Compact Sets, Closed and Bounded in Rn

Equivalence Principle

If S is a metric space, or a set within a larger metric space, the comcepts of compact, countably compact, and sequentially compact are equivalent. Let's seee why this is so.

Every metric space is first countable, and that makes countably compact and sequentially compact equivalent. We only need show compact = countably compact.

Assume S is countably compact. Equivalently, every sequence has a cluster point. We're going to prove a lemma about finite sets, then we will show S is compact.

Suppose, for a given ε, every finite set of points remains farther than ε from some point in S. As long as the set is finite, we can't get close to some parts of S. Build a sequence p1 p2 p3 etc, such that each point is at least ε away from all the earlier points. If x is a cluster point of this sequence, than there are infinitely many points within ½ε of x, which is impossible. We have built a sequence with no cluster point, and that contradicts the fact that S is countably compact. Therefore every ε has a finite set of points, such that all of S is within ε of the points in that finite set.

Set ε = 1/n, and find a finite set Wn for ε. Let U be the union of these finite sets Wn. Note that U is a countable set. Furthermore, the center of an open ball is always close to something in U. In other words, every open ball intersects U, and U is a dense set. Thus S is separable, hence second countable. In a second countable space, compact and countably compact are equivalent.

That completes the proof. In a metric space, compact = countably compact = sequentially compact.

Compact Implies Totally Bounded

Suppose S is compact, but not totally bounded. For some ε, no finite set of ε balls will cover S. For each x in S, build a ball of radius ε, centered at x. Now S is covered by these open sets, yet there is no finite subcover. this is a contradiction, hence S is totally bounded after all.

Compact Implies Complete

Let c1 c2 c3 etc be a cauchy sequence in S. Since S is compact, our sequence has a cluster point x in S. In fact x has to be the limit of the sequence. this makes S a complete metric space.

Compact iff Complete and Totally Bounded

Assume S is complete and totally bounded, and show sequential compactness. Start with a sequence p1 p2 p3 etc, and cover S with finitely many balls of radius 1. Let B1 be a ball containing infinitely many terms of p.

Next, cover S with finitely many balls of radius ½. This means there are finitely many intersections between balls of radius 1 and balls of radius ½, and these intersections cover all of S. In particular, the intersections of the balls of radius ½ with B1 cover B1. Choose B2 so that B1∩B2 contains infinitely many points of p.

Cover S with finitely many balls of radius ¼, and choose B3 such that B1∩B2∩B3 contains infinitely many points of p. continue this process, as the radius approaches 0.

Build a subsequence of p as follows. Start with any point of p that is contained in B1. Then select a later point of p in both B1 and B2. Then a third point of p from B1∩B2∩B3, and so on. Show that this subsequence is cauchy. Since S is complete, let the subsequence converge to x. This proves S is sequentially compact, hence compact.

The Rationals

If all this is true, then the rationals in [0,1] are not compact. Can we find a pathological open cover?

Select an irrational point q in the interval. Let On be the open set [0,b)∪(c,1], where b and c are carefully chosen rational numbers bracketing q, such that c-b < 1/n. This is an open cover with no finite subcover.

Closed and Bounded in Rn

In euclidean n-space, S is closed and bounded iff S is compact. Let's take the forward direction first.

If S is closed in Rn it is complete. If S is bounded it is totally bounded. This makes S compact.

Conversely, let S be compact in Rn. If S is not bounded, ever expanding balls cover S, and there is no finite subcover. This is a contradiction, thus S is bounded.

If S does not contain one of its limit points x, build a sequence that approaches x, and S fails to be complete. Since compact implies complete, S has to be closed.

In Rn, compact is equivalent to closed and bounded. A line segment, a square, a circle, and an n dimensional hypercube; these are all compact sets.