Let $\{B_n\}$ be a decreasing set
$B_1 \supseteq B_2 \supseteq B_3 \supseteq ....$
Define $A_n = B_1 \backslash B_n$ i.e. $A_1 = \varnothing, A_2 = B_1 \backslash B_2$
If we imagine $\{B_n\}$ as a donut then it is clear that $\{A_n\}$ is increasing
Show:
$\bigcup_{n=1}^\infty A_n = B_1 \backslash \bigcap_{n=1}^\infty B_n$
Seems like a proof by exhaustion?
$A_1 \cup A_2 = (B_1 \backslash B_1) \cup (B_1\backslash B_2) = B_1\backslash B_2$
$A_1 \cup A_2 \cup A_3 = (B_1\backslash B_2) \cup (B_1 \backslash B_3) = \text{ ...hoping... } = B_1 \backslash (B_2 \cap B_3)$
It seems the derivation is a little bit heavy:
$(B_1\backslash B_2) \cup (B_1 \backslash B_3) = (B_1 \cap B_2^c) \cup (B_1 \cap B_3^c) = (B_1 \cup (B_1 \cap B_3^c)) \cap (B_2^c \cup (B_1 \cap B_3^c)) = (B_1 \cup B_1) \cap (B_1 \cup B_3^c) \cap (B_2^c \cup B_1) \cap (B_2^c \cup B_3^c) = B_1 \cap (B_2 \cap B_3)^c = B_1 \backslash (B_2 \cap B_3) $
Continue this way, we can see that the claim is true.
Is there any easier way to see relation? The proof in my book did it in one step...
I am thinking something along the line where we can use the property of $\backslash$ to directly show $(B_1\backslash B_2) \cup (B_1 \backslash B_3) = B_1 \backslash (B_2 \cap B_3)$