Continuity definitions are equivalent

From Maths
Jump to: navigation, search

Statement

The definitions of continuity for a function f:(X,d)(Y,d) from one metric space to another is the same as f:(X,J)(Y,K) being continuous (where the topologies are those induced by the metric are the same, that is

  1. aXϵ>0δ>0:xBδ(a)f(x)Bϵ(f(a))
  2. VK:f1(V)J

Proof

Suppose f:(X,J)(Y,K) is continuous.

Let VK - that is V is open within Y

Let xf1(V) be given.

Then because V is open, ϵ>0 such that Bϵ(f(x))V (note that f(x)V by definition of where we choose x from).

But by continuity of f we know that δ>0:aBδ(x)f(a)Bϵ(f(x))V

Thus Bδ(x)f1(V) (as for all a in the ball, the thing f maps it to is in the ball of radius ϵ about f(x)).

Since x was arbitrary we have xf1(V)an open ball containing xf1(V), thus f1(V) is open.

Choose any xX

Let ϵ>0 be given.

As Bϵ(f(x)) is an open set, the hypothesis implies that f1(Bϵ(f(x))) is open in X

Since xf1(Bϵ(f(x))) and f1(Bϵ(f(x))) is open, it is a neighborhood to all of its points, that means

δ>0:Bδ(x)f1(Bϵ(f(x)))

Note: we have now shown that ϵ>0δ>0:Bδ(x)f1(Bϵ(f(x)))

Using the implies and subset relation we see aBδ(x)af1(Bϵ(f(x))) which then f(a)Bϵ(f(x))

Or just aBδ(x)f(a)Bϵ(f(x)))

Thus it is continuous at x, since x was arbitrary, it is continuous.