(Definition 3.2.11) Given a set \(A \subseteq \mathbf{R}\), let \(L\) be the set of all limit points of \(A\). The closure of \(A\) is defined to be \(\overline{A} = A \cup L\)


Example

Let \(A\) be \(\{1/n: n \in \mathbf{N}\}\). We know that a point \(x=1/n\) is a limit point of a set \(A\) if every \(\epsilon\)-neighborhood \(V_{\epsilon}(1/n)\) of \(1/n\) intersects \(A\) at some point other than \(x\). Set \(\epsilon = 1/n - 1/(n + 1)\). Then

$$ \begin{align*} V_{\epsilon}(1/n) \cap A = \{\frac{1}{n}\}. \end{align*} $$

So this means that \(1/n\) is not a limit point and is an isolated point instead. The only limit point of \(A\) is in fact 0 and so \(\overline{A} = A \cup \{0\}\).

Other Definitions and Properties


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