Exercise · ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-009 · ★★★ Advanced
Is \(\mathbb{Q}\) an open subset of usual \(\mathbb{R}\)?
Choose one option.
A Yes, because it is dense B Yes, because between two rationals there is another C No, because every ball contains irrational numbers D No, because it is countable
Show answer C. No, because every ball contains irrational numbers
← Back to the question
Explanation Every interval \((q-r,q+r)\) contains irrationals, so no ball centered at a rational fits inside \(\mathbb{Q}\). Being dense or countable does not make it open.
A subset \(U\) of a metric space \((X,d)\) is open if every point \(x\in U\) is the center of some open ball \(B(x,r)\) contained in \(U\).
\[\forall x\in U\ \ \exists r>0:\ B(x,r)\subseteq U\]
More practice problems: open set in a metric space ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-001 In usual ℝ, which of these sets is open?ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-002 Let U=(0,3) in ℝ. What is the largest radius r with B(1,r)⊆ U?ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-003 Why is (0,1] not open in usual ℝ?ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-004 In ℝ^2 with the Euclidean distance, which of these sets is open?ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-005 In a metric space (X,d) with the discrete metric, which subsets are open?ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-006 Let U=\x∈ℝ: x^2<4\ with the usual distance. Is it open?ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-007 What is bigcap_n≥1(-tfrac1n,tfrac1n) in ℝ?ZW-OPEN-SET-IN-A-METRIC-SPACE-008 Let U=B(0,1) in ℝ. What is the largest radius r with B(0.9,r)⊆ U?