9.6. Metric Spaces

  • Most important class of topological spaces

  • Provide a rich source of examples

  • Most applications of topology to analysis are via metric spaces

9.6.1. Metric Spaces

Definition

Let \(X\) be a non-empty set and \(d\) a real-valued function defined on \(X \times X\) such that for \(a,b \in X\):

  1. \(d(a,b) \geq 0\) and \(d(a,b) = 0 \iff a = b\);

  2. \(d(a,b) = d(b,a)\); and

  3. \(d(a,c) \leq d(a,b) + d(b,c)\), [the triangle inequality] \(\forall a,b,c \in X\).

Then \(d\) is said to be a metric on \(X\), \((X,d)\) is called a metric space and \(d(a,b)\) is referred to as the distance between \(a\) and \(b\).

Example

  • The function \(d: \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R} \mapsto \mathbb{R}\) given by

    \[d(a,b) = |a-b|, \quad a,b \in \mathbb{R}\]

    is a metric on the set \(\mathbb{R}\) known as the euclidean metric.

  • The function \(d : \mathbb{R}^2 \times \mathbb{R}^2 \mapsto \mathbb{R}\) given by

    \[d( \langle a_1, b_1 \rangle, \langle a_2,b_2 \rangle ) = \sqrt{ (a_1 - b_1)^2 + (a_2 - b_2)^2}\]

    is a metric on \(\mathbb{R}^2\).

  • Let \(X\) be a non-empty set and \(d\) the function from \(X\times X\) into \(\mathbb{R}\) defined by

    \[\begin{split}d(a,b) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 0 & \mbox{if $a = b$}\\ 1 & \mbox{if $a \neq b$} \end{array} \right.\end{split}\]

    Then \(d\) is a metric on \(X\) and is called the discrete metric.

9.6.1.1. Function Spaces

  • Let \(C[0,1]\) denote the set of continuous functions from \([0,1]\) into \(\mathbb{R}\). A metric is defined on this set by

    \[d(f,g) = \int_0^1 |f(x) - g(x)| dx\]

    where \(f,g\) are in \(C[0,1]\).

../_images/tears_6_1_5.png
  • \(d(f,g)\) is precisely the area of the region which lies between the graphs of functions.

  • Now, Another metric is defined on \(C[0,1]\) as follows:

    \[d^*(f,g) = \text{sup}\{|f(x) - g(x)| : x \in [0,1] \}\]
../_images/tears_6_1_6.png
  • Clearly \(d^*(f,g)\) is just the largest vertical gap between the graphs of functions \(f\) and \(g\).

  • More metrics on \(\mathbb{R}^2\):

    \[\begin{split}&d( \langle a_1, b_1 \rangle, \langle a_2,b_2 \rangle ) = \max\{ |a_1 - b_1 | , | a_2 - b_2 | \}\\ &d( \langle a_1, b_1 \rangle, \langle a_2,b_2 \rangle ) = |a_1 - b_1 | + | a_2 - b_2 |\end{split}\]

9.6.1.2. Normed vector spaces

Let \(V\) be a vector space over the field of real or complex numbers. A norm \(\parallel \text{ } \parallel\) on \(V\) is a map \(V \mapsto \mathbb{R}\) such that for all \(a,b \in V\) and \(\alpha\) in the field:

  1. \(\parallel a \parallel \geq 0\) and \(\parallel a \parallel = 0 \iff a = 0\),

  2. \(\parallel a + b \parallel \leq \parallel a \parallel + \parallel b \parallel\), and

  3. \(\parallel \alpha a \parallel = |\alpha | \parallel a \parallel\).

A normed vector space is a vector space with a norm.

  • Let \((V, \parallel \parallel)\) be any normed vector space. Then there is a corresponding metric, \(d\), on the set \(V\) given by \(d(a,b) = \parallel a - b \parallel \quad \forall a,b \in V\).

