Math F651: Take Home Midterm Solutions

March 19, 2007

1. A subset A of a topological space X is said to be nowhere dense if Int A = g.

a) Let U be an open subset of a topological space. Prove that U is closed and nowhere
dense.
b) Let V be a closed and nowhere dense set. Show that V is the boundary of an open set.
Solution, part a:
c , an intersection of closed sets.
Let U be an open set. Clearly U is closed, as it is U 9 (U)
Since U is closed, to show it is nowhere dense, it is enough to show it has empty interior.
we know that V 9 U x g. We
Let x > U and let V be an open set containing x. Since x > U,
showed in a previous homework assignment that if U is open, then U is the disjoint union
of U with U . Since V contains a point of U, we know that V is not contained in U . Hence
U has empty interior.
Solution, part b:
Let V be a closed, nowhere dense set. Let U = V c . We claim that V = U . Since V = U c b U c ,

it is enough to show that V b U.

Let x > V . Since V is closed and nowhere dense we see that V has empty interior. If W is an
open set containing x, then W 9 U = W 9 V c x g. But this shows that x is an element of the
as claimed.
closure of U. Hence V b U,
2. Munkres 16.8
Solution, part a:
Since a basis for R consists of sets of the form [a, b) where a < b, and since a basis for R
consists of sets of the form (c, d) where c < d, we conclude that a basis B for R  R consists
of sets of the form [a, b)  (c, d). Moreover, a basis for L can be obtained by intersecting L
with B.
Suppose L is a vertical line, x = x0 . Then the intersection of L with a set [a, b)  (c, d) in B
is either empty or is the interval (x0  c, x0  d). (The ordering on L is assumed to be
the usual one by the natural identification of x0  R with R.) Since all such intervals can
be obtained, we conclude that a basis for L is a basis for the order topology.
Suppose L is a line with finite slope. We can order L by x coordinates. Then the intersection
of L with a basic open set in B is either empty, or has the form (, ), or has the form [, ).
(Note, and are points in L, and (, ) is an interval in L). Moreover, all such sets can
be achieved by taking an appropriate intersection. Since sets of the form [, ) form a basis
for the lower limit topology, we know that the topology on L is finer than the lower limit
topology. Since every set in this basis for L is open in the lower limit topology, we know that
the topology for L is coarser than the lower limit topology. Hence the topology on L is the
lower limit topology.
Solution, part b:
The analysis is similar to the above, but here the basic open sets in R  R are of the form
[a, b)[c, d). If L is vertical, an argument analogous to that above shows that L has the lower

Math F651: Take Home Midterm Solutions

March 19, 2007

limit topology. We must split case of ines with finite slope into two cases. For nonnegative
slopes, we obtain the lower limit topology. For negative finite slopes, we can intersect the
line with the lower left left corner of a basic open set to obtain a point in L. Hence every
point in L is open, and L has the discrete topology.
3. Munkres 18.8
Solution:
We start with the following lemma.
Lemma 1. Let Y be a linearly ordered set. Let A = (x, y) > Y  Y  x B y. Then A is closed.
Proof. We will prove Ac is open. Let (x, y) > Ac , so x A y. If there is a point z between x and
y, let U = (z, )  (, z). Otherwise, let U = (y, )  (, x).
In either case, U is an open set containing (x, y) and is evidently contained in Ac . Hence Ac
is open as claimed.
Solution, part a:
Consider f  g  X Y  Y. Then f  g is continuous. Let A = (x, y) > Y  Y  x B y. By
the previous lemma, A is closed. Hence ( f  g)1 (A) is closed. But ( f  g)1 (A) = x > X 
f (x) B g(x).
Solution, part b:
Let V = x > X  f (x) B g(x) and let W = x > X  g(x) B f (x). The set V is
closed by the above, and a similar argument shows that W is closed. Define F  X Y by
F(x) = min( f (x), g(x)). Notice that F restricted to V is exactly f , and F restricted to W is
exactly g. Since these are continuous functions, we conclude by the pasting lemma that F is
continuous.
4. Let f and g be continuous maps from a topological space X to a Hausdorff space Y. Suppose
f = g on a dense subset of X. Prove that f = g.
Solution:
Let A = x  f (x) = g(x). Consider f  g  X Y  Y. The set A is exactly ( f  g)1 (),
where is the diagonal of Y  Y. Since Y is Hausdorff, we know that is closed. Since f  g
is continuous, we conclude that A is closed. Since A is dense we know that A = X. Since A
is closed we know A = A. Hence A = X and f = g everywhere.
5. Let L be a linearly ordered set with the order topology. Show that the maximum function
max  L  L L is continuous.
Solution:
Let A = (x, y) > X  X  x B y and let B = (x, y) > X  X  y B x. From Lemma 1
we know that A is closed, and a similar argument shows that B is closed. Notice that max
restricted to A is just projection onto the first coordinate of X  X. Similarly, max restricted
to B is projection onto the second coordinate. These are continuous functions, so by the
pasting lemma, max is continuous.
2

