Create irrational endpoints of open sets in $\mathbb{R}$ from countable basis

general-topology

I read that $\mathbb{R}$ has a countable basis (i.e. it's second countable). The countable basis consists of open intervals with rational endpoints. Now, from this countable basis, how do you construct open sets (intervals) with irrational endpoints?

Best Answer

Let $(u_n)$ be a descending sequence of rationals converging to $a$.

Let $(v_n)$ be an ascending sequence of rationals converging to $b$.

$$(a,b) = \bigcup_n (u_n, v_n)\text{.}$$