153 Topological Space

A topological space is a set equipped with a topology that is used to study continuity of mappings without requiring a metric.

Definition (Topological Space) A topological space is a pair \((X, \mathcal{T})\) on \(X\), where

  • \(X\) is a set
  • \(\mathcal{T}\) is a topology

153.1 Elementary Example

153.1.1 Simple

A topological space is a pair \((X,\tau)\) with \(\tau\) a topology on \(X\).

\[ X = \{ 1,\ 2,\ 3 \} \]

\[ \tau = \{ \emptyset,\ \{1\},\ X \} \]

\[ (X,\tau) \]

where

  • \(X\) is the set.
  • \(\tau\) is the topology.
  • \((X,\tau)\) is the topological space.

153.1.2 General

On four points, a larger topology still makes a topological space.

\[ X = \{ 1,\ 2,\ 3,\ 4 \} \]

\[ \tau = \{ \emptyset,\ \{1\},\ \{1,2\},\ \{1,2,3\},\ X \} \]

\[ (X,\tau) \]

where

  • open sets are exactly the members of \(\tau\).