In: Advanced Math
Show that a subset of R is open if an only if it can be expressed as a union of open intervals
let A be an open set in 
, then every point in A is an interior point, that is, 
. where 
 are open intervals in 
.
now 
and any point in A is in one of such open intervals in 
 that is 
. therefore 
. which shows that any open set 
 can be expressed as union of open intervals.
The converse part is trivial as open intervals are also open
sets in 
 and union of open sets in 
 is again an open set. Therefore union of open intervals in
 is an open set.