ProofComplete

Proof: Closed Subset of a Compact Space is Compact

This fundamental result states that a closed subset of a compact space inherits compactness. Combined with the fact that compact subsets of Hausdorff spaces are closed, it gives a complete characterization of compact subsets in compact Hausdorff spaces.


Statement

Theorem5.15Closed Subset of Compact is Compact

Let XX be a compact topological space and C⊆XC \subseteq X a closed subset. Then CC is compact (in the subspace topology).


Proof via Open Covers

Proof

Let {Vα}α∈A\{V_\alpha\}_{\alpha \in A} be an open cover of CC. For each α\alpha, VαV_\alpha is open in the subspace topology on CC, so Vα=Uα∩CV_\alpha = U_\alpha \cap C for some open set UαU_\alpha in XX.

Since CC is closed, X∖CX \setminus C is open in XX. Consider the collection: {Uα}α∈A∪{X∖C}.\{U_\alpha\}_{\alpha \in A} \cup \{X \setminus C\}.

This is an open cover of XX: For any x∈Xx \in X, either x∈Cx \in C (in which case x∈Vα=Uα∩Cx \in V_\alpha = U_\alpha \cap C for some α\alpha, so x∈Uαx \in U_\alpha) or x∉Cx \notin C (so x∈X∖Cx \in X \setminus C).

Extract a finite subcover: Since XX is compact, there exist α1,…,αn∈A\alpha_1, \ldots, \alpha_n \in A such that: X=Uα1∪⋯∪Uαn∪(X∖C).X = U_{\alpha_1} \cup \cdots \cup U_{\alpha_n} \cup (X \setminus C).

Restrict to CC: Intersecting both sides with CC: C=(Uα1∩C)∪⋯∪(Uαn∩C)∪((X∖C)∩C)⏟=∅=Vα1∪⋯∪Vαn.C = (U_{\alpha_1} \cap C) \cup \cdots \cup (U_{\alpha_n} \cap C) \cup \underbrace{((X \setminus C) \cap C)}_{= \emptyset} = V_{\alpha_1} \cup \cdots \cup V_{\alpha_n}.

Therefore {Vα1,…,Vαn}\{V_{\alpha_1}, \ldots, V_{\alpha_n}\} is a finite subcover of the original cover of CC, and CC is compact.

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Alternative Proof via the FIP

Proof

We use the finite intersection property characterization. Let {Fβ}β∈B\{F_\beta\}_{\beta \in B} be a collection of closed subsets of CC (closed in the subspace topology) with the FIP. Since CC is closed in XX, each FβF_\beta is also closed in XX.

The collection {Fβ}\{F_\beta\} (viewed as subsets of XX) has the FIP: any finite intersection Fβ1∩⋯∩Fβn≠∅F_{\beta_1} \cap \cdots \cap F_{\beta_n} \neq \emptyset (this holds since FIP is the same regardless of the ambient space).

But wait: we need {Fβ}\{F_\beta\} together with CC to have the FIP in XX. Consider the collection {Fβ}β∪{C}\{F_\beta\}_{\beta} \cup \{C\} in XX. Each Fβ⊆CF_\beta \subseteq C, so Fβ1∩⋯∩Fβn∩C=Fβ1∩⋯∩Fβn≠∅F_{\beta_1} \cap \cdots \cap F_{\beta_n} \cap C = F_{\beta_1} \cap \cdots \cap F_{\beta_n} \neq \emptyset. This collection has the FIP.

Since XX is compact, by the FIP characterization: (⋂β∈BFβ)∩C=⋂β∈BFβ≠∅\left(\bigcap_{\beta \in B} F_\beta\right) \cap C = \bigcap_{\beta \in B} F_\beta \neq \emptyset (the last equality since Fβ⊆CF_\beta \subseteq C).

So ⋂Fβ≠∅\bigcap F_\beta \neq \emptyset, and CC is compact by the FIP characterization.

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Converse and Complement

Theorem5.16Compact in Hausdorff Implies Closed

If XX is Hausdorff and K⊆XK \subseteq X is compact, then KK is closed.

Proof

We show X∖KX \setminus K is open. Let x∈X∖Kx \in X \setminus K. For each k∈Kk \in K, the Hausdorff property yields disjoint open sets Uk∋xU_k \ni x and Vk∋kV_k \ni k. The collection {Vk}k∈K\{V_k\}_{k \in K} is an open cover of KK. By compactness, there is a finite subcover {Vk1,…,Vkn}\{V_{k_1}, \ldots, V_{k_n}\}.

Set U=Uk1∩⋯∩UknU = U_{k_1} \cap \cdots \cap U_{k_n}. Then UU is open, x∈Ux \in U, and U∩(Vk1∪⋯∪Vkn)=∅U \cap (V_{k_1} \cup \cdots \cup V_{k_n}) = \emptyset. Since K⊆Vk1∪⋯∪VknK \subseteq V_{k_1} \cup \cdots \cup V_{k_n}, we have U∩K=∅U \cap K = \emptyset, i.e., U⊆X∖KU \subseteq X \setminus K.

Thus X∖KX \setminus K is open, so KK is closed.

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Combining the Results

Theorem5.17Compact Subsets of Compact Hausdorff Spaces

In a compact Hausdorff space XX, a subset KK is compact if and only if KK is closed.

Proof

(⇒\Rightarrow): Compact in Hausdorff ⇒\Rightarrow closed (Theorem 5.16).

(⇐\Leftarrow): Closed in compact ⇒\Rightarrow compact (Theorem 5.15).

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ExampleApplications
  1. The set {1/n:n∈Z+}∪{0}\{1/n : n \in \mathbb{Z}^+\} \cup \{0\} is compact in R\mathbb{R} (closed and bounded by Heine-Borel, or directly: closed subset of [0,1][0, 1]).

  2. The Cantor set C⊆[0,1]C \subseteq [0, 1] is compact (closed subset of a compact space).

  3. The set Z⊆R\mathbb{Z} \subseteq \mathbb{R} is closed but not compact (closed but not bounded).

  4. The set (0,1)⊆[0,1](0, 1) \subseteq [0, 1] is not compact (not closed in [0,1][0, 1]).

RemarkBeyond Hausdorff Spaces

Without the Hausdorff assumption, compact subsets need not be closed. For example, in R\mathbb{R} with the cofinite topology, every subset is compact (any open cover has a finite subcover since each complement is finite), but not every subset is closed. In this case, "compact ⇒\Rightarrow closed" fails.

This is why many authors define compactness to include the Hausdorff condition (calling the general notion "quasi-compact"). We follow the convention where compactness does not imply Hausdorff, but many key theorems require both.