Paper 2, Section II, G

Linear Analysis
Part II, 2012

What is meant by a normal topological space? State and prove Urysohn's lemma.

Let XX be a normal topological space and let SXS \subseteq X be closed. Show that there is a continuous function f:X[0,1]f: X \rightarrow[0,1] with f1(0)=Sf^{-1}(0)=S if, and only if, SS is a countable intersection of open sets.

[Hint. If S=n=1UnS=\bigcap_{n=1}^{\infty} U_{n} then consider n=12nfn\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} 2^{-n} f_{n}, where the functions fn:X[0,1]f_{n}: X \rightarrow[0,1] are supplied by an appropriate application of Urysohn's lemma.]