Math F651: Take Home Midterm Solutions

March 19, 2007

6. Consider the set R . Let 2 be the subset of R of square summable sequences.

That is,

2
2
2
2
(x1 , x2 , . . . ) > if x1 +x2 + is finite. We can put a metric on by d(x, y) = ((x1 y1 )2 +)
You do NOT need to verify that this is a metric. We take the topology on 2 to be the topology
generated by this metric.
Determine if the embedding of 2 0 R is continuous if R is given
a) the product topology, or
b) the box topology.
The embedding into the product topology is continuous:
Let k  R R be the projection onto the k th factor. Let U b R be open and consider the
subbasic open set V = 1
k (U). To show the embedding is continuous, it suffices to show
2
2
that 9 V is open in .
Let x > 2 9 V . Then x k > U, and there is a number r such that (x k r, x k + r) b U. Suppose
y > Br (x). Then
Q(x n y n )2 < r 2
n

and in particular,
(x k y k ) < r 2
and
Sx k y k S < r
Hence y k > U and therefore, y > U 9 2 . Therefore Br (x) b V , and therefore V is open.
The embedding into the box topology is not continuous:
Consider the set U = (1, 1)  (1~2, 1~2)  (1~3, 1~3)  , which is open in R with the
box topology. To show the embedding is not continuous, it suffices to show that V = U 9 2
is not open in 2 . Since 0 > V , it is enough to show that for no radius r is Br (0) b V .
Indeed, let r A 0. Pick n > N such that 1~n < r~2. Define x > 2 by

0
xk =

r~2

kxn
k = n.

Then d(x, 0) = r~2 < r, so x > Br (0). But x n = r~2 A 1~n so x n >~ V .

Math F651: Take Home Midterm Solutions

March 19, 2007

7. Let X be a topological space. The suspension of X, denoted

by X, is the quotient of X  [1, 1] where all points of the
form (x, 1) are identified, and all points of the form (x, 1)
are identified. Determine, with proof, a familiar space that
is homeomorphic to S n .
Solution:
Define a map F  S n  [1, 1]

S n+1 by

F(x, y) = (x 1 y 2 , y).

This map is well defined, for if x > S n and y > [1, 1], then
2

SF(x, y)S = SxS (1 y2 ) + y2 = 1.

To see that F is surjective, consider z = (z1 , . . . z n+2 ) > S n+1 . If z n+2 = 1, then F(x, 1) = z
for every x > S n . Otherwise, let
x=

1
1 z 2n+2

(z1 , . . . , z n+1 ).

Then
2

1
(z 2 +  + z 2n+1 )
1 z 2n+2 1
1
(1 z 2n+2 )
=
1 z 2n+2
= 1.

SxS =

Hence x > S n , and F(x, z n+2 ) = z.

Since S n  [1, 1] is compact, and since S n1 is Hausdorff, we conclude from the Closed Map
Lemma that F is a quotient map.
It is clear that F restricted to S n  (1, 1) is injective, and that F identifies all of S n  1 and
all of S n 1. Since F makes the same identifications as  S n [1, 1] S n , we conclude
from the Handy Lemma that S n is homeomorphic to S n+1 .
8. Munkres 23.10
Solution, part a:
Let K be a finite subset of J. Let X K = L>J A where A = X if > K and A = a
otherwise. We claim that X K is homeomorphic to Y = L>K X .
Indeed, consider the map F  Y

X K defined by

y
F(y) =

a
4

>K
otherwise.

Math F651: Take Home Midterm Solutions

March 19, 2007

This map is clearly bijective. We wish to show that F and its inverse are continuous. To do
this, it will be convenient to work with the product topology on X K (note that the subspace
topology and the product topology on X K agree). Consider a basic open set U = L>K U
in Y. Then F(U) = L>J A where

U
A =

>K
otherwise.

Since K is finite, this is a basic open set in X K and hence F is open. In fact, the image of these
sets are exactly the basic open sets in X K , and hence the pre-image of a basic open set is also
open in Y. Hence F is continuous, bijective, and open, and is hence a homeomorphism.
Now Y is connected since it is a finite product of connected spaces. Hence X K is connected
Solution, part b:
Notice that a > X K for every K. Since each X K is connected, and since they all share a point
in common, 8K X K is connected.
Solution, part c:
Let Z = 8K X K . We will show that Z = X. Since Z is connected, we know that Z is connected,
and we will conclude that X is connected.
Let x > X and let U be an open set containing x. Without loss of generality we can assume
that U is a basic open set, so that U = L U where U = X except for in some finite set
K. For each U where > K, pick an element b , and define y by

b
y =

>K
otherwise.

