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I know this is an easy question, but I cannot demonstrate it properly.

Suppose by contradiction that $A \cap \bar{Y} \neq \emptyset$. Then $\exists \ x \in A \cap \bar{Y}$.

I need help formalizing this reasoning (or correcting if it is wrong)

By the definition of $A$ open, $\exists \ U \subset A$ open neighborhood of $x$. Then my idea is to prove that $U \cap Y \neq \emptyset$ because $U$ in somewhat sense "touches" $Y$, because it's a neighborhood of $x$. But i can't write down a formal demonstration. Any help is appreciated. Thanks^^

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    $\begingroup$ Hint: $A\cap Z=\emptyset$ is equivalent to $Z\subseteq A^c$. And $A^c$ is closed. $\endgroup$
    – Julien
    May 17, 2013 at 21:28
  • $\begingroup$ thank you @julien, didn't thought about complementaries :)) $\endgroup$
    – Riccardo
    May 17, 2013 at 21:33

2 Answers 2

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Suppose that $A$ is open, and $A\cap Y=\varnothing$. Let $F=X\setminus A$; then $F$ is closed, and $Y\subseteq F$. Now take closures: $\operatorname{cl}Y\subseteq\operatorname{cl}F=F$, since $F$ is closed. But this immediately implies that $\operatorname{cl}Y\cap A=\varnothing$.

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  • $\begingroup$ What is $U$ here? $\endgroup$
    – Pedro
    May 17, 2013 at 21:48
  • $\begingroup$ @Peter: Typo for $A$: I rarely use $A$ as the name for an open set, and I often use $U,V,W$, and $G$. $\endgroup$ May 17, 2013 at 21:51
  • $\begingroup$ @Clive: Thanks for the fix. $\endgroup$ May 17, 2013 at 21:52
  • $\begingroup$ thank you, fully understood $\endgroup$
    – Riccardo
    May 17, 2013 at 21:53
  • $\begingroup$ @RicPed: You’re welcome. $\endgroup$ May 17, 2013 at 21:54
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Another type of proof of it:

If $A \cap \overline {Y} \neq \emptyset$, then there exists $x \in A \cap \overline {Y}$. Since $x \in \overline {Y}$, which implies that for any open set $U$ containing $x$, $U \cap Y \neq \emptyset$, and hence $A \cap Y \neq \emptyset$. A contradiction!

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    $\begingroup$ Interesting, it is the formalization of ny idea (+1) thank you very much :) $\endgroup$
    – Riccardo
    May 18, 2013 at 6:26
  • $\begingroup$ @RicPed: You are welcome. $\endgroup$
    – Paul
    May 18, 2013 at 7:13

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