Advanced Calculus Midterm Exam November 8, 2017

1. (a) (4 points) Suppose S is an ordered set, E ⊂ S, and E is bounded above. State the definition of the
sup E.
Solution: γ = sup E if γ has the following properties:
(1) γ is an upper bound of E, i.e. γ ≥ x for each x ∈ E;
(2) if s < γ then s is not an upper bound of E, i.e. if s < γ, then there exists an x ∈ E such that
s < x.
(b) (8 points) Suppose A ⊂ R is nonempty and bounded below by c ∈ R. Let −A = {−x | x ∈ A}.
Prove that inf A = − sup(−A).
Solution: Since A ⊂ R is nonempty and bounded below, β = inf A exists with the following
properties:
(1) β ≤ x for each x ∈ A;
(2) if t > β , then there exists an x ∈ A such that t > x.
Equvalently, we have
(1) −β ≥ −x for each −x ∈ −A;
(2) if s = −t < −β , then there exists an −x ∈ −A such that s = −t < −x.
This implies that β = inf A ⇔ −β = sup(−A), i.e. inf A = − sup(−A).

(c) (4 points) Let S be an ordered set. State the definition when S is said to have the least-upper-bound
property.
Solution: S is said to have the least-upper-bound property if every nonempty, bounded above
subset E ⊂ S has the least upper bound in S, i.e. If E ⊂ S, E is not empty, and E is bounded
above, then sup E exists in S.

2. (a) (8 points) Let X be an infinite set. For p , q ∈ X, define

(
1 if p 6= q,
d(p, q) =
0 if p = q.
Prove that this is a metric.
Solution: Since
(1) d(p, q) = 1 > 0 for any p 6= q ∈ X, and d(p, p) = 0,
(2) d(p, q) = 1 = d(q, p) for any p 6= q ∈ X,
(3) d(p, q) = 1 ≤ d(p, r) + d(r, q) for any p 6= q, r ∈ X and d(p, p) = 0 ≤ d(p, r) + d(r, p) for
any r ∈ X,
the function d is a metric on X.
(b) (8 points) For x , y ∈ R, define
|x − y|
d(x, y) = .
1 + |x − y|
Prove that this is a metric.
Solution: Since
|x − y|
(1) d(x, y) = > 0 for any x 6= y ∈ R, and d(x, x) = 0,
1 + |x − y|
|x − y| |y − x|
(2) d(x, y) = = = d(y, x) for any x, y ∈ R,
1 + |x − y| 1 + |y − x|
(3) d(x, y) − d(x, z) − d(y, z)
Advanced Calculus Midterm Exam (Continued) November 8, 2017

|x − y| |x − z| |z − y|
= − −
1 + |x − y| 1 + |x − z|
1 + |z − y|
|x − y| − |x − z| − |z − y| − 2|x − z| |z − y| − |x − y| |x − z| |z − y|
=
(1 + |x − y|)(1 + |x − z|)(1 + |z − y|)
≤ 0 for any x, y, z ∈ R,
the function d is a metric on R.

3. Let (X, d) be a metric space and let E ⊂ X.

(a) (4 points) State the definition when a point p ∈ X is called a limit point of E.
Solution: A point p ∈ X is called a limit point of the set E if every neighborhood of p contains
a point q 6= p such that q ∈ E, i.e. p is called a limit point of E if Nr (p) ∩ E \ {p} 6= 0/ for every
r > 0.
(b) (8 points) Let E 0 be the set of all limit points of E. Prove that E 0 is closed.
Solution:
0
Method 1:If p ∈ E 0 then for each k ∈ N, ∃ pk ∈ N1/k (p) ∩ E 0 \ {p} 6= 0.
/
0
Since pk ∈ E , ∃ qk ∈ E ∩ N1/k (pk ) \ {pk }
2
=⇒ d(p, qk ) ≤ d(p, pk ) + d(pk , qk ) < ,
k
=⇒ qk ∈ N2/k (p) ∩ E \ {p}
=⇒ N2/k (p) ∩ E \ {p} 6= 0/ ∀ k ∈ N
=⇒ p ∈ E 0
.
0
Hence, E 0 ⊆ E 0 and E 0 is closed.
Method 2: If p ∈/ E 0 then ∃ r > 0 such that

0
Nr (p) ∩ E \ {p} = 0/ =⇒ Nr (p) ∩ E 0 \ {p} = 0/ =⇒ p ∈
/ E0 .

0
Hence, E 0 ⊆ E 0 and E 0 is closed.

c
Method 3: Let p ∈ E 0 . There exists r = r(p) > 0 such that Nr (p) ∩ E \ {p} = 0.
/
For each q ∈ Nr (p), since 0 < r − d(p, q) ≤ r, we have

Nr−d(p,q) (q) ⊂ Nr (p),

and
Nr−d(p,q) (q) ∩ E \ {q} ⊂ Nr (p) ∩ E \ {q} ⊂ {p} \ {q} = 0/
=⇒ Nr−d(p,q) (q) ∩ E \ {q} = 0/

c
=⇒ q ∈ E 0 .

c
Since q is an arbitrary point in Nr (p), we have Nr (p) ⊂ E 0 .

c
c
Hence, p is an interior point of E 0 . Since p is an arbitrary, E 0 is open and E 0 is closed.

(c) (8 points) Prove that E and Ē = E ∪ E 0 have the same limit points.
Solution:
Method 1: Since E 0 is closed by 3(b) and Ē = E ∪ E 0 , we have

0
0
E 0 ⊆ Ē =⇒ Ē = E 0 ∪ E 0 = E 0 .
Method 2:
0
(1) Since E ⊆ Ē, we have E 0 ⊆ Ē .

