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finite intersection property (Definition)

A collection $ \mathcal{A}=\{A_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in I}$ of subsets of a set $ X$ is said to have the finite intersection property, abbreviated f.i.p., if every finite subcollection $ \{A_1,A_2,\ldots,A_n\}$ of $ \mathcal{A}$ satisifes $ \bigcap_{i=1}^nA_i\neq\emptyset$.

The finite intersection property is most often used to give the following equivalent condition for the compactness of a topological space (a proof of which may be found here):

Proposition   A topological space $ X$ is compact if and only if for every collection $ \mathcal{C}=\{C_\alpha\}_{\alpha\in J}$ of closed subsets of $ X$ having the finite intersection property, $ \bigcap_{\alpha\in J}C_\alpha\neq\emptyset$.

An important special case of the preceding is that in which $ \mathcal{C}$ is a countable collection of non-empty nested sets, i.e., when we have

$\displaystyle C_1\supset C_2\supset C_3\supset\cdots$.    

In this case, $ \mathcal{C}$ automatically has the finite intersection property, and if each $ C_i$ is a closed subset of a compact topological space, then, by the proposition, $ \bigcap_{i=1}^\infty C_i\neq\emptyset$.

The f.i.p. characterization of compactness may be used to prove a general result on the uncountability of certain compact Hausdorff spaces, and is also used in a proof of Tychonoff's Theorem.

Bibliography

1
J. Munkres, Topology, 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, 1975.



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See Also: compact, intersection, finite

Other names:  finite intersection condition, f.i.c., f.i.p.
Also defines:  finite intersection property
Keywords:  compact, intersection, finite
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Cross-references: proof of Tychonoff's theorem, Hausdorff spaces, characterization, countable, closed subsets, compact, topological space, finite, subsets, collection
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This is version 14 of finite intersection property, born on 2003-04-12, modified 2007-06-22.
Object id is 4178, canonical name is FiniteIntersectionProperty.
Accessed 9260 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC54D30 (General topology :: Fairly general properties :: Compactness)

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