9.6.2. Metric Spaces as Topological Spaces

Open balls

In a normed vector space, the open ball with center a and radius r is defined to be the set

\[B_r(a) = \{x : x \in V | \parallel x - a \parallel < r\}\]

Why not generalize?

Definition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space and \(r\) any positive real number. Then the open ball about \(a \in X\) of radius \(r\) is the set

\[B_r(a) = \{x : x \in X | d(a,x) < r\}\]

Example

The shape of the open ball depends on the choice of metric.

../_images/tears_6_1_12.png

\(\mathbb{R}^2\) with euclidean metric

../_images/tears_6_1_13.png

\(d^*( \langle a_1, b_1 \rangle, \langle a_2,b_2 \rangle ) = \max\{ |a_1 - b_1 | , | a_2 - b_2 | \}\)

../_images/tears_6_1_14.png

\(d_1( \langle a_1, b_1 \rangle, \langle a_2,b_2 \rangle ) = |a_1 - b_1 | + | a_2 - b_2 |\)

What happens in the intersection of open balls?

Lemma

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space and \(a\) and \(b\) points of \(X\). Further let \(\delta_1\) and \(\delta_2\) be positive real numbers. If \(c \in B_{\delta_1}(a) \cap B_{\delta_2}(b)\), then there exists a \(\delta > 0\) such that \(B_{\delta}(c) \subseteq B_{\delta_1}(a) \cap B_{\delta_2}(b)\)

Do open balls look like open sets?

Corollary

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space and \(B_1\) and \(B_2\) open balls in \((X, d)\). then \(B_1 \cap B_2\) is union of open balls in \((X,d)\).

So we do have a basis!

Proposition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space. Then the collection of open balls in \((X,d)\) is a basis for a topology \(\mathcal{T}\) on \(X\).

  • \(\mathcal{T}\) is referred to as the topology induced by metric d.

  • \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is called the induced topological space or the corresponding topological space or the associated topological space.

Example

  • If \(d\) is the discrete metric on a set \(X\), then for each \(x \in X, B_{\frac{1}{2}}(x) = \{x\}\). So all singleton sets are open in topology \(\mathcal{T}\) induced on \(X\) by \(d\). Thus \(\mathcal{T}\) is the discrete topology.

  • The euclidean metric on \(\mathbb{R}\) induces the euclidean topology on \(\mathbb{R}\). Ditto for \(\mathbb{R}^2\).

  • But the other metrics \(d^*\) and \(d_1\) also induce euclidean topology on \(\mathbb{R}^2\).

Different metrics can induce same topology!

Definition

Metrics on a set \(X\) are said to be equivalent if they induce the same topology on \(X\).

So whats the relation between open balls and open sets?

Proposition

Let \((X, d)\) be a metric space and \(\mathcal{T}\) the topology induced on \(X\) by the metric \(d\). Then a subset \(U\) of \(X\) is open in \((X, \mathcal{T})\) if and only if for each \(x \in U\) there exists an \(\epsilon > 0\) such that the open ball \(B_{\epsilon}(a) \subseteq U\)

Is every topology induced by a metric?

9.6.2.1. Metrizable Spaces

Definition

A topological space \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is said to be a Hausdorff space or a \(T_2\)-space if for each pair of distinct points \(a\) and \(b\) in \(X\), there exist open sets \(U\) and \(V\) such that \(a\in U, b\in V\), and \(U\cap V = \phi\).

Proposition

Let \((X, d)\) be any metric space and \(\mathcal{T}\) the topology induced on \(X\) by \(d\). Then \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is a Hausdorff space.

  • Any set with 2 or more elements which has the indiscrete topology is not a Hausdorff space.

  • \(\mathbb{Z}\) with finite closed topology is not a Hausdorff space.

Definition

A space \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is said to be metrizable if there exists a metric \(d\) on the set \(X\) with the property that \(\mathcal{T}\) is the topology induced by \(d\).

Warning

Every Hausdorff space is not metrizable. Though every metrizable space is a Hausdorff space.

  • Every subspace of a metrizable space is metrizable.

