Some topological mini-max theorems via an alternative principle for multifunctions (Q689710)

One of the main results of this paper is the following: Theorem. Let \(X\), \(Y\) be two topological spaces, with \(Y\) connected and admitting a continuous bijection onto [0,1], and let \(f\) be a real function defined on \(X\times Y\). Assume that, for each \(\lambda\in{\mathbf R}\), \(x_ 0\in X\), \(y_ 0\in Y\), the sets \(\bigl\{x\in X: f(x,y_ 0)\leq\lambda\bigr\}\) and \(\bigl\{y\in Y: f(x_ 0,y)>\lambda\bigr\}\) are connected. In addition, assume that at least one of the following three sets of conditions is satisfied: \((h_ 1)\) \(f(x,\cdot)\) is upper semicontinuous in \(Y\) for each \(x\in X\), and \(f(\cdot,y)\) is lower semicontinuous in \(X\) for each \(y\in Y\); \((h_ 2)\) \(Y\) is compact, and \(f\) is upper semicontinuous in \(X\times Y\); \((h_ 3)\) \(X\) is compact, and \(f\) is lower semicontinuous in \(X\times Y\). Under such hypotheses, one has \[ \sup_{y\in Y}\inf_{x\in X} f(x,y)=\inf_{x\in X}\sup_{y\in Y} f(x,y). \] The following very simple example shows that, in general, the above theorem does not hold when there is no continuous bijection from \(Y\) onto [0,1]. Example. Take \(X:=Y:=\bigl\{(t,u)\in{\mathbf R}^ 2: t^ 2+u^ 2=1\bigr\}\) and, for each \((t,u)\in X\), \((v,z)\in Y\), \(f(t,u,v,z):= tv+uz\). Observe that one has \[ -1=\sup_{(v,z)\in Y}\inf_{(t,u)\in X} f(t,u,v,z)<\inf_{(t,u)\in X}\sup_{(v,z)\in Y} f(t,u,v,z)=1. \] {}.