Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / ib / Paper 2 / 10F / a / Solution

A topological space is compact if every open cover has a finite subcover. It is Hausdorff if every pair of distinct points has disjoint open neighbourhoods.

Let $Y$ be closed in compact $X$, and let $\{U_i\}$ be an open cover of $Y$ by sets open in $X$. Adding the open set $X\setminus Y$ gives a cover of $X$, which has a finite subcover. Removing $X\setminus Y$ leaves a finite subcover of $Y$. Thus every closed subspace of a compact space is compact.

Now let $A,B$ be disjoint closed subsets of a compact Hausdorff space. They are compact. For each $a\in A$ and $b\in B$, choose disjoint open sets $U_{a,b}\ni a$ and $V_{a,b}\ni b$. Fixing $a$, finitely many $V_{a,b_j}$ cover $B$. PutThen $U_a$ contains $a$, $V_a$ contains $B$, and they are disjoint. Finitely many $U_{a_i}$ cover $A$. Thereforeare disjoint open neighbourhoods of $A$ and $B$. This proves the normality of a compact Hausdorff space.

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.