9.6.2.2. Bounded Metrics

Definition

A metric space \((X, d)\) is said to be bounded, and \(d\) is said to be a bounded metric if there exists a positive real number \(M\) such that \(d(x,y) < M\), for all \(x,y \in X\).

  • Every metric is equivalent to a bounded metric.

9.6.2.3. l_p spaces

  • Let \(l_1\) be the set of all sequences of real numbers

    \[x = (x_1,x_2, \dots, x_n, \dots)\]

    with the property that the series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}|x_n|\) is convergent. If we define

    \[d_1(x,y) = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty}|x_n - y_n| \quad \forall x, y \in l_1\]

    Then \((l_1, d_1)\) is a metric space.

  • Let \(l_2\) be the set of all sequences of real numbers

    \[x = (x_1,x_2, \dots, x_n, \dots)\]

    with the property that the series \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}x_n^2\) is convergent. If we define

    \[d_2(x,y) = (\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}|x_n - y_n|^2)^{\frac{1}{2}} \quad \forall x, y \in l_2\]

    Then \((l_2, d_2)\) is a metric space.

  • Let \(l_{\infty}\) be the set of bounded sequences of real numbers \(x = (x_1,x_2, \dots, x_n, \dots)\). If we define

    \[d_{\infty}(x,y) = \sup\{|x_n - y_n| : n \in \mathbb{N} \} \quad \forall x, y \in l_{\infty}\]

    Then \((l_{\infty}, d_{\infty})\) is a metric space.

  • Each of the above spaces is a normed vector space in a natural way.

9.6.2.4. Normal Space

Definition

A topological space \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is said to be a normal space if for each pair of disjoint closed sets \(A\) and \(B\), there exist open sets \(U\) and \(V\) such that \(A\subseteq U, B \subseteq V\) and \(U\cap V = \phi\).

  • Every metrizable space is a normal space.

Definition

Let \((X,d_1)\) and \((Y, d_2)\) be metric spaces. Then \((X,d_1)\) is said to be isometric to \((Y,d_2)\) if there exists a surjective mapping \(f : (X,d_1) \mapsto (Y,d_2)\) such that for all \(x_1, x_2 \in X\)

\[d_1(x_1, x_2) = d_2(f(x_1), f(x_2))\]

Such a mapping is called isometry.

  • Every isometry is a homeomorphism of the corresponding topological spaces.

9.6.2.5. Locally Euclidean

Definition

A topological space \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is said to be locally euclidean if there exists a positive integer \(n\) such that each point \(x \in X\) has an open neighborhood homeomorphic to an open ball about \(0 \in \mathbb{R}^n\) with the euclidean metric.

  • Every non-trivial interval \((a,b) \in \mathbb{R}\) is locally euclidean.

  • The unit circle in complex plane is locally euclidean.

  • Every topological space homeomorphic to \(\mathbb{R}^n\) is locally euclidean.

9.6.2.6. Manifold

Definition

A Hausdorff locally euclidean space is said to be a topological manifold.

There are many different kinds of manifolds (when more structure is imposed).

  • Differentiable manifolds

  • Smooth manifolds

  • Riemannian manifolds

  • Cauchy-Riemannian manifolds (CR-manifolds)

9.6.3. Convergence of Sequences

Definition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space and \(x_1, \dots, x_n, \dots\) a sequence of points in \(X\). Then the sequence is said to converge to \(x \in X\) if given any \(\epsilon > 0\), there exists an integer \(n_0\) such that for all \(n > n_0, d(x,x_n) < \epsilon\). This is denoted by \(x_n \to x\).

The sequence \(y_1, y_2, \dots, y_n, \dots\) of points in \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is said to be convergent if there exists a point \(y \in X\) such that \(y_n \to y\).

Convergence is unique!

Proposition

Let \(x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n, \dots\) be a sequence of points in a metric space \((X, d)\). Further, let \(x\) and \(y\) be points in \((X,d)\) such that \(x_n \to x\) and \(x_n \to y\). Then \(x = y\).

