Continuity of Mapping between Metric Spaces by Closed Sets

Theorem

Let $M_1 = \struct {A_1, d_1}$ and $M_2 = \struct {A_2, d_2}$ be metric spaces.

Let $f: A_1 \to A_2$ be a mapping.

for every $V \subseteq A_2$ which is closed in $M_2$, $f^{-1} \sqbrk V$ is closed in $M_1$.

First the following is established.

Let $W \in A_2$.

We note that:

$f^{-1} \sqbrk {A_2} = A_1$

$f^{-1} \sqbrk {A_2 \setminus W} = A_1 \setminus f^{-1} \sqbrk W$

Suppose that:

for every $V \subseteq A_2$ which is closed in $M_2$, $f^{-1} \sqbrk V$ is closed in $M_1$.

Let $U$ be open in $M_2$.

Then by definition $A_2 \setminus U$ is closed in $M_2$.

By hypothesis, $f^{-1} \sqbrk {A_2 \setminus U} = A_1 \setminus f^{-1} \sqbrk U$ is closed in $M_1$.

So $f^{-1} \sqbrk U$ is open in $M_1$.

This is true for any $U \in A_2$ as $U$ is arbitrary.

It follows by definition that $f$ is continuous.

$\Box$

Now let $f$ be continuous.

Let $V$ be closed in $M_2$.

Then $A_2 \setminus V$ is open in $M_2$.

As $f$ is continuous, $f^{-1} \sqbrk {A_2 \setminus V} = A_1 \setminus f^{-1} \sqbrk V$ is open in $M_1$.

So $f^{-1} \sqbrk V$ is closed in $M_1$.

$\blacksquare$

1975: Bert Mendelson: Introduction to Topology (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $2$: Metric Spaces: $\S 6$: Open Sets and Closed Sets: Theorem $6.10$