Verifying proof that $F\subseteq\mathbb{R^n}$ is closed if and only if every convergent sequence $x^{(k)}\in\mathbb{R^n}$

real-analysissolution-verification

I wish to verify my proof for the problem posed below, please. Thank you!
$\def\n{{\mathbf n}}
\def\x{{\mathbf x}}
\def\r{{\mathbf r}}
\def\y{{\mathbf y}}
\def\R{{\mathbb R}}
\def\Rhat{{\widehat{\R}}}
\def\w{{\mathbf w}}
\def\X{{\mathcal X}}
\def\Y{{\mathcal Y}}
\def\T{{\mathcal T}}
\def\S{{\mathcal S}}
\def\O{{\mathcal O}}$

Prove that $F\subseteq\R^n$ is closed if and only if every convergent sequence $\x^{(k)}\in\R^n$ such that for all $k$, $\x^{(k)}\in F$
has its limit in $F$, that is, if $\x^{(k)}\to\x$ then $\x\in F$.

$\textbf{Solution:}$

$(\leftarrow)$ Assume, every sequence $\x^{(k)}$ converges in $F$. We wish to prove $F$ is closed. Let $F$ be not closed then there exists $\x$ which a limit point of $F$. Since $\x$ is a limit point of $F$, so, there exists a sequence $\x^{(n)}$ of $F$ such that $\x^{(n)} \to \x$ and $x\notin F$, which a contradiction to the supposition. Hence, $F$ is closed.

$(\rightarrow)$ Assume that $F$ is closed. We wish to prove every sequence $\x^{(n)}$ of $F$ converges to $\x$ in $F$. By definition, $d(\x^{(n)}, \x) < \epsilon$ for all $n\ge N$; for all $n\ge N$, $\x^{(n)} \in B(\x,\epsilon)$ [*].

If possible, assume $\x\notin F$ then $\x \in F^c.$ Since $F$ is closed then $F^c$ is open. So $\x$ is an interior point of $F^c$. So, there exists $\epsilon > 0$ such that $B(\x, \epsilon) \subseteq F^c$ [**].

However, from [*] and [**], $\x^{(n)} \in B(\x, \epsilon) \subseteq F^c$ for all $n\ge N$, implying $\x^{(n)} \in F^c$ for all $n\ge N$, which is a contradiction as $\x^{(n)} \in F$ for all $n\ge N$. So our supposition is wrong, implying $\x\in F$. Thus, every convergent sequence of $F$ converges in $F$.

Best Answer

I suppose you are working with standard topology.

In your first implication you are assuming $F$ closed without saying it. The conclusion depends on your definition of closed set, which is not clear.

Another way to say this is the following: since $F$ is closed its complement is open in $\mathbb{R}^n$, so if $x \not \in F$, then $x \in \mathbb{R}^n \setminus F$, which is open. Therefore you can find a ball $B$ of radius $r>0$ small enough and centered at $x$ such that $B \subset \mathbb{R}^n \setminus F$. But this ball must then contain infinitely many elements of the sequence because of the definition of limit, which is a contradiction. Thus $x \in F$.

About the second implication I will not say much because you did not prove anything: "every point of $F$ is contained in $F$" is always true, so you cannot deduce that $F$ is closed.

===============================================================

First part

Avoid to name a generic sequence with the name of a specific one. So do not say "assume every sequence $x^k$ in $F$" [...] there exists a sequence $x^n$ [...]". This is confusing.

Usually you do not need parentheses for the indices of the elements of a sequence, so $x^k$ or $x_k$ are better than $x^{(k)}$.

You still do not state your definition of closed set.

That there is an element $x$ in $F$ which is the limit point of a sequence does not follow from $F$ not being closed, but from your assumption. So avoid the sentence "Let $F$ not be closed, then [...]".

Finally, it is not clear why you get a contradiction.

Second part

Avoid to start with "if possible, assume", say instead "assume by contradiction". The rest looks like what I did above.