TITLE: property about topological space
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: I have a question.
Let $f,g$ be continuous functions from $X$ to $Y$, $X$ is a topological space and $Y$ a topological space under ordered topology. Then prove that the set $\{x \in X \ | \ f(x) < g(x)\}$ is open.
  I want to know that what intrisic property of order makes it possible.

REPLY [7 votes]: Look at the map $(f,g)\colon X\to Y\times Y$. This map is continuous because $f$ and $g$ are.
Your set $\{x \in X \mid f(x) < g(x)\}$ is the preimage under $(f,g)$ of the set $\{(a,b) \in Y\times Y \mid a < b\}$.
Now, the only thing that remains to prove is that $\{(a,b) \in Y\times Y \mid a < b\}\subseteq Y\times Y$ is open.
This follows from the definition of the Order topology on $Y$. Do you need help with that?