T4 Property Preserved in Closed Subspace
Theorem
Let $T = \struct {S, \tau}$ be a topological space.
Let $T_K$ be a subspace of $T$ such that $K$ is closed in $T$.
If $T$ is a $T_4$ space then $T_K$ is also a $T_4$ space.
That is, the property of being a $T_4$ space is weakly hereditary.
Corollary
If $T$ is a normal space then $T_K$ is also a normal space.
That is, the property of being a normal space is weakly hereditary.
Proof
Let $T = \struct {S, \tau}$ be a $T_4$ space.
Then:
- $\forall A, B \in \map \complement \tau, A \cap B = \O: \exists U, V \in \tau: A \subseteq U, B \subseteq V, U \cap V = \O$
That is, for any two disjoint closed sets $A, B \subseteq S$ there exist disjoint open sets $U, V \in \tau$ containing $A$ and $B$ respectively.
We have that the set $\tau_K$ is defined as:
- $\tau_K := \set {U \cap K: U \in \tau}$
where $K$ is closed in $T$.
Let $A, B \subseteq K$ be closed in $K$ such that $A \cap B = \O$.
From Intersection with Subset is Subset‎ we have that $A \subseteq K \iff A \cap K = A$.
As $K$ is itself closed in $T$, it follows that so is $A \cap K = A$ from Topology Defined by Closed Sets.
Similarly, so is $B \cap K = B$.
Because $T$ is a $T_4$ space, we have that:
- $\exists U, V \in \tau: A \subseteq U, B \subseteq V, U \cap V = \O$
As $A, B \subseteq K$ such that we have that:
- $A \subseteq U \cap K, B \subseteq V \cap K: \paren {U \cap K} \cap \paren {V \cap K} = \O$
From the definition of topological subspace, both $U \cap K$ and $V \cap K$ are open in $K$.
Thus the $T_4$ axiom is satisfied in $K$.
$\blacksquare$
Also see
The above proof hinges on the fact that as $K$ is closed in $T$, then $A \cap K = A$ and $B \cap K = B$ are also closed in $T$.
If $K$ is not closed in $T$, there is no such guarantee of closedness of $A$ and $B$.
Sources
- 1978: Lynn Arthur Steen and J. Arthur Seebach, Jr.: Counterexamples in Topology (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Part $\text I$: Basic Definitions: Section $2$: Separation Axioms: Functions, Products, and Subspaces