Differences between revisions 1 and 2
Revision 1 as of 2026-07-28 19:26:40
Size: 2054
Comment: Initial commit
Revision 2 as of 2026-07-30 18:39:28
Size: 2080
Comment: Note
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
Line 38: Line 38:
=== Properties === === Comparison to Metric Spaces ===
Line 40: Line 40:
These spaces are similar to [[Analysis/MetricSpace|metric spaces]], but generally 'closeness' is a looser constraint than requiring a metric function. Incidentally, there is a simpler definition to openness within a metric space. [[Analysis/MetricSpace|Metric spaces]] are a similar concept. Their main characteristic is the presence of a distance function, which in some ways is a constraint to application, but it does provide a succinct way to define neighborhoods.

Topological Space

A topological space is a set for which closeness can be defined.


Description

A topological space is the double (X, τ) composed of:

  • A given space X.

  • The topology of X, notated as τ.

The topology of X is the non-empty collection of open subsets of X satisfying these conditions:

  • Both the empty set and the full set are in the topology; Ø, X ∈ τ

    • In other words, both the empty set and the full set are definitionally open.
  • The topology is closed upon countable unions; ⋃ Xi ∈ τ where members of τ be indexed as Xi, i ∈ N

    • In other words, any countable union of the collection is open.
  • The topology is closed upon finite intersections; ⋂ Xi ∈ τ for i from 1 to n

    • In other words, any finite intersection of the collection is open.

Alternate Formulation

A topological space is a set X for which a neighborhood topology function is defined. Generally speaking, this is a function 𝒩(x) that returns a non-empty subset of X representing the neighborhood of x. It must satisfy these conditions:

  • a member is always in its own neighborhoods; if N ∈ 𝒩(x) then x ∈ N

  • any superset of a neighborhood of x is also a neighborhood of x

  • any intersection of two neighborhoods of x is also a neighborhood of x

  • for all neighborhoods of x as N, there is another neighborhood of x as M that is a subset of N; furthermore N is a neighborhood for every member of M

Comparison to Metric Spaces

Metric spaces are a similar concept. Their main characteristic is the presence of a distance function, which in some ways is a constraint to application, but it does provide a succinct way to define neighborhoods.


CategoryRicottone

Analysis/TopologicalSpace (last edited 2026-07-30 19:44:43 by DominicRicottone)