# closed under disjoint union $\Rightarrow$ closed under union?

Closed under disjoint union $\Rightarrow$ closed under union?

Seems easy, but I can't wrap my head around it. If the implication is not true, I would appreciate a counterexample.

For completeness, the definitions made in class:

For $A_1, A_2\subset\mathcal{A}$, subsets of a set system, we say that $\mathcal{A}$ is closed under disjoint union $A_1\sqcup A_2$, if $A_1\sqcup A_2$ is in $\mathcal{A}$.

With $A_1\sqcup A_2=A_1\cup A_2$ if $A_1\cap A_2\ne \emptyset$.

Hint: What if $\mathcal{A}$ contains just the two subsets $\{1,2\}$ and $\{2,3\}$?
• But $\{1,2\}$ and $\{2,3\}$ aren't disjoint, so ... – Buochserhorn Feb 24 '17 at 15:16
• @Buochserhorn: Exactly -- so "closed under disjoint union" places no demands on this $\mathcal A$, and is trivially satisfied by it. But the $\mathcal A$ is not closed under arbitrary unions. – hmakholm left over Monica Feb 24 '17 at 15:17
• No, they are not. But $\mathcal{A}$ is closed under disjoint unions because whenever two elements are disjoint their union is in $\mathcal{A}$. It just so happens in this example that there are no disjoint pairs. – Ethan Bolker Feb 24 '17 at 15:18