Chapter 2: Problem 1
Let \(\mathcal{A}=\left\\{A \subset I \mid A\right.\) is countable, or \(A^{c}\) is countable \(\\}\). Prove that \(\mathcal{A}\) is a \(\sigma\)-algebra.
Short Answer
Expert verified
\(\mathcal{A}\) is a sigma-algebra as it satisfies all required properties.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Definition of a Sigma-algebra
A sigma-algebra \(\mathcal{A}\) over a set \(I\) is a collection of subsets of \(I\) that satisfies three properties: (1) The empty set is in \(\mathcal{A}\), (2) If a set \(A\) is in \(\mathcal{A}\), then its complement \(A^c\) is also in \(\mathcal{A}\), and (3) \(\mathcal{A}\) is closed under countable unions.
02
Prove the Empty Set is in \(\mathcal{A}\)
The empty set \(\emptyset\) is countable, hence by the definition of \(\mathcal{A}\), \(\emptyset \in \mathcal{A}\). This satisfies the first property of a sigma-algebra.
03
Prove Complements are in \(\mathcal{A}\)
If \(A \in \mathcal{A}\), then either \(A\) is countable or \(A^c\) is countable. If \(A\) is countable, then \(A^c\) must be such that \((A^c)^c = A\) is countable; hence, by definition \(A^c\) will be in \(\mathcal{A}\). This satisfies the second property.
04
Prove Closure Under Countable Unions
Let \(A_1, A_2, A_3, \ldots\) be a sequence of sets in \(\mathcal{A}\). Each set is either countable or its complement is countable. The union \(\bigcup_{k=1}^{\infty} A_k\) must be countable if each \(A_k\) is countable. If not, consider assuming \(B = \bigcup_{k=1}^{\infty} A_k\) isn't countable. If this is the case, then \(B^c\), having potentially a countable complement from each \(A_k^c\) being countable due to a finite intersection or De Morgan's laws, especially when finite except one being infinite, will be countable.
05
Confirm \(\mathcal{A}\) Satisfies All Sigma-algebra Properties
Since \(\mathcal{A}\) contains the empty set, is closed under taking complements, and closed under countable unions, we can conclude \(\mathcal{A}\) is a sigma-algebra based on the fulfilled criteria.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Countable Sets
A countable set is one that can be put in a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers. This means we can list the elements of the set in a sequence like 1, 2, 3, and so on. Countable sets may be finite or infinite.
Here are some key features of countable sets:
Here are some key features of countable sets:
- Finite Sets: Any set with a limited number of elements is countable because you can count them one by one.
- Infinite Sets: Some infinite sets like the set of all integers or rational numbers are countable. Although they are infinite, you can still list them without missing any.
Complement of a Set
The complement of a set, denoted as \(A^c\), consists of all the elements not in set \(A\) relative to a universal set \(I\). If you have a set within a larger context, the complement is everything outside that set within the same context.
Here's why complements are important:
Here's why complements are important:
- Understanding Relationships: Complements help define relationships between sets and their surroundings.
- In Sigma-Algebras: If a set is in a sigma-algebra, its complement must also be included. This property helps maintain balance within the collection of sets.
Countable Unions
Countable unions refer to the union of a sequence of sets that can be indexed by natural numbers like \(A_1, A_2, A_3, \ldots\). If these sets are part of a sigma-algebra, their union must also be a part of the same sigma-algebra.
In sigma-algebras, countable unions are important for a few reasons:
In sigma-algebras, countable unions are important for a few reasons:
- Closure Property: A sigma-algebra is closed under countable unions. This means the union of any number of sets from the sigma-algebra is also in the sigma-algebra.
- Handling Infinite Collections: Even if you have an infinite sequence of sets, as long as they are countable, their union will still be part of the sigma-algebra.