In: Advanced Math
Problem 17.5. Consider the function χ(0,1) : R → R (this is the characteristic of Definition 14.4). Find: (a) χ(0,1)((0,1)); (b) χ(0,1)((−1,3)); (c) and (in general) χ(0,1)((a,b)), where a,b ∈ R and a < b; prove that the set you found is correct; (d) χ−1 (0,1) ((−2,−1)); (e) χ−1 (0,1) ((0,2)); (f) and (in general) χ−1 (0,1) ((a,b)), where a,b ∈ R and a < b; prove that the set you found is correct,
Definition 14.4 (for Problems 14.6 through 14.9). Let X be a
nonempty set and let
A be a subset of X. The characteristic function or indicator
function of the set A
in X is
χA : X → {0,1} defined by χA(x) = 1 if x ∈ A
0 if x ∈ X\A
From definition, 
 is given by 
.
(a). 
. This follows trivially from the above stated definition.
(b). 
 as for any x in 
, 
 so, 
 and , combining them we get 
.
(c). Case 1.:- 
. Then, for any 
 we have 
. So, 
.
Case 2.:- 
. Here, 0 is in (a,b) and 
 and 
, so 
. Hence, 
.
Case 3.:- 
. Then, similarly as case 2, 
.
Case 4:- 
. Here, (a,b) is a subset of (0,1) so, 
.
Case 5:- 
. Then, (a,1) is a subset of (0,1), so 
 and since 
, 
. Therefore, 
.
Case 6:- 
. Here 
, so 
.
Now observe that, 
 and 
.
(d). As 0 and 1 are both not in (-2,-1), we get 
 where 
 denotes the empty set.
(e). As 
 we get 
.
(f). Case 1.- 
. Here, 
 so we get 
.
Case 2.- 
. Here, 
 so we get 
.
Case 3.- 
. Here, 
, so we get 
.
Case 4.- 
. Here, 
, so we get 
.
Case 5.- 
. Here, 
 so we get 
.
Case 6.- 
. Here, 
 so we get 
.