Prove that there exists $x \in \mathbb{R}^n$ such that $A \subseteq \overline{B(x,\text{diam}(A))}$

calculusmetric-spacesreal-analysissolution-verification

The problem is

Show that if $0 < \text{diam}(A) < \infty$ , then
there exists $x \in \mathbb{R}^n$ such that $A \subseteq \overline{B(x,\text{diam}(A))}$

My proof:

Since the definition of diameter ensures that $A$ is nonempty, there exists an $x \in A.$ Now, let $a \in A$ be arbitrarily chosen, then

$$ d(a,x) \leq \text{diam}(A) \implies a\in \overline{B(x,\text{diam}(A))}.$$ We conclude that $A \subseteq \overline{B(x,\text{diam}(A))}$.

It seems too short as a problem, and I suspect that I was making some wrong argument. Could anyone help me check my solution? Thanks.

Best Answer

In short: Your solution is correct.


You also already know that the optimal radius is less than that and we can go on step in that direction: Let $D=\operatorname{diam}(A)$. As also $\operatorname{diam}(\overline A)=D$, we may assume wlog that $A$ is compact, so there are points $a,b\in A$ with $d(a,b)=D$. Then $$A\subseteq\overline{B(a,D)}\cap \overline{B(b,D)} $$ The lens shape on the right can be covered from its center $c=\frac{a+b}2$ with radius $r$ given by Pythagoras, i.e., $(D/2)^2+r^2=D^2$.$^1$ In other words, this already improves our result to $$ A\subset \overline{B\bigl(\tfrac{a+b}2,\tfrac{\sqrt3}2D\bigr)}$$


$^1$ That is: A quick computation shows that $(x-a)^2\le D^2 \land (x-b)^2\le D^2$ implies $(x-c)^2\le \frac34 D^2$

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