Separable Spaces

Unit 11

Separable spaces

§1 Definition and Examples.

§2 Properties.

§3 Solved problems.

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Unit 11: Separable spaces

§1 Definition and Examples

We know that a subset E of a topological space
,  is dense in X if   .
viz. the set Q of all rational numbers is dense in

,  .

Definition 1.1: A topological space
,  is called separable if there exists a countable dense
subset of X.

Examples 1.2:
Separable spaces.
1)

,  is a separable space as the set of all rational numbers Q is a countable dense subset
of
.
2) Let X be a countable set and
,  be discrete topological space. Then
,  is a
separable spaces as    and X is a countable set.
3) Let
,  be a co finite topological space and let X be an uncountable set. For any
countable set A of X,    (since the only closed set containing A is X). Hence
, 
is a separable space.
4) Let X be an uncountable set and  be the discrete topology on X. Then
,  is not a
separable space as X is the only dense subset of X. In particularly, the discrete
topological space

,  is not a separable space.
Note that the discrete topological space is separable if and only if X is a countable set.

Non separable spaces.

1) Discrete topological space defined on uncountable set  is a non-separable space.
2) Co-countable topological space
,  defined on an uncountable set  is not a separable
space.
3) Let  be any uncountable set and   .
    exclusion topology on  i.e.        |   .

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Let if possible  is a separable space.

Hence  a countable set  such that   . Select any      ,    . [ This is
possible as    is an uncountable set ]. Then    and    imply    .
As   is an open set containing , we get         . But as      , we
have       . Thus          ; a contradiction.
Hence our assumption is wrong .Therefore
,  is not a separable.

§2 Properties
Theorem 2.1: Property of being a separable space is a topological property.
Proof: - Let
,  be a separable space. Let
 ,   be any topological space. Let !:  #  be
a homeomorphism. To prove that
 ,   is a separable space.
Let
,  be a separable space. Hence  a countable subset A of X such that   . As ! is

onto, !    . !:  #  being continuos we get ! / 0  ! /0 (see Theorem …

Continuous function). Hence ! /0  ! 
/0 implies   ! 
/0 1. 2.   ! /0 . Thus ! /0 is a
countable dense subset of  . Hence  is a separable space. Thus homeomorphic image
 ,  
of a separable space
,  is a separable space. Hence being a separable space is a topological
property.

Theorem 2.2: Every second axiom space is a separable space.

Proof:- Let
,  be a second axiom space. Hence there exists a countable base say
3  45 | 6  7 for . Define    85  45 | 6  7 .
Then A is a countable subset of X.
Claim that   .
Let    and G be any open set containing . Hence by the definition of base,  6  9 such
that   45  :. Select 85  45 such that 85  . Then 85  :     implies  is a limit
of A. Thus    implies   . Thus there exists a countable dense subset A of X. Hence

,  is a separable space.

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A property of a space is said to be hereditarily separable if each subspace of the space is

separable.
Theorem 2.3: Every second axiom space is hereditarily separable.
Proof:- Let
,  be a second axiom space. Let
;,   be a subspace of
, . As every
sub-space of a second axiom space is a second axiom space, we get
;,   is a second axiom
space (see Unit (9) Theorem 1.4).
By Theorem 2.2 ,
;,   is a separable space. Thus each subspace of a second axiom space is
separable. Hence the result.

Theorem 2.4: Any topological space is a subspace of a separable space.

Proof:- Let
,  be any topological space and ∞  . Define     ∞ and
       :  ∞ | :  .
I] To prove that  is a topology on  .
(i)    and    .
(ii)  , 4   =     ∞ and 4  4  ∞ for , 4  
=   4    4  ∞   as   4  .
(iii) Let :>   , ?  Λ. Then :>  :>  ∞ , where :>   ; B?  Λ.

Then C :>  C/ :>  ∞0  EC :> F  ∞.

>D >D >D

As C :>   . We get C :>  

>D >D

From (i), (ii) and (iii) we get  is a topology on  .

