Solutions for Homework Assignment 3

1. Find the set of accumulation points for each of the following subsets of R. No explanation
is necessary.
 √
(a) S = { a  a 6∈ Q, 2 < a < 100 }.
√
Answer: The set of accumulation points for S is the closed interval [ 2, 100].

 √ 
(b) S = { a  a ∈ Q, 2 ≤ a < 100 } ∪ { a  a ∈ Z, 50 < a < 105 } .
√
Answer: The set of accumulation points for S is the closed interval [ 2, 100].


(c) S = { (−1)n 2n−1
n
 n ∈ N }.

Answer: The set of accumulation points for S is the finite set {2, − 2}.

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(d) S = { (−1)n + n
 n ∈ N }.

Answer: The set of accumulation points for S is the finite set {1, − 1}.

(e) S = (3, 6) ∪ (6, 8).

Answer: The set of accumulation points for S is the closed interval [3.8].

(f ) S = the set of rational numbers whose denominator is divisible by 99.

Answer: The set of accumulation points for S is R.

This one is a little tricky. Even though no explanation is asked for, we will give an explana-
tion. First of all, note that 0 is an accumulation point of S. This is because the sequence
{sn }, where sn = 991n for all n ∈ N, consists of distinct elements of S and converges to 0.
We showed in class that the set of accumulation points for Q is R. We showed this by
using the fact that every open interval (a, b) contains infinitely many elements of Q. Recall

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that we proved that fact by showing that, for every ǫ > 0, there exists an element n ∈ N such
that n1 < ǫ. We then considered a suitable multiple m · n1 , where m ∈ Z. In that argument,
we could take n to be a power of 2. It then follows that every open interval contains infinitely
many rational numbers whose denominator is a power of 2. Let T be the set consisting of
all the rational numbers whose denominator is a power of 2. Then, the set of accumulation
points for T is R.
We considered x = 0 above. Now suppose that x ∈ R, but x 6= 0. Consider the element
1/(99x) of R. It must be an accumulation point for the set T . Hence there is a sequence of
distinct elements {tn } of T such that {tn } converges to 1/(99x). We can write tn = an /bn ,
where an ∈ Z and bn is a power of 2. We can assume that none of the tn ’s are 0.
Consider the sequence {sn }, where sn = 1/(99tn ) = bn /(99an ) for all n ∈ N. Since an
and bn are integers, an 6= 0, it follows that sn ∈ Q. Furthermore, since bn is a power of 2, and
hence 99 and bn have no factor in common greater than 1, it follows that the denominator
of sn is divisible by 99. Also, the sequence {sn } converges to x. The terms in that sequence
are distinct elements of the set S. Therefore, x is an accumulation point for the set S.
We have shown that every real number is an accumulation point for the set S.

2. Suppose that S is a subset of R which is bounded above. Let A be the least upper
bound for S. Carefully prove that if A 6∈ S, then A is an accumulation point for S.

Proof. We assume that A is the least upper bound for S, but that A 6∈ S. We will prove
that A is an accumulation point for S. We will use the definition in the textbook. It is easier
to use for proving the result in this question.
Suppose that h > 0. Consider the neighborhood (A−h, A+h) of A. Note that A−h < A.
Therefore, A − h is not an upper bound for S. Therefore, there exists at least one element
x ∈ S such that x > A − h. Since A is an upper bound for S, it follows that x ≤ A. Thus,
A − h < x ≤ A. However, since A 6∈ S and x ∈ S, it follows that x 6= A. Therefore, we have
A − h < x < A. Notice that x ∈ (A − h, A + h).
We have proved that for any h > 0, there exists at least one element x in the neighborhood
(A − h, A + h) such that x ∈ S and x is distinct from A. Thus, according to the definition
on page 515, the point A is an accumulation point for S

3. Are there any subsets S of R which are both closed and open? If so, give such an
example. If not, explain why.

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Answer: One such subset is S = R. First of all, if x ∈ S and (a, b) is any open interval
containing x, then (a, b) ⊆ R = S. This proves that S is open. Secondly, if x is any
accumulation point of S, then x ∈ R = S. Therefore, S is also closed.

4. As we explained in class, the union of any collection of opens sets is also an open set.
Is it true that the union of any collection of closed sets is also a closed set? Justify your
answer.

Answer: The statement is not true. Here is one counterexample. As explained in class, any
finite subset of R is a closed set.
For each k ∈ N, let Sk = { 1/n | n ∈ N, 1 ≤ n ≤ k }. Thus, Sk is a finite set and
therefore Sk is a closed set. We have defined Sk for every positive integer k. Consider that
collection of sets. Each of the sets just defined is a closed set.
Let T be the union of all the sets Sk where k varies over N. Thus,
 
T = 1/n  n ∈ N ,

This is one of the examples discussed in class. The number 0 is an accumulation point for
T . But 0 6∈ T . Therefore, T is not a closed set.

5. Suppose that S and T are nonempty subsets of R and that S ∩ T is nonempty. Assume
that S is an open set, but that T is a closed set. Find examples to illustrate each of the
following three possibilities:

(a) S ∩ T is open,
Answer: Let S = (4, 6) and let T = [3, 8]. Then S is open and T is closed. Furthermore,
S ∩ T = S = (4, 6) and that set is indeed open.

(b) S ∩ T is closed ,
Answer: Let S = R and let T = [3, 5]. Then S is open and T is closed. Furthermore,
S ∩ T = T = [3, 5] and that set is indeed closed.

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(c) S ∩ T is neither open nor closed.
Answer: Let S = (2, 6) and let T = [1, 5]. Then S is open and T is closed. Furthermore,
S ∩ T = (2, 5]. That set is not closed because 2 is an accumulation point and not in the set.
The set (2, 5] is also not open because (2, 5] contains 5, but there is no open interval (a, b)
containing 5 such that (a, b) ⊆ (2, 5].