Topology Defined by Closed Sets

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Theorem

Let $S$ be a set.

Let $\tau$ be a set of subsets of $S$.


Then $\tau$ is a topology on $S$ if and only if:

$(1): \quad$ Any intersection of arbitrarily many closed sets of $S$ under $\tau$ is a closed set of $S$ under $\tau$
$(2): \quad$ The union of any finite number of closed sets of $S$ under $\tau$ is a closed set of $S$ under $\tau$
$(3): \quad S$ and $\O$ are both closed sets of $S$ under $\tau$

where a closed set $V$ of $S$ under $\tau$ is defined as a subset of $S$ such that $S \setminus V \in \tau$.


Proof

From the definition, if $V$ is a closed set of $S$, then $S \setminus V$ is an open set of $S$.

Let $\mathbb V$ be any arbitrary set of closed sets of $S$.

Then by De Morgan's Laws: Difference with Intersection, we have:

$\ds S \setminus \bigcap \mathbb V = \bigcup_{V \mathop \in \mathbb V} \paren {S \setminus V}$


First, let $\tau$ be a topology on $S$.

We have that:

Intersection of Closed Sets is Closed in Topological Space
Finite Union of Closed Sets is Closed in Topological Space
By Open and Closed Sets in Topological Space, $\O$ and $S$ are both closed in $S$.

Thus, the properties as listed above hold.

$\Box$


Suppose the properties:

$(1): \quad$ Any intersection of arbitrarily many closed sets of $S$ under $\tau$ is a closed set of $S$ under $\tau$
$(2): \quad$ The union of any finite number of closed sets of $S$ under $\tau$ is a closed set of $S$ under $\tau$
$(3): \quad S$ and $\O$ are both closed sets of $S$ under $\tau$.

all hold.

That means $\ds \bigcap \mathbb V$ is closed.

So $\ds S \setminus \bigcap \mathbb V = \bigcup_{V \mathop \in \mathbb V} \paren {S \setminus V}$ is open.

Thus we have that the union of arbitrarily many open sets of $S$ under $\tau$ is an open set of $S$ under $\tau$.

Similarly, we deduce that the intersection of any finite number of open sets of $S$ under $\tau$ is an open set of $S$ under $\tau$.

By Open and Closed Sets in Topological Space, $\O$ and $S$ are both open in $S$.

So $\tau$ is a topology on $S$.

$\blacksquare$


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