Why is my proof that $mathbb R$ is disconnected wrong?












-1












$begingroup$


The definition of connectedness in my notes is:
A topological space $X$ is connected if there does not exist a pair of non empty subsets $U$, $V$ such that $Ucap V=emptyset$ and $Ucup V=X$.



However if I have the subsets $(-infty,0]$ and $(0,infty)$ then these are disjoint and cover $mathbb R$ and hence $mathbb R$ is disconnected.



However $mathbb R$ is clearly connected. Where have I gone wrong?










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$endgroup$








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Open sets. You're missing the point 'open sets'.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:39






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes thank you, that would fix it
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Peterken
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:45










  • $begingroup$
    You're welcome.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:47
















-1












$begingroup$


The definition of connectedness in my notes is:
A topological space $X$ is connected if there does not exist a pair of non empty subsets $U$, $V$ such that $Ucap V=emptyset$ and $Ucup V=X$.



However if I have the subsets $(-infty,0]$ and $(0,infty)$ then these are disjoint and cover $mathbb R$ and hence $mathbb R$ is disconnected.



However $mathbb R$ is clearly connected. Where have I gone wrong?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Open sets. You're missing the point 'open sets'.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:39






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes thank you, that would fix it
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Peterken
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:45










  • $begingroup$
    You're welcome.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:47














-1












-1








-1





$begingroup$


The definition of connectedness in my notes is:
A topological space $X$ is connected if there does not exist a pair of non empty subsets $U$, $V$ such that $Ucap V=emptyset$ and $Ucup V=X$.



However if I have the subsets $(-infty,0]$ and $(0,infty)$ then these are disjoint and cover $mathbb R$ and hence $mathbb R$ is disconnected.



However $mathbb R$ is clearly connected. Where have I gone wrong?










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




The definition of connectedness in my notes is:
A topological space $X$ is connected if there does not exist a pair of non empty subsets $U$, $V$ such that $Ucap V=emptyset$ and $Ucup V=X$.



However if I have the subsets $(-infty,0]$ and $(0,infty)$ then these are disjoint and cover $mathbb R$ and hence $mathbb R$ is disconnected.



However $mathbb R$ is clearly connected. Where have I gone wrong?







general-topology proof-verification elementary-set-theory connectedness






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asked Dec 8 '18 at 11:34









Toby PeterkenToby Peterken

1496




1496








  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Open sets. You're missing the point 'open sets'.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:39






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes thank you, that would fix it
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Peterken
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:45










  • $begingroup$
    You're welcome.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:47














  • 5




    $begingroup$
    Open sets. You're missing the point 'open sets'.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:39






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Yes thank you, that would fix it
    $endgroup$
    – Toby Peterken
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:45










  • $begingroup$
    You're welcome.
    $endgroup$
    – Anik Bhowmick
    Dec 8 '18 at 11:47








5




5




$begingroup$
Open sets. You're missing the point 'open sets'.
$endgroup$
– Anik Bhowmick
Dec 8 '18 at 11:39




$begingroup$
Open sets. You're missing the point 'open sets'.
$endgroup$
– Anik Bhowmick
Dec 8 '18 at 11:39




1




1




$begingroup$
Yes thank you, that would fix it
$endgroup$
– Toby Peterken
Dec 8 '18 at 11:45




$begingroup$
Yes thank you, that would fix it
$endgroup$
– Toby Peterken
Dec 8 '18 at 11:45












$begingroup$
You're welcome.
$endgroup$
– Anik Bhowmick
Dec 8 '18 at 11:47




$begingroup$
You're welcome.
$endgroup$
– Anik Bhowmick
Dec 8 '18 at 11:47










2 Answers
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$begingroup$

With your definition, every space $X$ with at least two points would be disconnected: just take a point $xin X$ and consider $X={x}cup(Xsetminus{x})$.



The definition requires $U$ and $V$ to be disjoint nonempty open sets such that $Ucup V=X$.



The set $(-infty,0]$ is not open.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    0












    $begingroup$

    The subsets that you take are wrong because $(-infty ,0]$ contains a accumulation point of $(0,infty)$.






    share|cite|improve this answer









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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      active

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      active

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      1












      $begingroup$

      With your definition, every space $X$ with at least two points would be disconnected: just take a point $xin X$ and consider $X={x}cup(Xsetminus{x})$.



      The definition requires $U$ and $V$ to be disjoint nonempty open sets such that $Ucup V=X$.



      The set $(-infty,0]$ is not open.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$


















        1












        $begingroup$

        With your definition, every space $X$ with at least two points would be disconnected: just take a point $xin X$ and consider $X={x}cup(Xsetminus{x})$.



        The definition requires $U$ and $V$ to be disjoint nonempty open sets such that $Ucup V=X$.



        The set $(-infty,0]$ is not open.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$
















          1












          1








          1





          $begingroup$

          With your definition, every space $X$ with at least two points would be disconnected: just take a point $xin X$ and consider $X={x}cup(Xsetminus{x})$.



          The definition requires $U$ and $V$ to be disjoint nonempty open sets such that $Ucup V=X$.



          The set $(-infty,0]$ is not open.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          With your definition, every space $X$ with at least two points would be disconnected: just take a point $xin X$ and consider $X={x}cup(Xsetminus{x})$.



          The definition requires $U$ and $V$ to be disjoint nonempty open sets such that $Ucup V=X$.



          The set $(-infty,0]$ is not open.







          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered Dec 8 '18 at 11:55









          egregegreg

          181k1485203




          181k1485203























              0












              $begingroup$

              The subsets that you take are wrong because $(-infty ,0]$ contains a accumulation point of $(0,infty)$.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                0












                $begingroup$

                The subsets that you take are wrong because $(-infty ,0]$ contains a accumulation point of $(0,infty)$.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  0












                  0








                  0





                  $begingroup$

                  The subsets that you take are wrong because $(-infty ,0]$ contains a accumulation point of $(0,infty)$.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  The subsets that you take are wrong because $(-infty ,0]$ contains a accumulation point of $(0,infty)$.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Dec 8 '18 at 11:52









                  Fernando cañizaresFernando cañizares

                  11




                  11






























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