Basis for Element of Real Number Line

Theorem
Let $M = \struct {\R, d}$ denote the real number line with the usual (Euclidean) metric.

Let $a \in \R$ be a point in $M$.

Then the set of all open intervals containing $a$ is a basis for the neighborhood system of $a$.

Proof
Let $N$ be a neighborhood of $a$ in $M$.

Then by definition:
 * $\exists \epsilon \in \R_{>0}: \map {B_\epsilon} a \subseteq N$

where $\map {B_\epsilon} a$ is the open $\epsilon$-ball at $a$.

The result follows from Open Ball in Real Number Line is Open Interval.