# Compact spaces - Union and Intersection

• Mar 9th 2010, 10:04 AM
MortenDK
Compact spaces - Union and Intersection
Hey guys, i hope you can help me.

I have to prove that if $K_1, K_2,..., K_n$ are all compact subsets of the metric space $(X,d)$:

a) $K_1 \cap K_2\cap K_3 \cap... \cap K_n$ is compact.

b) $K_1 \cup K_2 \cup K_3 \cup ... \cup K_n$ is compact.

Im really kind of stuck on this, and ive been working on it for quite some time. Any of you guys who can tell me what to do or point me in the right direction?

Thanks a lot.

Morten
• Mar 9th 2010, 10:13 AM
Plato
Quote:

Originally Posted by MortenDK
I have to prove that if $K_1, K_2,..., K_n$ are all compact subsets of the metric space $(X,d)$:

a) $K_1 \cap K_2\cap K_3 \cap... \cap K_n$ is compact.

b) $K_1 \cup K_2 \cup K_3 \cup ... \cup K_n$ is compact.

Can you show this:
if $K_1, K_2$ are both compact subsets of the metric space $(X,d)$:

a) $K_1 \cap K_2$ is compact.

b) $K_1 \cup K_2$ is compact.

Think finite subcover.
• Mar 9th 2010, 01:27 PM
Drexel28
Plato's explanation is great for the first one (remember the sum of two finite quantities is finite).

For the second one, note that the makeup of metric spaces makes compact subspaces closed. Thus, $K_1\cap K_2$ is a closed subspace of $K_1$. Know any theorems about closed subspaces of compact spaces?
• Mar 9th 2010, 02:18 PM
Plato
Quote:

Originally Posted by Drexel28
Plato's explanation is great for the first one (remember the sum of two finite quantities is finite).

Do you mean the second one (the union)?

Also note that if $\left\{O_\alpha\right\}$ is an open covering of $K_1\cap K_2$ then $\left\{O_\alpha\right\}\cup \{(K_1)^c\}$ is an open cover of $K_2$.
• Mar 9th 2010, 02:19 PM
Drexel28
Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato
Do you mean the second one (the union)?

Yeah, sorry.

Quote:

Also note that if $\left\{O_\alpha\right\}$ is an open covering of $K_1\cap K_2$ then $\left\{O_\alpha\right\}\cup \{(K_1)^c\}$ is an open cover of $K_2$.
That is kind of the proof for the fact about closed subspaces of compact spaces I was referring too haha. But, since we are talking about $K_2$ being the ambient space, it might be less confusing to put $K_2-K_1$