Equality of Towers in Set
Lemma
Let $X$ be a non-empty set.
Let $\left({T_1,\preccurlyeq_1}\right)$ and $\left({T_2,\preccurlyeq_2}\right)$ be towers in $X$.
Then either:
- $\left({T_1,\preccurlyeq_1}\right) = \left({T_2,\preccurlyeq_2}\right)$
or:
- $\left({T_1,\preccurlyeq_1}\right)$ is an initial segment of $\left({T_2,\preccurlyeq_2}\right)$
or:
- $\left({T_2,\preccurlyeq_2}\right)$ is an initial segment of $\left({T_1,\preccurlyeq_1}\right)$
Proof
By the definition of tower, $\left({T_1,\preccurlyeq_1}\right)$ and $\left({T_2,\preccurlyeq_2}\right)$ are well-ordered sets.
By Wosets are Isomorphic to Each Other or Initial Segments:
- the towers are order isomorphic to each other, or:
- one is isomorphic to an initial segment in the other.
Without loss of generality, in the second case, assume that $\left({T_1,\preccurlyeq_1}\right)$ is order isomorphic to an initial segment in $\left({T_2,\preccurlyeq_2}\right)$.
By Order Isomorphism iff Strictly Increasing Surjection, there exists a strictly increasing mapping:
- $i: \left({T_1,\preccurlyeq_1}\right) \to \left({T_2,\preccurlyeq_2}\right)$
such that $i[T_1]$, the image set of $i$, is equal to $T_2$ or to an initial segment of $T_2$.
From Characterization of Strictly Increasing Mapping on Woset, we can characterize $i$ as follows:
- $\forall t \in T_1: i\left({t}\right) = \min \left({T_2\setminus i\left[{S_t}\right]}\right)$
and $i[S_t] = S_{i(t)}$.
Define:
- $Y= \left\{ {y \in T_1: i(y) = y } \right\}$
Then for any $t \in T_1$ and $S_t \subseteq Y$:
\(\ds t\) | \(=\) | \(\ds c\left({X \setminus S_t}\right)\) | Definition of Tower in Set | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds c\left({X \setminus i\left[{S_t}\right]}\right)\) | by definition of $Y$ | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds c\left({X \setminus S_{i(t)} }\right)\) | as $i[S_t] = S_{i(t)}$ | |||||||||||
\(\ds \) | \(=\) | \(\ds i(t)\) | Definition of Tower in Set |
So $i(y) = y$ for any initial segment $S_t \subseteq Y$.
By Induction on Well-Ordered Set, $Y = T$.
Thus $i$ is the identity mapping from $T_1$ onto its image.
Recall the image of $i$ is $T_2$ or an initial segment of $T_2$.
So $T_1 = T_2$ or an initial segment of $T_2$.
$\blacksquare$
Sources
- 2000: James R. Munkres: Topology (2nd ed.) $\S 1.11$ Supplementary Exercise $7$