$ is Hausdorff (or something close to it) and use coverings or use the above proof generalised to nets (using Hausdorffness too).