Metric space: Difference between revisions
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In [[mathematics]], a '''metric space''' is, roughly speaking, an abstract mathematical structure that generalizes the notion of a Euclidean space <math>\mathbb{R}^n</math> which has been equipped with the Euclidean distance, to more general classes of sets such as a set of functions. The notion of a metric space consists of two components, a set and a metric in that set. In a metric space, the metric replaces the Euclidean distance as a notion of "distance" between any pair of elements in its associated set (for example, as an abstract distance between two functions in a set of functions) and induces a [[topological space|topology]] in the set called the <i>metric topology</i>. | In [[mathematics]], a '''metric space''' is, roughly speaking, an abstract mathematical structure that generalizes the notion of a Euclidean space <math>\mathbb{R}^n</math> which has been equipped with the Euclidean distance, to more general classes of sets such as a set of functions. The notion of a metric space consists of two components, a set and a metric in that set. In a metric space, the metric replaces the Euclidean distance as a notion of "distance" between any pair of elements in its associated set (for example, as an abstract distance between two functions in a set of functions) and induces a [[topological space|topology]] in the set called the <i>metric topology</i>. | ||
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The theory of metric spaces includes the following topics: [[isometric embeddings]] and [[universal metric spaces]] (in the sense of isometric embeddings); [[metric maps]] (which do not increase distances); the [[category (mathematics)|category]] of metric spaces and metric maps, and its subcategories; injective metric spaces and related notions; special classes of metric spaces like [[strong convexity|strongly convex]] spaces; metric generalizations of the notions of [[differential geometry]]; metric properties of the metric spaces which appear in other branches of mathematics (e.g. [[Banach space]]s, in particular [[Hilbert space]]s). | The theory of metric spaces includes the following topics: [[isometric embeddings]] and [[universal metric spaces]] (in the sense of isometric embeddings); [[metric maps]] (which do not increase distances); the [[category (mathematics)|category]] of metric spaces and metric maps, and its subcategories; injective metric spaces and related notions; special classes of metric spaces like [[strong convexity|strongly convex]] spaces; metric generalizations of the notions of [[differential geometry]]; metric properties of the metric spaces which appear in other branches of mathematics (e.g. [[Banach space]]s, in particular [[Hilbert space]]s). | ||
Certain deeper directions in the theory of metric spaces are closely related to the [[approximation theory]]. | The topic of metric spaces can be attractive both to children and to research mathematicians. Certain deeper directions in the theory of metric spaces are closely related to the [[approximation theory]]. | ||
Every [[simple graph|simple]] [[graph]] can be viewed as a metric space (in more than one way). Thus formally the theory of simple graphs can be considered as a special chapter of the theory of metric spaces. Indeed, as a rule, the notions of the theory of simple graphs can be rephrased in the language of metric spaces (possibly in more than one way). | Every [[simple graph|simple]] [[graph]] can be viewed as a metric space (in more than one way). Thus formally the theory of simple graphs can be considered as a special chapter of the theory of metric spaces. Indeed, as a rule, the notions of the theory of simple graphs can be rephrased in the language of metric spaces (possibly in more than one way). |
Revision as of 20:50, 17 December 2007
In mathematics, a metric space is, roughly speaking, an abstract mathematical structure that generalizes the notion of a Euclidean space Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathbb{R}^n} which has been equipped with the Euclidean distance, to more general classes of sets such as a set of functions. The notion of a metric space consists of two components, a set and a metric in that set. In a metric space, the metric replaces the Euclidean distance as a notion of "distance" between any pair of elements in its associated set (for example, as an abstract distance between two functions in a set of functions) and induces a topology in the set called the metric topology.
The theory of metric spaces includes the following topics: isometric embeddings and universal metric spaces (in the sense of isometric embeddings); metric maps (which do not increase distances); the category of metric spaces and metric maps, and its subcategories; injective metric spaces and related notions; special classes of metric spaces like strongly convex spaces; metric generalizations of the notions of differential geometry; metric properties of the metric spaces which appear in other branches of mathematics (e.g. Banach spaces, in particular Hilbert spaces).
The topic of metric spaces can be attractive both to children and to research mathematicians. Certain deeper directions in the theory of metric spaces are closely related to the approximation theory.
Every simple graph can be viewed as a metric space (in more than one way). Thus formally the theory of simple graphs can be considered as a special chapter of the theory of metric spaces. Indeed, as a rule, the notions of the theory of simple graphs can be rephrased in the language of metric spaces (possibly in more than one way).
Metric in a set
Let be an arbitrary set. A metric on is a function with the following properties:
- (symmetry)
- (triangular inequality)
It follows from the above three axioms of a metric (also called distance function) that:
- (non-negativity)
Definition of metric space
A metric space is an ordered pair where is a set and is a metric on .
For shorthand, a metric space is usually written simply as once the metric has been defined or is understood.
Metric topology
A metric on a set induces a particular topology on called the metric topology. For any , let the open ball of radius around the point be defined as Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle B_r(x)=\{y \in X \mid d(y,x)<r\}} . Define the collection Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{O}} of subsets of Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle X\,} (meaning that Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle A \in \mathcal{O} \Rightarrow A \subset X } ) consisting of the empty set Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \emptyset} and all sets of the form:
where Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \Gamma\,} is an arbitrary index set (can be uncountable) and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle r_{\gamma}>0\,} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x_{\gamma} \in X} for all Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \gamma \in \Gamma} . Then the set Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathcal{O}} satisfies all the requirements to be a topology on Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle X\,} and is said to be the topology induced by the metric Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d\,} . Any topology induced by a metric is said to be a metric topology.
Examples
- The "canonical" example of a metric space, and indeed what motivated the general definition of such a space, is the Euclidean space Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \mathbb{R}^n} endowed with the Euclidean distance Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d_E\,} defined by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d_E(x,y)=\sqrt{\sum_{k=1}^{n}|x_k-y_k|^2}} for all Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x,y \in \mathbb{R}^n } .
- Consider the set Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle C[a,b]\,} of all real valued continuous functions on the interval Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle [a,b]\subset \mathbb{R}} with Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle a<b\,} . Define the function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d:C[a,b] \times C[a,b] \rightarrow \mathbb{R}} by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d(f,g)=\max_{x \in [a,b]}|f(x)-g(x)| } for all Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f,g \in C[a,b]} . This function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d\,} is a metric on Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle C[a,b]\,} and induces a topology on Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle C[a,b]\,} often known as the norm topology or uniform topology.
- Let Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle X\,} be any nonempty set. The discrete metric on Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle X\,} is defined as if Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x\neq y} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle d(x,y)=0\,} otherwise. In this case the induced topology is the so called discrete topology.
See also
References
1. K. Yosida, Functional Analysis (6 ed.), ser. Classics in Mathematics, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1980