# Math Help - Open sets in a metric space

1. ## Open sets in a metric space

The question is:

Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space, and $Y$ be a subset of $X$.

If $G \subset X$ is open, then $G \cap Y$ is open in the metric space $(Y,d)$.

Pf:

$Y \subset X$ implies $(Y,d)$ is a metric space $\rightarrow Y$ is open.
Therefore $Y^{C}$is closed

$G$ is open, thus $G^{C}$ is closed.

So $B = (G^{C} \cup Y^{C})$ is closed, since it is the finite union of closed sets.

Therefore $B^{C} = G \cap Y$ is open.

I seem to follow all the definitions and theorems correct. Is this ok?

There is also a second part to this question.

Conversely, if $E_1 \subset Y$ is open in $(Y,d)$, $\exists$ an open set $E \subset X$ s.t $E_1 = E \cap Y$

I don't get this question. Don't we already have an open set that works in the hypothesis? E = E_1?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

-Jame

2. Originally Posted by Jame
Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space, and $Y$ be a subset of $X$.
If $G \subset X$ is open, then $G \cap Y$ is open in the metric space $(Y,d)$.
I do not understand your confusion!
How are open sets in a sub-space related to open sets in the super-space?

3. Oh right. The are not necessarily related. Something could be open in X but not in a subset of X. Guess I have to start over... and use the definition of open and not try to be tricky with complements.

4. Actuallly I have a question.

This is how my book defines open

For a metric space $(X,d)$ a set $G \subset X$ is open if $\forall x$ in $G$ $\exists$ an $\epsilon > 0$ s.t $B(x; \epsilon) \subset G.
$

This defiinition doesnt seem to depend on X. Does it matter the space we are in?

5. Originally Posted by Jame
This is how my book defines open
For a metric space $(X,d)$ a set $G \subset X$ is open if $\forall x$ in $G$ $\exists$ an $\epsilon > 0$ s.t $B(x; \epsilon) \subset G.$
This defiinition doesnt seem to depend on X. Does it matter the space we are in?
Actually it does depend upon $X~\&~d$.
That is why we use the notation $(D,d)$.
A metric space is determined by a pair, a set of points and a metric on the set.
Recall that a ball is defined as $\mathcal{B}(x;\delta)=\{y\in X: d(x,y)<\delta\}.$
Balls are the basic open sets of a metric space.

6. Oh yes!. Thanks so much. I was honestly didn't catch that. I was looking at this definition and was wondering "whats the difference between being open in X and in Y?" Thank you for the clarification.