Closure and interior of a connected set $A$

general-topologyproof-verification

Let $\overline{A}$ be the closure of $A$, and $A^{\circ}$ be the interior of $A$.

We assume that $A$ be connected.

1. Is $\overline{A}$ connected?

My answer is yes. Because, if $\overline{A}$ is not connected, we can write $$\overline{A}=B\cup C$$ such that $B,C$ are separated. i.e., no limit point of $B$ is in $C$ and vice versa. Also, both $B,C$ are clopen in $\overline{A}$. And note that $B,C$ are non-empty.

WLOG, suppose $A\subset B$. Since $$\overline{A}=A\cup A'$$ where $A'$ is the set of all limit points of $A$, $C$ must contain a limit point $l$ of $A$. But then, since $C$ is open, $C$ is a neighborhood of $l$ that doesn't intersect $A$; which makes $l$ not a limit point of $A$. A contradiction. So $A\not\subset B$ and by the same process, $A\not \subset C$. Hence $$A=(A\cap B)\cup(A\cap C)$$ separated by two non-empty clopen (in $A$) sets, thus $A$ is not connected.

So we have the contrapositive statement "$\overline{A}$ not connected $\implies$ $A$ not connected", which proves "$A$ connected $\implies$ $\overline{A}$ connected".

2. Is $A^{\circ}$ connected?

My answer is no. Consider $$A=\{(x,y)\in \mathbb{R}^2:x^2+y^2\leq 1\}\cup\{(x,y)\in\mathbb{R}^2:(x-2)^2+y^2\leq 1\}$$

two circles tangent to each other at $(1,0)$. Clearly this $A$ is connected. Then the interior would be

$$A^{\circ}=\{(x,y)\in \mathbb{R}^2:x^2+y^2< 1\}\cup\{(x,y)\in\mathbb{R}^2:(x-2)^2+y^2< 1\}$$

a union of two disjoint open sets. Which is separated. Thus in some cases $A^{\circ}$ is not connected even if $A$ is connected.

Does this argument make correct proof?

Best Answer

Your proof of the first assertion is incomplete. How do you know that $A\subset B$ or $A\subset C$? Yes, it is true, but you did not justify it.

Your counterexample for the second assertion is correct. Another possibility would be $\{(x,y)\in\mathbb R^2\,|\,xy\geqslant0\}$, for instance.

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