Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2017/ib/paper-1/12e/b/solution

Let . If , use the constant path. Otherwise consider the countably many lines through and a point of , and through and a point of . Choose a line whose direction is not parallel to any of these lines; such a direction exists because there are uncountably many directions but only a countable set of forbidden ones. Every forbidden line meets in at most one point. Choose outside those countably many intersections and outside .
Neither segment nor meets : a forbidden point on either segment would put on the corresponding forbidden line. The piecewise linear path
lies in the complement. This proves that the plane minus a countable set is path connected.
If a homeomorphism existed, its restriction after removing a point would give a homeomorphism between and . The first is a path-connected space and therefore connected; the second consists of two separated intervals. Since homeomorphisms preserve connectedness, .

New to topics? Read the docs here!