zero set of a topological space
Let X be a topological space and f∈C(X), the ring of continuous functions on X. The level set
of f at r∈ℝ is the set f-1(r):={x∈X∣f(x)=r}. The zero set of f is defined to be the level set of f at 0. The zero set of f is denoted by Z(f). A subset A of X is called a zero set of X if A=Z(f) for some f∈C(X).
Properties. Let X be a topological space and, unless otherwise specified, f∈C(X).
-
1.
Any zero set of X is closed. The converse
is not true. However, if X is a metric space, then any closed set
A is a zero set: simply define f:X→ℝ by f(x):=d(x,A) where d is the metric on X.
-
2.
The level set of f at r is the zero set of f-ˆr, where ˆr is the constant function valued at r.
-
3.
Z(ˆr)=X iff r=0. Otherwise, Z(ˆr)=∅. In fact, Z(f)=∅ iff f is a unit in the ring C(X).
-
4.
Since f(a)=0 iff |f(a)|<1n for all n∈ℕ, and each {x∈X∣|f(x)|<1n} is open in X, we see that
Z(f)=∞⋂n=1{x∈X∣|f(x)|<1n}. This shows every zero set is a Gδ (http://planetmath.org/G_deltaSet) set.
-
5.
For any f∈C(X), Z(f)=Z(fn)=Z(|f|), where n is any positive integer.
-
6.
Z(fg)=Z(f)∪Z(g).
-
7.
Z(f)∩Z(g)=Z(f2+g2)=Z(|f|+|g|).
-
8.
{x∈X∣0≤f(x)} is a zero set, since it is equal to Z(f-|f|).
-
9.
If C(X) is considered as an algebra over ℝ, then Z(rf)=Z(f) iff r≠0.
The complement of a zero set is called a cozero set. In other words, a cozero set looks like {x∈X∣f(x)≠0} for some f∈C(X). By the last property above, a cozero set also has the form pos(f):={x∈X∣0<f(x)} for some f∈C(X).
Let A be a subset of C(X). The zero set of A is defined as the set of all zero sets of elements of A: Z(A):={Z(f)∣f∈A}. When A=C(X), we also write Z(X):=Z(C(X)) and call it the family of zero sets of X. Evidently, Z(X) is a subset of the family of all closed Gδ sets of X.
Remarks.
-
•
By properties 6. and 7. above, Z(X) is closed under set union and set intersection
operations. It can be shown that Z(X) is also closed under countable
intersections.
-
•
It is also possible to define a zero set of X to be the zero set of some f∈C*(X), the subring of C(X) consisting of the bounded
continuous functions
into ℝ. However, this definition turns out to be equivalent
to the one given for C(X), by the observation that Z(f)=Z(|f|∧ˆ1).
References
- 1 L. Gillman, M. Jerison: Rings of Continuous Functions, Van Nostrand, (1960).
Title | zero set of a topological space |
---|---|
Canonical name | ZeroSetOfATopologicalSpace |
Date of creation | 2013-03-22 16:56:06 |
Last modified on | 2013-03-22 16:56:06 |
Owner | CWoo (3771) |
Last modified by | CWoo (3771) |
Numerical id | 10 |
Author | CWoo (3771) |
Entry type | Definition |
Classification | msc 54C50 |
Classification | msc 54C40 |
Classification | msc 54C35 |
Defines | zero set |
Defines | level set |
Defines | cozero set |