Covering properties of simplexes (Q1260889)

Let \(N=\{1,2,\ldots,n\}\) and \(\{e_ 1,e_ 2,\ldots,e_ n\}\) be the unit vectors of \(n\)-dimensional Euclidean space i.e., the \(i^{\text{th}}\) coordinate of \(e_ i\) is 1, the other coordinates are 0. For any \(S \subset N\) let \(\Delta^ S\) denote the convex hull of \(\{e_ j:\;j \in S\}\). These are the simplexes of the title. \textit{E. Sperner} [Abh. Math., Semin. Univ. Hamb. 6, 265-272 (1928)] proved the following elegant covering theorem: If \(C_ 1, C_ 2, \ldots,C_ n\) are closed sets whose union covers \(\Delta^ N\) while \(\Delta^{N \backslash S_ i} \cap C_ i=\emptyset\) for all \(i \in N\), then \(\bigcap_{i\in N}C_ i\neq\emptyset\). This theorem has been reformulated and generalized in several papers, particularly by \textit{K. Fan} [e.g., Math. Ann. 266, 519-537 (1984; Zbl 0515.47029)]. In the present paper, simple proofs are given for Fan's generalizations. Also given are versions where the coverings are by open sets.