This article states and proves a result of the following form: the product of two topological spaces, the first satisfying the property Compact space (?) and the second satisfying the property Paracompact space (?), is a topological space satisfying the property Paracompact space (?).
View other such computations
Statement
Let
be a compact space and
a paracompact space. Then
, the Cartesian product endowed with the product topology, is paracompact.
Related facts
Other results using the same proof technique:
Facts used
- Tube lemma: Suppose
is a compact space and
is a topological space. Then, given any open subset
of
containing
for some
, there exists an open subset
of
such that
and
.
Proof
Given: A compact space
, a paracompact space
.
form an open cover of
.
To prove: There exists a locally finite open refinement of the
s, i.e., an open cover
of
such that:
- It is locally finite: For any point
, there exists an open set
containing
that intersects only finitely many of the
s.
- It refines
: Every
is contained in one of the
s.
Proof:
Step no. |
Assertion/construction |
Facts used |
Given data used |
Previous steps used |
Explanation
|
1 |
For any point , there is a finite collection of that cover  |
|
is compact |
|
Since is compact, the subspace of is also compact, so the cover by the open subsets has a finite subcover.
|
2 |
For any point , let be the union of this finite collection of open subsets as obtained in Step (1). There exists an open subset of such that and  |
Fact (1) |
is compact |
Step (1) |
Follows from Fact (1), setting the of Fact (1) to be .
|
3 |
The open subsets obtained in Step (2) form an open cover of . |
|
|
Step (2) |
By Step (2), , hence . Since , and , we get .
|
4 |
There exists a locally finite open refinement of the in  |
|
is paracompact |
Step (3) |
Step-given combination direct.
|
5 |
For each , is a union of finitely many intersections , all of which are open subsets |
|
|
Steps (1) (2), (4) |
Since s refine s (Step (4)), there exists such that . In turn, by the definition of (Step (2)), we have , which in turn is a union of finitely many s (Step (1)). Thus, is contained in a union of finitely many s, and hence, is the union of its intersection with those s. Since are all open, the intersections are all open.
|
6 |
The open subsets of the form of Step (5) form an open cover of that refines the s (note that not every combination of and is included -- only the finitely many s needed as in Step (5)). We will index this open cover by indexing set , and call it , where . In particular, if , then , and for any , there are finitely many with the second coordinate of equal to . |
|
|
Steps (4), (5) |
cover , so cover . By Step (5), is the union of the , so the latter also form an open cover of .
|
7 |
The open cover of Step (6) is a locally finite open cover. In other words, for any , there is an open subset such that intersects only finite many s. |
|
|
Steps (4), (6) |
Since form a locally finite open cover of (Step (4)), there exists an open subset of such that contains and intersects only finitely many of the s. Set , so is open in . therefore intersects only finitely many of the s. For any , with , we have by construction (Step (6)), so if intersects so does . Thus, the s that intersect must correspond to the finitely many s for which intersects . Since there are finitely many s for each , this gives that there are finitely many s intersecting .
|
8 |
The open cover is as desired |
|
|
Steps (6), (7) |
Combine the two steps to get what we wanted to prove.
|