TITLE: Does $\partial A$ determine $A$?
QUESTION [8 upvotes]: Given a bounded closed set $A$ in $\mathbb R^n$, can $A$ be uniquely determined by $\partial A$, except for the boundary itself?
Or, use it differently, given two bounded closed sets $A_1, A_2$ in $\mathbb R^n$ with $\partial A_1 = \partial A_2$, $A_1 \ne\partial A_1$, and $A_2 \ne\partial A_2$, is it true that $A_1 = A_2$?
Without the boundedness assumption the assertion is clearly false: the sphere $\{ x \in \mathbb R^n : |x|=1\}$ is the common boundary to $\{ x \in \mathbb R^n : |x| \ge 1\}$ and $\{ x \in \mathbb R^n : |x| \le 1\}$.
note) It was originally intended for the Euclidean compact(bounded and closed) set, but it was incorrectly modified as an open set. I am sorry.

REPLY [3 votes]: I think the other examples given so far are not correct. I think this works:
Take two disks in $\Bbb{R}^2$, and let one set be the union of one disk and the circle around the other, and let the other set be the union of the other disk with the circle around the former. Then they are closed, bounded, different than their boundaries, but have the same boundary while being different than one another.
I'll write a formula if this isn't clear.
EDIT. In fact, here's a much simpler example, in $\Bbb{R}$. Let $A_1=\{0,1\}\cup [2,3]$ and $A_2=[0,1]\cup \{2,3\}$.
EDIT 2. Like feynhat said, if you want a connected example, take my first example (in $\Bbb{R}^2$) and set $A_1=\{(x,y):x^2+y^2\leq 1\}\cup\{(x,y):((x-2)^2+y^2= 1\}$, $A_2=\{(x,y):x^2+y^2= 1\}\cup\{(x,y):((x-2)^2+y^2\leq1\}$, or something like this. The idea is to take two tangent disks. Perhaps someone can draw a figure and add it.