# Why is this subset of a metric space closed in $X$?

Let $X=(0,2]$ with the standard metric $d(x,y)=|x-y|$ and let $A=(0,1]$.

I have to show that $A$ is closed in $X$ (which I can do by considering a sequence in $A$ and showing that it has its limit in $X$) and in the solutions I have the following answer:

"$X$ is a subspace of the metric space $\mathbb{R}$ and $A=[0,1]\cap X$. Since $[0,1]$ is closed in $\mathbb{R}$ it follows that $A$ is closed in $X$."

Could somebody explain this answer to me as I am a bit confused by it.

Thanks very much for any help.

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Isn't it by definition of the induced topology: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspace_topology . – Davide Giraudo Jan 7 '12 at 15:23
By definition of subspace topology: a subset of $S$ is open in the subspace topology if and only if it is the intersection of $S$ with an open set in $(X,\tau)$ (where $S$ is a subspace of $X$). Can you get from this that subset of $S$ is closed in the subspace topology if and only if it is an intersection of a closed subset of $X$ with $S$? – Martin Sleziak Jan 7 '12 at 15:24
See also proofwiki: Closed Sets in Topological Subspace – Martin Sleziak Jan 7 '12 at 15:30
Thanks very much for this, that clears it up. – hmmmm Jan 7 '12 at 15:37
This isn't just a matter of definition: we need to know that the subspace topology coincides with the topology induced by the restriction of the metric. This wouldn't be true if we were working with order topologies rather than metric topologies, say. – Chris Eagle Jan 7 '12 at 16:06

An important point pointed out in Chris Eagle's comment is the fact, that the topology on $(0,2]$ given by the metric $d(x,y)=|x-y|$ is the same as the subspace topology induced by the usual topology on $\mathbb R$, see e.g. this question: Long proof of equivalence of subspace and metric topology
By definition of subspace topology: Suppose that $X$ is a subspace of $(Y,\tau)$. A subset of $X$ is open in the subspace topology if and only if it is the intersection of $X$ with an open set in $(Y,\tau)$. From this we can show easily that a subset of $X$ is closed in the subspace topology if and only if it is an intersection of a closed subset of $Y$ with $X$. A detailed proof can be found at proofwiki: Closed Sets in Topological Subspace.
From the above we now see that $A=[0,1]\cap (0,2]$ is an intersection of a set $[0,1]$, which is closed in $\mathbb R$, with the subspace $(0,2]$. Hence it is closed in the subspace topology.
 Srivatstan: Thanks for noticing my mistake. Of course I should have written $(0,2]$ there. While I was at it I also changed the notation, so that $X$ has the same meaning as in the question. (In the older version I only copied text about subspace topology from Wikipedia.) If you have some more suggestions - stylistic or mathematical - feel free to edit the post. – Martin Sleziak Jan 7 '12 at 17:03 It looks good now, thanks for the edit. – Srivatsan Jan 7 '12 at 17:05