Convergence describes topology!

Proposition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space. A subset \(A\) of \(X\) is closed in \((X,d)\) if and only if every convergent sequence of points in \(A\) converges to a point in \(A\).

(In other words, \(A\) is closed in \((X,d)\) if and only if \(a_n \to x\), where \(x \in X\) and \(a_n \in A\) for all \(n\), implies \(x \in A\).)

Naturally convergence also describes continuous functions!

Proposition

Let \((X,d)\) and \((Y,d_1)\) be metric spaces and \(f\) a mapping of \(X\) into \(Y\). Let \(\mathbf{\tau}\) and \(\mathbf{\tau}_1\) be the topologies determined by \(d\) and \(d_1\), respectively. Then \(f : (X, \mathbf{\tau})\mapsto (Y, \mathbf{\tau}_1)\) is continuous if and only if \(x_n \to x \implies f(x_n) \to f(x);\) i.e., if \(x_1, x_2,\dots, x_n, \dots\) is a sequence of points in \((X,d)\) converging to \(x\), then the sequence of points \(f(x_1), f(x_2),\dots, f(x_n), \dots\) in \((Y, d_1)\) converges to \(f(x)\).

Corollary

\(f : (X, \mathbf{\tau})\mapsto (Y, \mathbf{\tau}_1)\) (as above) is continuous if and only if for each \(x_0 \in X\) and \(\epsilon > 0\), there exists a \(\delta > 0\) such that \(x \in X\) and \(d(x,x_0) < \delta \implies d_1(f(x), f(x_0)) < \epsilon\).

distance between sets

Definition

Let A and B be non-empty sets in a metric space \((X,d)\). Define

\[\rho(A,B) = \inf\{d(a,b) : a \in A, b \in B\}\]

Then \(\rho(A,B)\) is referred to as the distance between sets A and B.

9.6.4. Completeness

Definition

A sequence \(x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n, \dots\) of points in a metric space \((X,d)\) is said to be a Cauchy sequence if given any real number \(\epsilon > 0\), there exists a positive number \(n_0\), such that for all integers \(m > n_0, n > n_0\), we have \(d(x_m, x_n) < \epsilon\).

Every convergent sequence is a Cauchy sequence.

Proposition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space and \(x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n \dots\) a sequence of points in \((X,d)\). If there exists a point \(a \in X\), such that the sequence converges to \(a\), i.e. \(x_n \to a\), then the sequence is a Cauchy sequence.

But every Cauchy sequence need not be convergent.

Example

  • Consider the open interval \((0,1)\) with the euclidean metric \(d\).

  • It is clear that the sequence \(0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, \dots\) is a Cauchy sequence but it does not converge to any point in \((0,1)\).

Definition

A metric space is called to be complete if every Cauchy sequence in \((X,d)\) converges to a point in \((X,d)\).

  • Thus we see that \((0,1)\) with the euclidean metric is not a complete metric space.

  • If \(X\) is any finite set and \(d\) is the discrete metric on \(X\), then \((X,d)\) is a complete metric space.

  • \(\mathbb{R}\) with the euclidean metric is a complete metric space. How?

  • We will denote \(x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n \dots\) by \(\{x_n\}\).

Definition

If \(\{x_n\}\) is any sequence, then the sequence \(\{x_{n_1}, x_{n_2}, \dots\}\) is said to be a subsequence if \(n_1 < n_2 < n_3 < \dots\).

Definitions

Let \(\{x_n\}\) be a sequence in \(\mathbb{R}\). Then it is said to be an increasing sequence if \(x_n \leq x_{n+1} \quad\forall n \in \mathbb{N}\).

It is said to be a decreasing sequence if \(x_n \geq x_{n+1} \quad\forall n \in \mathbb{N}\).

A sequence which is either increasing or decreasing is said to be a monotonic sequence.

  • Most sequences off course are neither increasing nor decreasing.

