Topology – Prove $\mathbb{R}^2\setminus\mathbb{Q}^2$ is Connected without Path Connectedness

connectednessgeneral-topology

Prove that $\mathbb{R^2}\setminus\mathbb{Q}^2$ is connected.

First of all, I know this was asked many times over in this site.

However I'm looking for a proof that does not use path-connectedness (which I know, but this exercise is from a previous lecture), nor the knowledge that $\mathbb{R}^2\backslash E$, where $E$ is countable, is connected (it's the second part of the exercise).

I tried using disjoint open sets and separated sets, and also using the fact that they should also be the intersection of sets in $\mathbb{R}^2$ and $\mathbb{R}^2\setminus\mathbb{Q}^2$, but I hit a wall there.

I have the feeling I'm forgetting something very basic and obvious, or I may be overcomplicating things.

Best Answer

Hint:

Suppose there are two disjoint open sets $U$ and $V$ whose union is all of $\mathbb{R}^2\setminus\mathbb{Q}^2$.

Consider any line $L$ of the form $\{p\} \times \mathbb{R}$ or $\mathbb{R} \times \{p\}$ for $p \in \mathbb{R}\setminus\mathbb{Q}$.

Show that $L \subset U$ or $L \subset V$.

(Hint: $U \cap L$ and $V \cap L$ are open subsets of $L$ in the subspace topology.)

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