II]
,  is a subspace of
 ,   as   :   | :    and    .

III] 
∞   . Let      ∞ and :   with   : .
:  ∞      ∞ implies x is a limit point of ∞.
Thus each   ∞   is a limit point of ∞. Hence   ∞   .
As 
∞   ∞    ∞  ∞     .
IV] As ∞ is a countable dense set in  , we get
 ,   is a separable space.

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Thus given any space
,  there exists a separable space
 ,   such that
,  is a
subspace of
 ,  .

Remark: As any topological space is a subspace of a separable space, subspace of a separable

space need not be a separable space.

Theorem 2.5: A metric space is separable if and only if it is a second axiom space.
Proof:- As if part follows by Theorem 2.3 we prove ‘Only if part’ only.
Only if part –
Let
,   be a metric space and let  denote the topology induced by  on X. Hence
   :   | B   :  G H 0 such that J , G  : .
Given
,  is a separable space. To prove that
,  is a second axiom space.
As X is separable,  a countable dense set say A in X.
Let    K , L , M , … …  . Then   .
1
Define 3  OJ P5 , S T 5  , R, 6  9U . Then 3 is a countable set and 3  .
R
To prove that 3 is a base for .
(1) 3  .
(2) Let :   and   :. By the definition of  ,  G H 0 such that   J  , G  :.

. Then J Y , VZ  J Y , LZ  J, G.

K X K X
Select R  7 such that V
W L

As   ,  is a limit point of . Hence   J Y , VZ and J Y , VZ   will imply

K K

J Y , VZ       .
K

Let 5  J Y , VZ  . To prove that J Y5 , VZ  J , G.

K K

Let [  J Y5 , VZ. [  J Y5 , VZ =  5 , [ W V .

K K K

Hence,   , [ W  , 5  \ 5 , [

=   , [  W V \ V
K K K
…… ]since 5  J Y , VZ^

=   , [  W V
L

=   , [ W G …… ]since
K X
W L^
V

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= [  J , G .
K K
This proves J Y5 , VZ  J Y , VZ.

As J Y , Z  J, G  :, we get J Y5 , Z  :.

K K
V V
K K
Thus given :   and   :,  J Y5 , Z  3 such that J Y5 , Z  :.
V V

Hence, from (1) and(2) we get, the countable family 3 forms a base for the topology 
.Hence,
,   is a second axiom space.

Theorem 2.6: In a separable space any countable family mutually disjoint open sets is countable.
Proof:- Let
,  be a separable space. As  is separable space there exists a countable dense
set say D in . Let _ denote the family of mutually disjoint open sets in .
To prove that _ is countable.
For :, `  _ , :  `   , 1! :  `.
Case (1):   _.
b   = :  a   for any :  _. Select c  :  a, B :  _.
a
Define !: _ # a by ! :   c .
Obviously ! is onto.
!:   ! ` = c  d = :  `   = :  ` … 8[ 2!161e1f6 f! _ .
This shows that ! is one-one.
As !: _ # a is one-one and onto and a is countable we get _ is countable.
Case (2):   _.
Applying the case (1) for the family _   we get the family _   is countable.
And hence _  _     is countable.

§3 Solved problems
Problem 1: Show that being a separable space is not a hereditary property.
Solution: Let  be an uncountable set and   .
    inclusion topology on .
I)
,  is a separable space.
Consider   . Claim that   .

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Select any     . Then any open set : containing  must contain . Hence
:     and hence :     
       . But this shows that  is a limit point of . Thus     .
Hence             .
Thus  is dense in . As  is a countable, dense subset of ,  is separable space.
II) Define ;    . Then the subspace
;,   is the discrete topological space.
Claim:
;,   is not a separable.
Let if possible
;,   is separable space. Hence there exists a countable dense set say 
in ;. But since
;,   is the discrete topological space, each subset of ; is closed in ;.
Hence    (since   ; as  is countable and ; is uncountable). This shows that our
assumption is wrong. Hence
;,   is not a separable space.
Hence being a separable space is not a hereditary property.