Definition

Let \(\{x_n\}\) be a sequence in \(\mathbb{R}\). Then \(n_0 \in \mathbb{N}\) is said to be a peak point if \(x_n \leq x_{n_0} \quad \forall n \geq n_0\).

Lemma

Let \(\{x_n\}\) be a sequence in \(\mathbb{R}\). Then \(\{x_n\}\) has a monotonic subsequence.

  • If \(\{x_n\}\) has infinite number of peak points, then the subsequence of peak points is a decreasing subsequence.

  • Otherwise there exists an integer \(N\) such that there are no peak points for \(n > N\). Choose any \(n_1 > N\). We can find \(n_2 > n_1 | x_{n_2} > x_{n_1}\) since \(n_1\) is not a peak point. Similarly we can find \(n_3 > n_2\). This way we can find an increasing sequence (by mathematical induction).

Proposition

Let \(\{x_n\}\) be a monotonic sequence in \(\mathbb{R}\) with the euclidean metric. Then \(\{x_n\}\) converges to a point in \(\mathbb{R}\) if and only if \(\{x_n\}\) is bounded.

  • If \(\{x_n\}\) is unbounded, then naturally it doesn’t converge.

  • Assuming \(\{x_n\}\) as an increasing bounded sequence, there is a least upper bound \(L\) of the the set \(\{x_n\}, n \in \mathbb{N}\).

  • Thus \(\forall \epsilon > 0, \exists N > 0 | d(x_N, L) < \epsilon\)

  • Since \(\{x_n\}\) is increasing, hence we have

    \[L - \epsilon < x_n < L \quad \forall n > N.\]

(Bolzano-Weierstrass Theorem)

Every bounded sequence in \(\mathbb{R}\) with euclidean metric has a convergent subsequence.

Corollary

The metric space \(\mathbb{R}\) with the euclidean metric is a complete metric space.

  • We have to show that every Cauchy sequence converges in \(\mathbb{R}\).

  • \(\exists N > 0 | \forall m, n \geq N, d(x_n, x_m) < 1\).

  • \(M = |x_1| + |x_2| + \dots + |x_N| + 1\) is an upper bound. Hence \(\{x_n\}\) is bounded, hence has a convergent subsequence \(\{x_{n_k}\}\) with \(x_{n_k} \to a\).

  • Choose \(\epsilon > 0\). Then \(\exists N_0 > 0\) such that

    \[|x_n - x_m| < \frac{\epsilon}{2}\quad \forall m,n \geq N_0.\]
  • Also \(\exists N_1 > 0\) such that

    \[|x_{n_k} - a| < \frac{\epsilon}{2}\quad \forall n_k \geq N_1.\]
  • Choose \(N = \max(N_0, N_1)\). Then

    \[|x_n - a| < \epsilon\quad \forall n \geq N.\]

Corollary

For each positive integer \(m\), the metric space \(\mathbb{R}^m\) with the euclidean metric is a complete metric space.

  • A normed vector space which is complete is called a Banach space.

  • An inner product space which is complete is called a Hilbert space.

  • The space \(C[a,b]\) of continuous real valued functions on a closed and bounded interval is a Banach space, and so is a complete metric space w.r.t. the supremum norm.

9.6.4.1. Completeness and subspaces

Proposition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space, \(Y\) a subset of \(X\), and \(d_1\) the metric induced on \(Y\) by \(d\).

  1. If \((X,d)\) is a complete metric space and \(Y\) is a closed subspace of \((X,d)\), then \((Y,d_1)\) is a complete metric space.

  2. If \((Y,d_1)\) is a complete metric space, then \(Y\) is a closed subspace of \((X,d)\).

  • \((0,1)\) is not complete while \([0,1]\) is complete.

  • \((0,1)\) is homeomorphic to \(\mathbb{R}\). But \(\mathbb{R}\) is complete while \((0,1)\) is not. Hence completeness is not a topological property (preserved by homeomorphism).

Definition

A topological space \((X, \mathcal{T})\) is said to be completely metrizable if there exists a metric \(d\) on \(X\) such that \(\mathcal{T}\) is the topology on \(X\) determined by \(d\) and \((X,d)\) is a complete metric space.

