n = 1 ⋂ m A n = ∅
If the above equation is true for all natural numbers m , then must the following expression also be true? n = 1 ⋂ ∞ A n = ∅
Details: A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , … are sets and ∅ denotes the empty set.
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I think I had seen exactly this particular example in one of my real analysis books a few months ago, although I'm not sure about it. Anyway, here's a try at a proof:
Denote by { A n } n ≥ 1 the class of open intervals where A n is defined as A n : = ( 0 , n 1 ) ∀ n ∈ Z + .
Lemma: ∀ m , n ∈ Z + , m < n ⟺ A n ⊂ A m
Proof. ∀ m , n ∈ Z + , 0 < m < n ⟺ m 1 > n 1 > 0
Hence, we can write A m = A n ∪ [ n 1 , m 1 ) ⊃ A n ⟺ A n ⊂ A m .
Using the above lemma, we have,
A 1 ⊃ A 2 ⊃ ⋯ ⊃ A m ∀ m ∈ Z + ⟹ n = 1 ⋂ m A n = A m = ∅ ∀ m ∈ Z + ⟹ n = 1 ⋂ ∞ A n = m → ∞ lim n = 1 ⋂ m A n = m → ∞ lim A m ⟹ n = 1 ⋂ ∞ A n = m → ∞ lim ( 0 , m 1 ) = ( 0 , 0 ) = ∅
Does this count as a rigorous proof?
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I can't see a single flaw in it, nicely done Prasun, great proof!
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I may be completely wrong... But I don't see how (0,0)=∅ as (0,0) is still an element, where as the empty set is defined as {} - the set which does not contain any elements. I'm quite happy to accept that I'm wrong, I would just like to know why
Thanks
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@Andrew Darlington – ( a , b ) here doesn't denote the ordered pair but denotes the open interval from a to b .
Clarification:
( a , b ) = { x ∈ R ∣ a < x < b }
A better notation might be ] a , b [
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@Prasun Biswas – Exactly, and there exists no real number x that satisfies 0 < x < 0 .
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@Isaac Buckley – Ahh yes! I miss read "open-intervals" in the proof
Thanks!
Splendid work!!!
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Counter example hint: Consider the open intervals ( 0 , n 1 ) .
Feel free to write a proof below.