A decomposition of continuity (Q5905391)

A subset \(S\) of a topological space \(X\) is called \(\alpha\)-set (semi- open, preopen, \({\mathcal A}\)-set, locally closed respectively) if \(S\subset\text{Int(Cl(Int}(S)))\) \((S\subset\text{Cl(Int}(S))\), \(S\subset\text{Int(Cl}(S))\), \(S=U\cap F\) where \(U\) is open and \(F\) is regular closed, \(S=U\cap F\) where \(U\) is open and \(F\) is closed). A function \(f:X\to Y\) is called \(\alpha\)-continuous (semi-continuous, precontinuous, \({\mathcal A}\)-continuous, \(LC\)-continuous respectively) if the inverse image under \(f\) of each open set in \(Y\) is an \(\alpha\)-set (semi-open, preopen, \({\mathcal A}\)-set, locally closed respectively) in \(X\). \textit{Jingcheng Tong} [Acta Math., Hung. 48, 11-15 (1986; Zbl 0609.54012)] introduced the notion of \({\mathcal A}\)-continuity of functions between topological spaces and proved that a function is continuous if and only if it is both \(\alpha\)-continuous and \({\mathcal A}\)-continuous. In this paper the authors improve Tong's decomposition result and provide a decomposition of \({\mathcal A}\)-continuity in Theorem: Let \(f:X\to Y\) be a function. Then (i) \(f\) is \({\mathcal A}\)-continuous if and only if it is semi-continuous and \(LC\)-continuous. (ii) \(f\) is continuous if and only if it is \(\alpha\)-continuous and \(LC\) continuous. (iii) \(f\) is \(\alpha\)-continuous if and only if it is precontinuous and semi-continuous. (iv) \(f\) is continuous if and only if it is precontinuous and \(LC\)- continuous. (v) \(f\) is continuous if and only if it is precontinuous and \({\mathcal A}\)- continuous.