[Math] Prove that a closed set contains all its limit points

general-topology

The following is the definition of an open set from Rudin's Real and Complex Analysis (3rd edition):

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A closed set would be an open set's complement. From this definition, why would a closed set contain its limit points?

Best Answer

Let $X$ be a topological space and $S$ a closed subset of $X$.

If $x$ is a limit point of $S$, then each open set $U$ with $x \in U$ has the property that $ U \cap (S \setminus \{x\}) \ne \emptyset.$

Now suppose that $x \notin S$. Then $U:= X \setminus S $ is open and $x \in U.$

Then we have $ U \cap (S \setminus \{x\}) \ne \emptyset$ , on the other hand we have $ U \cap (S \setminus \{x\}) = \emptyset$, a contradiction.

So: $x \in S.$