# Equivalence of Definitions of Separated Sets

## Theorem

Let $T = \struct{S, \tau}$ be a topological space.

Let $A, B \subseteq S$.

The following definitions of the concept of Separated Sets are equivalent:

### Definition 1

$A$ and $B$ are separated (in $T$) if and only if:

$A^- \cap B = A \cap B^- = \O$

where $A^-$ denotes the closure of $A$ in $T$, and $\O$ denotes the empty set.

### Definition 2

$A$ and $B$ are separated (in $T$) if and only if there exist $U,V\in\tau$ with:

$A\subset U$ and $U\cap B = \varnothing$
$B\subset V$ and $V\cap A = \varnothing$

where $\varnothing$ denotes the empty set.

## Proof

### Definition 1 implies Definition 2

Let $A, B \subseteq S$ satisfy:

$A^- \cap B = A \cap B^- = \empty$

where $A^-$ denotes the closure of $A$ in $T$, and $\empty$ denotes the empty set.

From Topological Closure is Closed, $B^-$ is closed in $T$.

Let $U = S \setminus B^-$ be the relative complement of $B^-$.

By the definition of a closed set, $U$ is open in $T$.

From Empty Intersection iff Subset of Relative Complement, $A \subseteq S \setminus B^- = U$

From Relative Complement of Relative Complement, $S \setminus U = B^-$.

By the definition of the closure of a subset, $B \subseteq B^- = S \setminus U$.

From Empty Intersection iff Subset of Relative Complement, $U \cap B = \empty$.

Similarly, let $V = S \setminus A^-$ then $V \in \tau$ with:

$B \subset V$ and $V \cap A = \empty$

$\Box$

### Definition 2 implies Definition 1

Let $A, B \subseteq S$.

Let $U,V \in \tau$ satisfy:

$A \subset U$ and $U \cap B = \empty$
$B \subset V$ and $V \cap A = \empty$

From Empty Intersection iff Subset of Relative Complement, $B \subseteq S \setminus U$.

By the definition of a closed set, the relative complement of $S \setminus U$ is closed in $T$.

From Set Closure is Smallest Closed Set, $B^- \subseteq S \setminus U$.

From Empty Intersection iff Subset of Relative Complement, $B^- \cap U = \empty$.

Then

 $\displaystyle B^- \cap A$ $=$ $\displaystyle B^- \cap \paren {U \cap A}$ Intersection with Subset is Subset $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle \paren {B^- \cap U} \cap A$ Intersection is Associative $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle \empty \cap A$ As $B^- \cap U = \empty$ $\displaystyle$ $=$ $\displaystyle \empty$ Intersection with Empty Set

Similarly, $A^- \cap B = \empty$.

$\blacksquare$