  • Being completely metrizable is a topological property.

  • The topological spaces \(\mathbb{R}\), \([a,b], (a,b), [a,b), (a,b]\), \((-\infty, a), (-\infty, a], (a, \infty), [a, \infty)\) and \(\{a\}\) are all completely metrizable.

  • The space \(\mathbb{P}\) of irrational numbers with the induced topology is completely metrizable.

Definition

A topological space is said to be separable if it has a countable dense subset.

Definition

A topological space is called Polish space if it is separable and completely metrizable.

  • \(\mathbb{R}\) is a polish space, so is \(\mathbb{R}^n\).

Definition

A topological space \((X,\mathcal{T})\) is said to be a Souslin space if it is Hausdorff and a continuous image of a Polish space. If \(A\) is a subset of a topological space \((Y, \mathcal{T}_1)\) such that with the induced topology, the space \((A, \mathcal{T}_2)\) is a Souslin space, then \(A\) is said to be an analytical set in \((Y, \mathcal{T}_1)\).

  • Every Polish space is a Souslin space since its a continuous image of itself and is a Hausdorff space (being a metric space).

  • Every Souslin space need not be metrizable.

  • Even a metrizable Souslin space is not necessarily a Polish space.

  • Analytic subsets of Polish spaces are closed under countable unions and intersections.

  • If the complement of an analytic set is analytic then the set is Borel.

  • Analytic sets are always Lebesgue measurable.

  • Topology > Metric Spaces > Measure Theory > Probability Theory

9.6.4.2. Metric space equivalence

  • Two topological spaces are equivalent if they are homeomorphic.

  • When are two metric spaces equivalent (as metric spaces)?

Definition

Let \((X,d)\) and \((Y,d_1)\) be metric spaces. Then \((X,d)\) is said to be isometric to \((Y,d_1)\) if there exists a surjective mapping \(f : X \mapsto Y\) such that \(\forall x_1, x_2 \in X, d(x_1, x_2) = d_1(f(x_1), f(x_2))\). Such a mapping is said to be an isometry.

  • The associated topological spaces of two isometric spaces are homeomorphic.

Definition

Let \((X,d)\) and \((Y,d_1)\) be metric spaces and \(f\) a mapping of \(X\) into \(Y\). Let \(Z = f(X)\), and \(d_2\) be the metric induced on \(Z\) by \(d_1\). If \(f:(X,d) \mapsto (Z, d_1)\) is an isometry, then \(f\) is said to be an isometric embedding of \((X,d)\) in \((Y,d_1)\).

  • Natural embedding of \(\mathbb{Q}\) with euclidean metric in \(\mathbb{R}\) with euclidean metric is an isometric embedding.

9.6.4.3. Completion

Definition

Let \((X,d)\) and \((Y,d_1)\) be metric spaces and \(f\) a mapping of \(X\) into \(Y\). If \((Y,d_1)\) is a complete metric space, \(f\) is an isometric embedding and \(f(X)\) is a dense subset of \(Y\) in the associated topological space, then \((Y,d_1)\) is said to be a completion of \((X,d)\).

  • \(\mathbb{R}\) is a completion of \(\mathbb{Q}\) and \(\mathbb{P}\).

  • Does every metric space has a completion?

  • Is the completion of a metric space unique in some sense?

Proposition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space. Then \((X,d)\) has a completion.

  • Two Cauchy sequences \(\{y_n\}\) and \(\{z_n\}\) are equivalent if \(d(x_n, y_n) \to 0\) in \(\mathbb{R}\).

  • This is an equivalence relation.

  • Let \(\widetilde{X}\) be the set of all equivalence classes of Cauchy sequences.

  • Let \(\tilde{y}\) and \(\tilde{z}\) be two points in \(\widetilde{X}\).

  • Let \(\{y_n\} \in \tilde{y}\) and \(\{z_n\} \in \tilde{z}\).