Then y > U and y > Z since y > X K . Hence x > Z.

9. Prove or disprove the following conjecture. Let X be a topological space and let  be an
equivalence relation on X. Suppose each fibre of X~ is homeomorphic to a common space
Y. Then X is homeomorphic to (X~)  Y.
Solution:
The conjecture is false. Consider S n ~ where  is the equivalence relation that identifies
antipodal points. Each fibre is homeomorphic to 0, 1 with the discrete topology. We claim
that S n ~  0, 1 is not homeomorphic to S n . Indeed the latter set is connected, but S n ~ 
0, 1 is not connected since
S n ~  0, S n ~  1
is a separation of S n  0, 1.

Math F651: Take Home Midterm Solutions

March 19, 2007

10. We say the homeomorphism group of a topological space X acts transitively if given two
points p and q in X, there is a homeomorphism from X to itself that takes p to q. Many of
you have noted that the homeomorphism groups of the sphere and of projective space act
transitively. Following the steps below, you will show that this property holds for connected
manifolds in general.
a) Show that every connected manifold is path connected.
b) Show that if p, q are elements of the interior of the closed unit ball
Bn = x > Rn  SxS B 1,
then there is a homeomorphism  Bn
Bn such that (p) = q and such that
(x) = x for every x with SxS = 1. This part of the problem is a little tricky; be as
rigorous as you can be without sweating the details. Munkres Theorem 26.6 will be
handy.
c) Show that the homeomorphism group of a connected manifold acts transitively.
Solution, part a:
Let C be a path component of M. Let p > C. Then x has a neighbourhood U that is homeomorphic to Rn , which is path connected. Since C is a maximal path connected set, we have
U b C. Hence p > U b C. We conclude that C is open.
Since the complement of C is a union of path components, each of which are open, we conclude that C is also closed.
Now let p > M, and let C be the path component of p. Then C is open and closed and
non-empty. Since M is connected, we conclude that C = M. Hence M is path connected.
Solution, part b:
Let p be an element of the interior of Bn . Consider the map F  Bn

Bn defined by

F(x) = S1 SxSS p + x.
We claim that F is well-defined and is a homeomorphism.
To see that F is well defined, consider a point y > Bn , and a point ty > Bn where 0 B t B 1.
Then
F(ty) = (1 t)p + ty.
Since Bn is convex, we conclude that F(ty) > Bn .
The function F is evidently continuous.
Notice that we have shown that F takes each line segment connecting 0 to a point z on the
boundary to the line segment connecting p to z. Since every point in Bn is on such a segment,
we see that F is onto.

Math F651: Take Home Midterm Solutions

March 19, 2007

To see that F is injective, suppose F(x1 ) = F(x2 ). Then

0 = SF(x1 ) F(x2 )S
= S(x1 x + 2) + (Sx1 S Sx2 S)pS
C Sx1 x + 2)S SSx1 S Sx2 SS SpS
C Sx1 x + 2)S SSx1 S Sx2 SS .
Hence
SSx1 S Sx2 SS C Sx1 x2 S .
But the reverse triangle inequality implies that
SSx1 S Sx2 SS B Sx1 x2 S .
with strict inequality unless x1 = x2 . Hence x1 = x2 and F is injective.
Finally, if x > Bn , then F(x) = (1 1)p + x = x. Hence F fixes points on the boundary Bn
Solution, part c:
Define an equivalence relation on M by x  y if there is a homeomorphism from M to
M taking x to y. This is clearly an equivalence relation. Moreover, it is also clear that the
homeomorphism group acts transitively if and only if there is exactly one equivalence class.
We claim that the equivalence classes of this relation are open sets, which we assume for the
moment. Let x > M and let C be the equivalence relation of x. Then C is open and nonempty.
It is also closed, since its complement is a union of (open) equivalence classes. Since M is
connected, we conclude that C = M.
It remains to show that the equivalence classes are open. Let C be an equivalence class, and
let x > C. There is an open set U containing p that is homeomorphic to Rn via a homeomorphism . Without loss of generality we can assume that (p) = 0. Let V = 1 (Bn ), let q
be an interior point of V , and let f  Bn Bn be a homeomorphism taking 0 to (q) that
fixes Bn . Define  M M by

1 (((x)))
(x) =

x>V
otherwise.

It is clear that is a bijection. The pasting lemma applied to V and (Int V )c shows that
is continuous. A similar construction provides a continuous inverse for . Hence is a
homeomorphism taking p to q. Hence Int V b C and we conclude that C is open.