Take the 2-minute tour ×

I came across an interesting question on intersections and unions which I am having difficulty solving. I am having some trouble with it as I have not worked a lot with infinite intersections/unions of sets.

Here goes :-

"There is a countably infinite family of indexed sets , $A_i$ , (where $i$ is a positive integer). A set $B$ is given such that :- $$ B = \bigcup_{n=1}^\infty \bigcap_{i=n}^\infty A_i $$ "

We are asked as to whether a) elements of $B$ are the ones belonging to a single $A_i$ or b) to a finite number of $A_i$ or c) to all but a finite number of $A_i$ (there were other possibilities given in it too but I don't recall the complete question)

My Attempt :-

Consider $\bigcap_{i=1}^\infty A_i$ , lets say it is $b_1$. The set $b_1$ contains elements which are common to all the $A_i$s. The set $b_2 = \bigcap_{i=2}^\infty A_i$ contains elements common to all sets except $A_1$. The union $b_1 \bigcup b_2$ would be the same as $b_2$ , as $b_1$ is a subset of $b_2$. Thus this union consists of elements common to all sets except $A_1$.

Similarly,the union $b_1 \bigcup b_2 \bigcup b_3$ would consist of elements common to all sets except $A_1$ and $A_2$.

On generalisation $\bigcup_{n=1}^M \bigcap_{i=n}^\infty A_i$ would consist of elements common to all sets except $A_1 ,A_2, A_3, ..... A_{M-1}$ .

From here onwards I am facing problem. I am able to understand the outer union as long it ranges from $ n=1$ to $n=M$ . But how to handle the case when it ranges from $n=1$ to $n=\infty$ .

(If the union and intersection were done over a finite collection of sets $B = \bigcup_{n=1}^N \bigcap_{i=n}^N A_i$, $B$ would equal the set $A_N$ . But I am totally confused as the range of the union and intersection is a countably infinite collection of sets )


share|improve this question
I think you're confused on a couple things. First, you say "The union $b_1\cap b_2$". I think you mean $b_1\cup b_2$. Then, $x\in b_2$ does not mean that $x\notin A_1$, since $A_1$ could be a subset of one of the other $A_i$'s. As far as dealing with infinite unions/intersections, you have the correct idea when you use phrases like "common to all $A_i$s". Being in an infinite union just means that you are in one of the sets (in your case, $x\in B\Rightarrow x\in b_i$ for some $i$). –  icurays1 Nov 12 '12 at 8:57
Sorry for the typographical error regarding b1 union b2. Corrected it. –  Srinav Nov 12 '12 at 9:03
"Then, x∈b2 does not mean that x∉A1, since A1 could be a subset of one of the other Ai's. " Oh, yeah. :) Quite a huge mistake on my part. –  Srinav Nov 12 '12 at 9:08

2 Answers 2

up vote 1 down vote accepted

Using your notation, set $b_n=\cap_{i=n}^\infty A_i$. Then, if $x\in B=\cup_{n=1}^\infty b_n$, we must have $x\in b_k$ for some $k\in\mathbb{N}$. Thus $x\in\cap_{i=k}^\infty A_i$, and hence $x\notin A_i$ for at most finitely many $i$. $x$ could be in some of the $A_m$ for $1\leq m\leq k$, however!

share|improve this answer
"Then, if x∈B=∪∞n=1bn, we must have x∈bk for some k∈N. " That was great piece of reasoning. –  Srinav Nov 12 '12 at 9:15
So , we can be sure that it will be element common to an infinite number of Ais. (I think that was also one of the options.) .It could be from k to infinity or m to infinity or whatever. (And it could still contains some elements from sets A1 to A{k-1}. –  Srinav Nov 12 '12 at 9:16
I was having quite a hard time answering this question. And the confusion which you pointed out was only making it worse. Thanks for the answer it really helped. –  Srinav Nov 12 '12 at 9:17
Sure, no problem. –  icurays1 Nov 12 '12 at 9:43

A subset $I$ of the natural integers has a finite complement if and only if there exists $n$ such that $k\in I$ for every $k\geqslant n$ (both implications seem relatively clear). Thus, the correct answer is option (c). (And $B$ is called the liminf of the sequence $(A_n)_{n\geqslant1}$, usually denoted $B=\liminf A_n$.)

share|improve this answer

Your Answer