  • The sequence \(d(y_n, z_n)\) is a Cauchy sequence in \(\mathbb{R}\); converges to say \(d_1(\tilde{y}, \tilde{z})\).

  • For each \(x \in X\), the sequence \(x,x,x,\dots\) is a Cauchy sequence which converges to \(x\).

  • Let \(\tilde{x}\) denote the equivalence class of all Cauchy sequences converging to \(x \in X\).

  • Define \(Y = \{\tilde{x} | x \in X\}\) as \(Y \subseteq \widetilde{X}\).

  • Let \(d_2\) be metric induced on \(Y\) by \(d_1\).

  • \(f : (X,d) \mapsto (Y, d_2)\) with \(f(x) = \tilde{x}\) is an isometry.

  • We can show that \(Y\) is dense in \(\widetilde{X}\).

  • We can show that \((\widetilde{X}, d_1)\) is a complete metric space.

Can an isometry over a subset help find an isometry over the containing spaces?

Proposition

Let \((A, d_1)\) and \((B, d_2)\) be two complete metric spaces. Let \(X\) be a subset of \((A, d_1)\) with induced metric \(d_3\) and \(Y\) be a subset of \((B, d_2)\) with induced metric \(d_4\) . Further let \(X\) be dense in \((A, d_1)\) and \(Y\) dense in \((B, d_2)\).

If there is an isometry \(f : (X,d_3) \mapsto (Y, d_4)\), then there exists an isometry \(g : (A, d_1) \mapsto (B, d_2)\), such that \(g(x) = f(x) \forall x \in X\).

Proof outline

  • For every \(a \in A \quad \exists x_n \to a | x_n \in X\) and \(f(x_n) \to b | b \in B\)

  • Define \(g(a) = b \forall a \in A\).

  • Show that \(g\) so defined is a well defined map.

  • Show that \(g\) is one-one and onto.

  • Show that \(g\) preserves distances hence is an isometry.

Further

  • A metric space may have several completions but they are isometric to each other.

  • So completion of a metric space is unique subject to isometries

9.6.4.4. Banach spaces

Definition

Let \((N, \| \|)\) be a normed vector space and \(d\) the associated metric on the set \(N\). Then \((N, \| \|)\) is said to be a Banach space if \((N,d)\) is a complete metric space.

  • Every normed vector space has a completion.

  • This completion is also a normed vector space.

  • So this completion is a Banach space.

9.6.5. Contraction mappings

Quite specific to metric spaces rather than general topology.

Definition

Let \(f : X \to X\) be a mapping of a set \(X\) into itself. Then a point \(x \in X\) is said to be a fixed point of \(f\) if \(f(x) = x\).

Definition

Let \((X,d)\) be a metric space and \(f : X \to X\) a mapping of \(X\) into itself. Then \(f\) is said to be a contraction mapping if there exists an \(r \in (0,1)\) such that \(d(f(x_1), f(x_2)) \leq r\cdot d(x_1, x_2) \forall x_1,x_2 \in X\).

Proposition

Let \(f\) be a contraction mapping over \((X,d)\). Then \(f\) is a continuous mapping.

Theorem (Contraction mapping theorem or Banach fixed point theorem)

Let \((X,d)\) be a complete metric space and \(f\) a contraction mapping on \((X,d)\) into itself. Then \(f\) has precisely one fixed point.

Proof outline

  • We show that \(x, f(x), f^2(x),\dots, f^n(x),\dots\) is a Cauchy sequence and \(f^n(x) \to z \in X\).

  • We show that \(f(z) = z\), hence is a fixed point.

  • We show that \(z\) is unique.

9.6.6. Baire spaces

Theorem (Baire Category Theorem)

Let \((X,d)\) be a complete metric space. If \(X_1, X_2,\dots, X_n,\dots\) is a sequence of open dense subsets of \(X\), then the set \(\cap_{i=1}^{\infty} X_i\) is also dense in \(X\).

