Comb space

In mathematics, particularly topology, a comb space is a subspace of $\R^2$ that looks rather like a comb. The comb space has some rather interesting properties and provides interesting counterexamples. The topologist's sine curve has similar properties to the comb space. The deleted comb space is an important variation on the comb space.

Formal definition

Consider $\R^2$ with its standard topology and let K be the set $\{1/n | n \in \mathbb N\}$. The set C defined by:

$(\{0\} \times [0,1] ) \cup (K \times [0,1]) \cup ([0,1] \times \{0\})$

considered as a subspace of $\R^2$ equipped with the subspace topology is known as the comb space. The deleted comb space, D, is defined by:

$(\{0\} \times \{0,1\} ) \cup (K \times [0,1]) \cup ([0,1] \times \{0\})$.

This is the comb space with the line segment $\{0\} \times (0,1)$ deleted.

Topological properties

The comb space and the deleted comb space have some interesting topological properties mostly related to the notion of connectedness.

1. The comb space is an example of a path connected space which is not locally path connected; see the page on locally connected spaces.

2. The deleted comb space, D, is connected. To show this, let E be the comb space without $\{0\} \times [0,1]$. E is also path connected and the closure of E is the comb space. As E $\subset$ D $\subset$ the closure of E, where E is connected, the deleted comb space is also connected.

3. The deleted comb space is not path connected since there is no path from (0,1) to (0,0):

Suppose there is a path from p = (0, 1) to a point q in D. Let ƒ:[0, 1] → D be this path. We shall prove that ƒ ⁻¹{p} is both open and closed in [0, 1] contradicting the connectedness of this set. Clearly we have ƒ ⁻¹{p} is closed in [0, 1] by the continuity of ƒ. To prove that ƒ ⁻¹{p} is open, we proceed as follows: Choose a neighbourhood V (open in R²) about p that doesn’t intersect the x–axis. Then there is a basis element U containing ƒ ⁻¹{p} such that ƒ(U) is a subset of V. We know that U is connected since it is a basis element for the order topology on [a, b]. Therefore, ƒ(U) is connected. We assert that ƒ(U) = {p} so that ƒ ⁻¹{p} is open. Suppose ƒ(U) contains a point (z, 1/n) other than p. Then (z, 1/n) must belong to D. Choose r such that 1/(n − 1) > r > 1/n. Since ƒ(U) doesn’t intersect the x-axis, the sets:

A = (−∞, r) × R

B = (r, +∞) × R

will form a separation on f(U); contradicting the connectedness of f(U). Therefore, f ⁻¹{p} is both open and closed in [0, 1]. This is a contradiction.

See also

• Locally connected space
• Connected space
• Topologist's sine curve
• Infinite broom
• Order topology

References

• James Munkres (1999). Topology (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-181629-2. 

• Kiyosi Ito, ed. Connectedness. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mathematics. Mathematical Society of Japan.