Fσ set

In general topology, an F_σ set (pronounced F-sigma set) is a countable union of closed sets. The notation originated in French with F for fermé (French: closed) and σ for somme (French: sum, union).

The complement of an F_σ set is a G_δ set.

F_σ is the same as $\mathbf {\Sigma } _{2}^{0}$ in the Borel hierarchy.

Examples

Each closed set is an F_σ set.

The set $\mathbb {Q}$ of rationals is an F_σ set in $\mathbb {R}$. More generally, any countable set in a T₁ space is an F_σ set, because every singleton $\{x\}$ is closed.

The set $\mathbb {R} \setminus \mathbb {Q}$ of irrationals is not an F_σ set.

In metrizable spaces, every open set is an F_σ set.

The intersection or union of finitely many F_σ sets is an F_σ set.

Assuming the Axiom of countable choice, the union of countably many F_σ sets is an F_σ set.

The set $A$ of all points $(x,y)$ in the Cartesian plane such that $x/y$ is rational is an F_σ set because it can be expressed as the union of all the lines passing through the origin with rational slope:

$A=\bigcup _{r\in \mathbb {Q} }\{(ry,y)\mid y\in \mathbb {R} \},$

where $\mathbb {Q}$ is the set of rational numbers, which is a countable set.

See also

• G_δ set — the dual notion.
• Borel hierarchy
• P-space, any space having the property that every F_σ set is closed

References

Pointclasses
Lightface		Boldface
Σ0 0 = Π0 0 = Δ0 0 (sometimes the same as Δ0 1)		Σ0 0 = Π0 0 = Δ0 0 (if defined)
Δ0 1 = recursive		Δ0 1 = clopen
Σ0 1 = recursively enumerable	Π0 1 = co-recursively enumerable	Σ0 1 = G = open	Π0 1 = F = closed
Δ0 2		Δ0 2
Σ0 2	Π0 2	Σ0 2 = Fσ	Π0 2 = Gδ
Δ0 3		Δ0 3
Σ0 3	Π0 3	Σ0 3 = Gδσ	Π0 3 = Fσδ
⋮		⋮
Σ0 <ω = Π0 <ω = Δ0 <ω = Σ1 0 = Π1 0 = Δ1 0 = arithmetical		Σ0 <ω = Π0 <ω = Δ0 <ω = Σ1 0 = Π1 0 = Δ1 0 = boldface arithmetical
⋮		⋮
Δ0 α (α recursive)		Δ0 α (α countable)
Σ0 α	Π0 α	Σ0 α	Π0 α
⋮		⋮
Σ0 ωCK 1 = Π0 ωCK 1 = Δ0 ωCK 1 = Δ1 1 = hyperarithmetical		Σ0 ω1 = Π0 ω1 = Δ0 ω1 = Δ1 1 = B = Borel
Σ1 1 = lightface analytic	Π1 1 = lightface coanalytic	Σ1 1 = A = analytic	Π1 1 = CA = coanalytic
Δ1 2		Δ1 2
Σ1 2	Π1 2	Σ1 2 = PCA	Π1 2 = CPCA
Δ1 3		Δ1 3
Σ1 3	Π1 3	Σ1 3 = PCPCA	Π1 3 = CPCPCA
⋮		⋮
Σ1 <ω = Π1 <ω = Δ1 <ω = Σ2 0 = Π2 0 = Δ2 0 = analytical		Σ1 <ω = Π1 <ω = Δ1 <ω = Σ2 0 = Π2 0 = Δ2 0 = P = projective
⋮		⋮