Measure Theory: Intersection of two Algebras on the same sample space

62 Views Asked by At

I have been stalled on the following question for a while now:

"Suppose $A$ and $B$ are algebras on the sample space $\Omega$. Prove that if $C = A \cap B$ then $C$ is an algebra on $\Omega.$"

I think I understand that this is true because the largest possible algebra is the set of all subsets and if we let $A$ be the largest possible algebra on $\Omega$ and let $B$ be an arbitrary algebra on $\Omega$ then $ A \cap B$ will always equal $B$ which is an algebra.

Since this topic is still new to me, any opinions improving or correcting my assumption would be very much appreciated.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

0
On BEST ANSWER

As Kavi Rama Murthy points out, you have only considered the special case of $A=\mathcal{P}(\Omega)$. As you point out, this implies $A\cap B=B$ for any $B\subset\mathcal{P}(\Omega)$. However, you still have to prove the case of $A\neq\mathcal{P}(\Omega)$!

Hint: Let me get you started. Suppose $A$ and $B$ are both algebras. Let $C=A\cap B$. To prove that $C$ is an algebra we have to check three things:

  1. $\Omega$ is in $C$.
  2. $C$ is closed under complements.
  3. $C$ is closed under finite unions.

I'll prove (2) and let you prove the rest. Let $c\in C$. Then, $c\in A$ and $c\in B$. Since $A$ and $B$ are algebras (and hence closed under complement), it follows that $\Omega\setminus c\in A$ and $\Omega\setminus c\in B$. Therefore, $\Omega\setminus c\in C$. That is, $C$ is closed under complements.

Comment: are you sure you did not mean $\sigma$-algebra? If you did, replace "finite unions" above by "countable unions". Otherwise, ignore this comment.