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Advanced Calculus Midterm Exam (Continued) November 8, 2017

0
(2) For the proof of Ē ⊆ E 0 , we prove it by contradiction.
Suppose there is a limit point p
of Ē which is not a limit point of E.
0
Since Ē = E ∪ E 0 is closed, Ē ⊆ Ē and

0
Ē \ E 0 ⊆ Ē \ E 0 = E ∪ E 0 \ E 0 ⊆ E \ E 0 ,

=⇒
0
if p ∈ Ē \ E 0 =⇒ p ∈ E \ E 0 .
/ E 0 , there exists r > 0 such that
Since p ∈

Nr (p) ∩ E \ {p} = 0.
/

Claim: Nr (p) ∩ E 0 = 0.
/
By assuming the claim, we have

Nr (p) ∩ Ē \ {p} = Nr (p) ∩ E ∪ E 0 \ {p} ⊆ Nr (p) ∩ E \ {p} ∪ Nr (p) ∩ E 0 = 0.

/

0
This contradicts to the assumption that p ∈ Ē .

0
0
Hence, Ē \ E 0 = 0/ which implies that Ē ⊆ E 0 .
Proof of Claim: For each q ∈ Nr (p), since 0 < r − d(p, q) ≤ r, we have

Nr−d(p,q) (q) ∩ E \ {q} ⊂ Nr (p) ∩ E \ {q} ⊂ {p} \ {q} = 0/

=⇒ Nr−d(p,q) (q) ∩ E \ {q} = 0/

=⇒ q ∈/ E 0.
Since q is an arbitrary point in Nr (p), we have Nr (p) ∩ E 0 = 0.
/
This completes the proof of the claim.

4. Let (X, d) be a metric space and let E ⊂ X.

(a) (8 points) Let p ∈ X and r > 0, prove that Nr (p) = {q ∈ X | d(q, p) < r} is open.
Solution: Let q ∈ Nr (p).
Since 0 < r − d(p, q) ≤ r, we have Nr−d(p,q) (q) ⊂ Nr (p). This implies that q is an interior point
of Nr (p).
Since q is an arbitrary point of Nr (p), Nr (p) = {q ∈ X | d(q, p) < r} is open.

(b) (8 points) Let E o be the set of all interior points of E. If G ⊂ E and G is open, prove that G ⊂ E o .
Solution: For each p ∈ G, since G is open and G ⊂ E, there exists r > 0 such that Nr (p) ⊂ G ⊂ E.
This implies that p is an interior point of E whenever p ∈ G. Hence, we have proved that G ⊂ E o .
1
(c) (4 points) Let X = R and for x, y ∈ R define d(x, y) = |x − y|. Suppose E = { | n ∈ N} ∪ (1, 2],
n
find E o and E 0 .
Solution: E o = (1, 2) and E 0 = {0} ∪ [1, 2].

5. Let (X, d) be a metric space and K ⊂ X.

(a) (4 points) State the definition when K is said to be compact.

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Advanced Calculus Midterm Exam (Continued) November 8, 2017

Solution: A subset K of a metric space X is said to be compact if every open cover of K contains
a finite subcover, i.e. A subset K of a metric space X is said to be compact if {Gα } is an open
cover of K, then there are {Gα1 , . . . , Gαn } ⊂ {Gα } such that K ⊂ ∪ni=1 Gαi .

(b) (8 points) If K is compact, prove that K is closed.

Solution: For each p ∈
/ K, since
∞ ∞
[ [ 1
K ⊆ X \ {p} = X \ N1/n (p) = {x ∈ X | d(x, p) > }, {X \ N1/n (p) | n = 1, 2, 3, . . .} forms
n=1 n=1
n
an open cover of K.
The compactness of K implies that there exists a finite subcover {X \ N1/n1 (p), . . . , X \ N1/nl (p)}
l
[
such that K ⊆ X \ N1/ni (p).
i=1
Let m = max{ni | 1 ≤ i ≤ l}. Since X \ N1/ni (p) ⊆ X \ N1/m (p) for each 1 ≤ i ≤ l,
we have
l
[
K⊆ X \ N1/ni (p) ⊆ X \ N1/m (p) =⇒ K ⊆ X \ N1/m (p) =⇒ N1/m (p) ⊆ K c .
i=1

Hence, K c is open and K is closed.

(c) (8 points) If K is compact, prove that K is bounded.

∞
[
Solution: For each p ∈ X, since K ⊆ X = Nn (p), {Nn (p) | n = 1, 2, 3, . . .} forms an open
n=1
cover of K.
The compactness of K implies that there exists a finite subcover {Nn1 (p), . . . , Nnl (p)} such that
l
[
K⊆ Nni (p).
i=1
Let m = max{ni | 1 ≤ i ≤ l}. Since Nni (p) ⊆ Nm (p) for each 1 ≤ i ≤ l,
we have
l
[
K⊆ Nni (p) ⊆ Nm (p) =⇒ K ⊆ Nm (p).
i=1
Hence, K is bounded.
(d) (8 points) If K is compact, F ⊂ K and F is closed in X, prove that F is compact.
Solution: Let {Gα } be an open cover of F. Since F c is open and
[ [
Gα =⇒ K ⊆ X = F ∪ F c ⊆ Gα ∪ F c ,


F⊆
α α

{Gα } ∪ {F c } is an open cover of K.

The compactness of K implies that there exists a finite subcover
n
[
{Gα1 , . . . , Gαn , F c } ⊆ {Gα } ∪ {F c } such that K ⊆ Gαi ∪ {F c }.


i=1
n
[
Since F ⊆ K and F ∩ F c = 0,


/ F⊆ Gαi .
i=1

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Advanced Calculus Midterm Exam (Continued) November 8, 2017

This implies that {Gα1 , . . . , Gαn } is a finite subcover of F.

Therefore, F is compact .

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