Definition

Let \((X, \mathcal{T})\) be any topological space and \(A\) any subset of \(X\). The largest open set contained in \(A\) is said to be the interior of A and is denoted by \(\text{int}(A)\)

Definition

A subset \(A\) of a topological space \((X,\mathcal{T})\) is said to be nowhere dense if the set \(\overline{A}\) has empty interior.

Definition

The boundary of a set \(A\) in \((X,\mathcal{T})\) is defined by \(B = \overline{A} \cap \overline{X \setminus A}\)

  • Boundary of a set is a closed set (its an intersection of two closed sets)

  • Boundary of an open ball \(B_{r}(x) = \{ y \in X | d(y,x) < r\}\) is \(\{y \in X | d(y,x) = r\}\).

  • Boundary of an open set \(A\) can be given by \(B = \overline{A} \cap {X \setminus A}\)

  • Boundary of an open set is nowhere dense.

  • \(\mathbb{Q}\) is not open and its boundary doesn’t have an empty interior.

Rephrasing the Baire Category Theorem

Corollary

Let \((X,d)\) be a complete metric space. If \(X_1, X_2,\dots, X_n,\dots\) is a sequence of subsets of \(X\), such that \(X = \cup_{i=1}^{\infty}X_n\), then for at least one \(n \in \mathbb{N}\), the set \(\overline{X_n}\) has non empty interior, that is \(X_n\) is not nowhere dense.

Definition

A topological space \((X,d)\) is said to be a Baire space if for every sequence \(\{X_n\}\) of open dense subsets of \(X\), the set \(\cap_{i=1}^{\infty} X_i\) is also dense in \(X\).

Corollary

Every completely metrizable space is a Baire space.

  • Above is a result in topology rather than a result in metric space theory.

  • There are Baire spaces which are not completely metrizable.

  • The topological space \(\mathbb{Q}\) is not a Baire space and so is not completely metrizable.

  • It is easier to prove that \(\mathbb{Q}\) is not a Baire space, than to prove that \(\mathbb{Q}\) is not completely metrizable without this notion.

Definitions

Let \(Y\) be a subset of a topological space \((X, \mathcal{T})\). If \(Y\) is a union of a countable number of nowhere dense subsets of \(X\), then \(Y\) is said to be a set of the first category or meager in \((X,\mathcal{T})\). If \(Y\) is not first category, it is said to be of second category in \((X,\mathcal{T})\).

Proposition

If \(Y\) is a first category subset of a Baire space \((X, \mathcal{T})\) then the interior of \(Y\) is empty.

Corollary

If \(Y\) is a first category subset of a Baire space \((X,\mathcal{T})\), then \(X \setminus Y\) is a second category set.

  • \(\mathbb{Q}\) is a first category subset of \(\mathbb{R}\).

  • \(\mathbb{P}\) is a second category subset of \(\mathbb{R}\).

Definition

Let \(S\) be a subset of a real vector space \(V\). The set \(S\) is said to be convex if for each \(x,y \in S\) and every real number \(0 < \lambda < 1\), the point \(\lambda x + (1 - \lambda) y \in S\).

  • Every subspace of a real vector space is convex.

  • Every open ball and every closed ball in a normed real vector space is convex.

Definition

Let \((X,\mathcal{T})\) and \((Y,\mathcal{T}_1)\) be topological spaces. A mapping \(f: (X,\mathcal{T}) \to (Y,\mathcal{T}_1)\) is said to be an open mapping if for every open subset \(A\) of \((X,\mathcal{T})\), the set \(f(A)\) is open in \((Y,\mathcal{T}_1)\).

Theorem (Open Mapping Theorem)

Let \((B, \| \|)\) and \((B_1, \| \|_1)\) be Banach spaces and \(L : B \to B_1\) a continuous linear (in the vector space sense) mapping of \(B\) onto \(B_1\). Then \(L\) is an open mapping.

Corollary

A one to one continuous linear map of one Banach space onto another Banach space is a homeomorphism. In particular, a one to one continuous linear map of a Banach space onto itself is a homeomorphism.