Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Two topological spaces are homeomorphic if there exists a continuous bijection between them with a continuous inverse. Homeomorphic spaces share all topological properties, such as connectedness, compactness, path-connectedness, etc. We can prove two spaces are NOT homeomorphic by finding a topological property that one space has but the other does not.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the topological properties of each space.
- X: This space consists of points whose taxicab norm is a rational number. Between any two distinct points in X, we can find a point whose taxicab norm is irrational. This means there is no path connecting any two points within X. Therefore, X is a totally disconnected space.
- Y: This surface consists of four separate, disconnected components (one in each octant where the product of coordinates is positive: (+,+,+), (+,-,-), (-,+,-), (-,,-,+)). Each component is a smooth, path-connected surface. So, Y is not connected.
- Z: This is the unit sphere \(S^2\). It is compact, connected, and path-connected.
- W: This is the union of the three coordinate planes (\(x=0\), \(y=0\), \(z=0\)). Any point on one plane can be connected to any point on another plane via a path that passes through the origin. Therefore, W is connected and path-connected.
Now let's evaluate the options:
(A) X is homeomorphic to Y: X is totally disconnected. Y is not (it consists of four connected components which are surfaces). Thus, they are not homeomorphic.
(B) Z is homeomorphic to W: Z (the sphere) is compact. W (the union of three infinite planes) is not compact. Since compactness is a topological invariant, they are not homeomorphic.
(C) Y is homeomorphic to W: Y has four connected components. W is a single connected component. The number of connected components is a topological invariant. Thus, they are not homeomorphic.
(D) X is NOT homeomorphic to W: X is totally disconnected. W is connected. Since connectedness is a topological invariant and one space possesses it while the other does not, they cannot be homeomorphic. Therefore, the statement that they are NOT homeomorphic is TRUE.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct statement is that X is NOT homeomorphic to W.
Step 5: Why This is Correct:
The proof relies on identifying a fundamental topological property—connectedness—that differs between the spaces X and W. X is totally disconnected, while W is connected. This difference makes a homeomorphism between them impossible.