Axiom:Metric Space Axioms

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Definition

Let $A$ be a set upon which a distance function $d: A \times A \to \R$ is imposed.

The metric space axioms are the conditions on $d$ which are satisfied for all elements of $A$ in order for $\struct {A, d}$ to be a metric space:

\((\text M 1)\)   $:$     \(\ds \forall x \in A:\) \(\ds \map d {x, x} = 0 \)      
\((\text M 2)\)   $:$   Triangle Inequality:      \(\ds \forall x, y, z \in A:\) \(\ds \map d {x, y} + \map d {y, z} \ge \map d {x, z} \)      
\((\text M 3)\)   $:$     \(\ds \forall x, y \in A:\) \(\ds \map d {x, y} = \map d {y, x} \)      
\((\text M 4)\)   $:$     \(\ds \forall x, y \in A:\) \(\ds x \ne y \implies \map d {x, y} > 0 \)      


Also defined as

The numbering of the axioms is arbitrary and varies between authors.

It is therefore a common practice, when referring to an individual axiom by number, to describe it briefly at the same time.


Some sources replace $(\text M 1)$ and $(\text M 4)$ with a combined axiom:

\((\text M 1')\)   $:$     \(\ds \map d {x, y} \ge 0; \quad \forall x, y \in A:\) \(\ds \map d {x, y} = 0 \iff x = y \)      

thus allowing for there to be just three metric space axioms.


Others use:

\((\text M 1')\)   $:$     \(\ds \quad \forall x, y \in A:\) \(\ds \map d {x, y} = 0 \iff x = y \)      

as the stipulation that $\map d {x, y} \ge 0$ can in fact be derived.


Also see


Sources