Which of the following is a counterexample to the statement that every quotient space of a Hausdorff space is a Hausdorff space?
Options:
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Lemma. Every singleton set in a Hausdorff space is closed. Proof. For any singleton set { p } and an arbitrary point q that is not p , there exist disjoint open sets U , V such that p ∈ U , q ∈ V . Vary the point p and take the union of the V s, we have an open set that does not contain the point p and contain any point other than p , the complement of which, the singleton set { p } , is closed.
Theorem (Necessary Condition for a Quotient Space to be Hausdorff). If the quotient space S / ∼ is Hausdorff, then the elements of any equivalence class form a closed set in S .
Proof. If π : S → S / ∼ is the quotient projection map and the quotient itself is Hausdorff, then every singleton set [ p ] in S / ∼ is closed; take the inverse image of π and the desired result follows.
Apply the contrapositive of the theorem, we know Option C is definitely a counterexample. Also, more empirically, the points 0 and [ ( 0 , + ∞ ) ] are the points that cannot be separated by disjoint open sets.
That the other two options are Hausdorff can be shown through the definition of Hausdorff space and quotient space.