# subset question

• October 3rd 2011, 08:07 AM
hmmmm
subset question
If I have that A is an open interval the from the definition I have that $(a-r,a+r)\subset A\subset\mathbb{R}$ can I say that $a+r\in A$?

thanks for any help

ps sorry about the first post I sent it from my phone and clearly something went wrong sorry
• October 3rd 2011, 08:09 AM
Plato
Re: subset question
Quote:

Originally Posted by hmmmm
If I have the following $(-a,a)\subset A\subset\mathbb{R}$ can I say that $a\in A$?

It could be that $(-2a,a)=A$.
• October 3rd 2011, 09:05 AM
hmmmm
Re: subset question
sorry about the mistake I made above edited now
• October 3rd 2011, 09:15 AM
Plato
Re: subset question
Quote:

Originally Posted by hmmmm
sorry about the mistake I made above edited now

No again.
Consider $(-2,2)=A$ now clearly $(1-1,1+1)\subset A$ right?
Does $1+1\in A~?$
• October 3rd 2011, 11:31 AM
hmmmm
Re: subset question
yeah it isn't, however we can always choose an r so that it is?
• October 3rd 2011, 12:08 PM
Plato
Re: subset question
Quote:

Originally Posted by hmmmm
yeah it isn't, however we can always choose an r so that it is?

Look this is a waste of time.
We have no idea where your going with this thread.
Post a problem. A complete well formed problem.
Stop making us guess as to what you are trying to ask.
• October 3rd 2011, 03:19 PM
hmmmm
Re: subset question
If A is an open subset then $supA\not\in A$

proof

Assume that $\alpha=sup A\in A$.

Then as A is open from the definition we have that for $\alpha\in A\ \mbox{and}\ r>0$

$(\alpha-r,\alpha+r)\subset A$.

Contradiction- as we assumed that $\alpha=Sup A$ but $\alpha+r>\alpha\ \mbox{and}\ \alpha+r\in A$.

I was asking if I can always choose an r such that $\alpha+r\in A$?

Thanks for any help
• October 3rd 2011, 03:32 PM
Plato
Re: subset question
Quote:

Originally Posted by hmmmm
If A is an open subset then $supA\not\in A$proof
Assume that $\alpha=sup A\in A$.
Then as A is open from the definition we have that for $\alpha\in A\ \mbox{and}\ r>0$
$(\alpha-r,\alpha+r)\subset A$.
Contradiction- as we assumed that $\alpha=Sup A$ but $\alpha+r>\alpha\ \mbox{and}\ \alpha+r\in A$.
I was asking if I can always choose an r such that $\alpha+r\in A$?

Well thank you for finally posting an intelligible problem.
It is well know that an open set in $\mathbb{R}$ cannot contain a maximal element.
Recall that between any two real numbers there is a real number.
• October 4th 2011, 01:45 AM
hmmmm
Re: subset question
Is my proof of this statement then correct, specifically where I derived the contradiction and said $\alpha+r\in A$?
• October 4th 2011, 03:05 AM
Plato
Re: subset question
Quote:

Originally Posted by hmmmm
Is my proof of this statement then correct, specifically where I derived the contradiction and said $\alpha+r\in A$?

No you cannot say that.
But you can say $\left( {\exists s} \right)\left[ {\alpha < s < r} \right]$ thus $s\in A~.$