15 | Heine-Borel

Theorem

We have seen already that a closed interval [a, b] ⊆ R is a compact space (14.12). Our next goal is to
prove Heine-Borel Theorem 15.3 which gives a simple description of compact subspaces of Rn .

15.1 Definition. Let (X , ρ) be a metric space. A set A ⊆ X is bounded if there exists an open ball
B(x0 , r) ⊆ X such that A ⊆ B(x0 , r).

A
r
x0

15.2 Proposition. Let (X , ρ) be a metric space and let A ⊆ X . The following conditions are equivalent:
1) A is bounded.
2) For each x ∈ X there exists rx > 0 such that A ⊆ B(x, rx ).
3) There exists R > 0 such that ρ(x1 , x2 ) < R for all x1 , x2 ∈ A.

Proof. Exercise.

15.3 Heine-Borel Theorem. A set A ⊆ Rn is compact if and only if A is closed and bounded.

15.4 Note. The statement of Heine-Borel Theorem is not true if we replace Rn by an arbitrary metric
space. Take e.g. X = (0, 1) with the usual metric d(x, y) = |x − y|. Let A = X . The set A is closed in

94
15. Heine-Borel Theorem 95

X . Also, A is bounded since d(x, y) < 1 for all x, y ∈ A. However A is not compact.

The proof of Heine-Borel Theorem will make use of the following fact:

15.5 Theorem. If X , Y are compact spaces then the space X × Y is also compact.

Proof. Let U = {Ui }i∈I be an open cover of X × Y . Assume first that each set Ui is of the form
Ui = Vi × Wi with Vi open in X , and Wi is open in Y . We will show that U has a finite subcover,

Step 1. We will show first that for every point x ∈ X there is an open set Zx ⊆ X such that Zx × Y
can be covered by a finite number of elements of U. Consider the subspace {x} × Y ⊆ X × Y . Since
{x} × Y ∼=SY is compact there is a finite number of sets Vi1 × Wi1 , . . . , Vin × Win ∈ U such that
{x} × Y ⊆ nj=1 Vij × Wij . We can take Zx = nj=1 Vij .
T

X ×Y
X

x Zx

Sm
Step 2. The family {Zx }x∈X is a on open cover of
Sm X . Since X is compact we have X = k=1 Zxk for
some x1 , . . . , xm ∈ X . It follows that X × Y = k=1 (Zxk × Y ). Since each set Zxk × Y is covered by a
finite number of elements of U it follows that X × Y is also covered by a finite number of elements of U.

Assume now that U = {Ui }i∈I is an arbitrary open cover of X × Y . For every point (x, y) ∈ X × Y let
V(x,y) × W(x,y) be a set such that V(x,y) is open in X , W(x,y) is open in Y , (x, y) ∈ V(x,y) × W(x,y) and
V(x,y) × W(x,y) ⊆ Ui for some i ∈ I:

X ×Y
Ui

(x, y) V(x,y) × W(x,y)

The family {V(x,y) × W(x,y) }(x,y)∈X ×Y is an open cover of X × Y . By the argument above we can find
15. Heine-Borel Theorem 96

points (x1 , y1 ), . . . , (xn , yn ) ∈ X × Y such that X × Y = nj=1 V(xj ,yj ) × W(xj ,yj ) . For j = 1, . . . , n let
S
Uij ∈ U be a set such that V(xj ,yj ) × W(xj ,yj ) ⊆ Uij . We have
n
[ n
[
X ×Y = V(xj ,yj ) × W(xj ,yj ) ⊆ Uij
j=1 j=1

which means that {Uj1 , . . . , Ujn } is a finite subcover of U.

15.6 Corollary. If X1 , . . . , Xn are compact spaces spaces then the space X1 × · · · × Xn is compact.

Proof. Follows from Theorem 15.5 by induction with respect to n.

15.7 Corollary. For i = 1, . . . , n let [ai , bi ] ⊆ R be a closed interval. The closed box

[a1 , b1 ] × · · · × [an , bn ] ⊆ Rn

is compact.

Proof. This follows from Proposition 14.12 and Corollary 15.6.

Proof of Theorem 15.3. (⇒) Exercise.

(⇐) If A ⊆ Rn is a closed and bounded set then A ⊆ B(0, r) for some r > 0. Notice that B(0, r) ⊆ J n
where J = [−r, r] ⊆ R. As a consequence A is a closed subspace of J n . By Corollary 15.7 the space J n
is a compact. Since closed subspaces of compact spaces are compact (Proposition 14.13) we obtain
that A is compact.

Exercises to Chapter 15

E15.1 Exercise. Prove the implication (⇒) of Theorem 15.3.

E15.2 Exercise. Let X , Y be topological spaces. Show that the converse of Theorem 15.5 holds. That
is, show that if X × Y is a compact space then X and Y are compact spaces.

E15.3 Exercise. Let f : X × [0, 1] → Y be a continuous function, and let U ⊆ Y be an open set. Show
that the set
V = {x ∈ X | f({x} × [0, 1]) ⊆ U}
is open in X .
15. Heine-Borel Theorem 97

E15.4 Exercise. Let A, B be compact subspaces of Rn . Show that the set

A + B = {x + y ∈ Rn | x ∈ A, y ∈ B}

is also compact.

E15.5 Exercise. In Chapter 13 while proving that topological manifolds are metrizable we omitted the
proof of Lemma 13.21. We are now in position to fill this gap. Prove Lemma 13.21.