# Thread: Proving the 'Closed Ball' is closed

1. ## Proving the 'Closed Ball' is closed

Let (X, d) be a metric space and, for $a \in X$ and r > 0, define the closed ball with centre a and radius r to be set B*(a, r) given by B*(a, r) = $(x \in X : d(x, a) \leq r)$.

Prove that B*(a,r) is closed.

Here's my thoughts... (not full proofs obviously, just rough ideas)

I thought about using the idea of sequences in closed sets to show that for every sequence $x_n$ in B*(a,r) that converge to some limit x, x is contained in B*(a,r).
And do i do this by saying let x some point contained in X\B*(a,r), then there is a $k \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $x_n$ is in X\B*(a,r) for all $k \geq n$. Hence $x_n \notin$ B*(a,r).
Is this looking like an actual proof or is it potentially a bit of a ramble..?

I also thought about just proving that its complement is open. Might be easier?

2. $A^c=[x \in X: d(x,a)>r]$

Given $b \in A^c$ then $d(a,b)>r$ so let $e=d(a,b)-r>0$

Then (considering the ball around b with radius e):

$d(x,b)
$\implies d(a,b)-d(x,b)>r$
$\implies d(x,a) \geq d(a,b)-d(x,b)>r$

Therefore $B_{e}(b)\subset A^c$

Complement is therefore Open, hence A is closed.

[Sorry i renamed your original ball with A]

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# closed ball is closed

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