Problem 2: Give an example to show that every separable space need not be a Lindelof
space.
Solution:- Let  be an uncountable set and   .
    inclusion topology on .
I)
,  is a separable space.(see Problem 1)
II)  is not a Lindelof space.
Consider the family g,  |   h. This family of open sets forms an open cover
for . But this open cover has no countable sub-cover for , as  is an uncountable
set. This shows that
,  is not a Lindelof space.
Hence every separable space need not be a Lindelof space.

Problem 3: Give an example to show that every Lindelof space need not be a separable
space.
Solution: -Let  be any uncountable set and   .
    exclusion topology on  i.e.        |   .
I)
,  is a compact space.
Let :> | ?  Λ be any open cover of .

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Then   C :> and    will imply   :>i for some ?j  Λ .

>D

But by definition of  , :>i  . Hence, the open cover :> | ?  Λ of  has a finite
sub-cover g:>i h of .
This shows that
,  is a compact space.
II)
,  is a Lindelof space.
As every compact space is a Lindelof space we get
,  is a Lindelof space.
III)
,  is not a separable space.
Let if possible  is a separable space.
Hence  a countable set  such that   . Select any      ,    . [ This is
possible as    is an uncountable set ]. Then    and    imply    .
As   is an open set containing , we get         . But as      , we
have       . Thus          ; a contradiction.Hence our assumption is
wrong.
Therefore
,  is not a separable. Thus there exists a Lindelof space which not a
separable space.

Problem 4: Show that for a metric space
,  , the following statements are equivalent:
(1) The metric space  is separable.
(2) The metric space  is a Lindelok f space.
(3) The metric space  is a second axiom space.
Solution:-We know a metric space is separable if and only if it is a second axiom space and a
metric space is a Lindelok f if and only if it is a second axiom space.
Hence for a metric space
,  , the given three statements are equivalent.

Problem 5: Show that every subspace of a separable metric space is separable.

Solution: -Let  be a separable metric space and let ; be its subspace. Then  is a second axiom
space (see Theorem 2.5). As subspace of a second axiom space is a second axiom space we get ;
is a second axiom space (see Unit (9) Theorem 1.4)
This shows that any subspace of a separable metric space is a separable metric space.

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Problem 6: Show that the open subspace of a separable space is separable.

Solution: Let
,  be a separable space and let
;,   be its open subspace. Then as ; is open
is open in ,   .
As  is a separable space,  a countable dense set say  in  i.e.   .
Define 4    ;. Then 4 is countable subset of ;.
Claim: 4  ;.
Let [  ;. Let : be any open set in ;. Then :   and [  : .
As [   , we get, :    [  
i.e. :  ;    [  
i.e. :  ;    [  
i.e. :  4  [  .
But this shows that [  ; is a limit point of 4. Hence 4  ;.

Problem 7: Show that continuous image of a separable space is a separable space.

Solution: - Let
,  be a separable space. Let
 ,   be any topological space.
Let !:  #  be an onto continuous mapping.
To prove that
 ,   is a separable space.
Let
,  be a separable space. Hence  a countable subset A of X such that   . As f is onto,

!    . !:  #  being continuous we get !/ 0  ! /0 (See Unit (5) Theorem 2.5).

Hence ! /0  ! 
/0 implies   ! 
/0 1. 2.   ! /0 . Thus !/0 is a countable dense
subset of  . Hence  is a separable space. Thus continuous image
 ,   of a separable space

,  is a separable space. Continuous image of a separable space is a separable space.

Exercises ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
State whether the following statements are true or false.
1) Every Lindelof space is a separable space.
2) Every separable space is a Lindelof space.
3) Every metric space is a separable space.
4) Every subspace of a separable space is a separable space.

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5) Every discrete topological space is a separable space.

6) Co-finite topological space defined on an uncountable set is a separable space.
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