Open Rectangles Closed under Intersection

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Theorem

Let $\paren {\openint {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b} }$ and $\paren {\openint {\mathbf c} {\mathbf d} }$ be open $n$-rectangles.


Then $\paren {\openint {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b} } \cap \paren {\openint {\mathbf c} {\mathbf d} }$ is also an open $n$-rectangle.


Proof

From Cartesian Product of Intersections: General Case, we have:

$\ds \paren {\openint {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b} } \cap \paren {\openint {\mathbf c} {\mathbf d} } = \prod_{i \mathop = 1}^n \openint {a_i} {b_i} \cap \openint {c_i} {d_i}$


Therefore, it suffices to show that the intersection of two open intervals is again an open interval.

Now let $x \in \openint {a_i} {b_i} \cap \openint {c_i} {d_i}$.

Then $x$ is subject to:

$x > a_i$ and $x > c_i$, that is: $x > \max \set {a_i, c_i}$
$x < b_i$ and $x < d_i$, that is: $x < \min \set {b_i, d_i}$

and we see that these conditions are satisfied if and only if:

$x \in \openint {\max \set {a_i, c_i} } {\min \set {b_i, d_i} }$

Thus, we conclude:

$\openint {a_i} {b_i} \cap \openint {c_i} {d_i} = \openint {\max \set {a_i, c_i} } {\min \set {b_i, d_i} }$

showing that indeed the intersection is an open interval.


Combining this with the above reasoning, it follows that indeed:

$\paren {\openint {\mathbf a} {\mathbf b} } \cap \paren {\openint {\mathbf c} {\mathbf d} }$

is an open $n$-rectangle.

$\blacksquare$