MAT 411: Topology:

Basis of a Topology

Imaga Ogbu Famous

Department of Mathematics
Covenant University

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 1/9

Objectives

After studying this module, the student will be able to

1 Define the basis for a topology
2 Solve problems related in basis for a topology
3 Describe the sub-base
4 State the standard topology

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 2/9

Basis for a Topology I

Definition
Let (X, Y) be a topological space. A collection of open subsets B of
X is called a basis or basis for a topology if
(i) The union of elements of B is X
(ii) If x ∈ B1 ∩ B2 , B1 , B2 ∈ B, then there exists a B ∈ B such that
x ∈ B ∈ B1 ∩ B2

If B is a basis for a topology Y on a set X, then a subset A of X is in Y if

and only if it is a union of members of B
B generates Y i.e if we are given the sets that are members of B, we can
determine the members of Y - which are formed by taking the union of
members of B

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 3/9

Basis for a Topology II

The elements of B are called basis elements.

Definition
Let B be a basis for a topology on X, then the topology Y generated
by B is described as follows:
A subset U of X is said to be an open set in X (that is, U ⊂ Y), if for
each U there is a basis element B ∈ B such that u ∈ B and B ∈ U.

Note that if B is a basis for Y, then B ⊆ Y.

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 4/9

Basis for a Topology III

Example: Let (X, Y) be a discrete topological space and B be the

collection of singleton subsets of X; i.e. B = {{x} : x ∈ X}, then B is a
basis for Y.
Proof: Since Y is a discrete topology on X, it contains all the subset of X.
Let x0 ∈ X, then {x0 } ∈ B such that x0 ∈ {x0 }.
Also, if x0 ∈ B1 ∩ B2 , where B1 , B2 ∈ B, then
B1 = B2 = {x0 } ⇒ x0 ∈ {x0 } ⊆ B1 ∩ B2 .
Example: Let X = {a, b, c} and B = {{a}, {c}, {a, b}, {b, c}}. Show that
B is not a basis for any topology on X.
Example: Let X = {1, 2, 3, 4} and A = {{1, 2}, {2, 4}, {3}}. Determine
the topology on X generated by the elements of A and hence determine
the basis for the topology.

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 5/9

Basis for a Topology IV

Example: Let X = {a, b, c, d} and A = {{a, b}, {b, c}, {d}}. Determine the
topology on X generated by the elements of A and hence determine the
basis for the topology.

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 6/9

Topologies on the real line R

Standard Topology: Let B be the collection of all open intervals in R i.e.

B = {(a, b) : a, b ∈ R, a < b}. Then B is a basis for the euclidean
topology on R known as the standard topology on R.
Proof: for any x ∈ R, we have (x − 1, x + 1) ∈ B such that
x ∈ (x − 1, x + 1).
Next let x0 ∈ (a, b) ∩ (c, d). Then a < x0 < b, c < x0 < d. Consider

r0 = min{|x0 − a|, |x0 − c|}, s0 = min min{|b − x0 |, |d − x0 |}.

Then x0 ∈ (x0 − r0 , x0 + s0 ) ∈ (a, b) ∩ (c, d).

Lower Limit Topology: Let B ′ is the collection of all half open intervals
in R i.e. B = {[a, b) : a, b ∈ R, a < b}, the topology generated by B ′ is
called the lower limit topology on R. When R is given this topology it is
denoted by Rl

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 7/9

K-topology: Let K denote the set of all numbers of the form n1 for
n ∈ Z+ , and let B ′′ be the collection of all intervals (a, b) along with all
sets of the form (a, b)/K. The topology generated by B ′′ is called the
K-topology. When R is given this topology it is denoted by RK .

B ′′ = {(a, b) : a, b ∈ R, a < b} ∪ {(a, b)/K : a, b ∈ R, a < b}.

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 8/9

Sub-bases

Definition
Let (X, Y) be a topological space. Let S ⊂ Y such that S ̸= ∅.
The set S is said to be a sub-base for the Topology Y on X if finite
intersections of the members of S form a base for the topology Y on
X i.e the union of members of S give all the members of T. The
members of S are called sub-basic open sets.

Example: Let a, b ∈ R such that a < b, then (−∞, b) ∩ (a, ∞) = (a, b).
The open intervals (a, b) form a base for the standard topology on R.
Hence, the family of infinite open intervals form a sub-base for the
standard topology on R

Imaga O. F. (Dept. of Mathematics) Topology Topological Spaces 9/9