Characterizing continuity by preserving compactness and connectedness. (Q1426476)

Mappings that preserve compactness and connectedness are called in this paper preserving. In 1926, it was shown by \textit{C. H. Rowe} that if a function \(f:\mathbb R \rightarrow \mathbb R\) is preserving, then it is continuous. In 1970, \textit{E. R. McMillan} [Pac. J. Math. 32, 479--494 (1970; Zbl 0198.28004)] proved that if \(X\) is a Hausdorff, locally connected, Fréchet space and \(Y\) is Hausdorff, then every preserving mapping from \(X\) into \(Y\) is continuous. In this interesting paper the authors investigate in detail conditions on \(X\) and \(Y\) under which preserving mappings are continuous. These conditions include several closure and sequential-like properties of \(X\) and separation properties of \(Y\). Special attention is devoted to the case when \(X\) is a product of some nice spaces. It is shown that if \(X\) is a product of connected linearly ordered spaces and \(Y\) is regular, then each preserving mapping from \(X\) into \(Y\) is continuous.