Cardinality is a notion of size for sets, usually denoted by $|A|$ as the "cardinality of $A$". With finite sets the cardinality is simply the number of elements which are members of a set. Dealing with infinite sets we can measure them in different ways. Cardinal numbers are very natural in the ...
5
votes
1answer
139 views
Sequence of surjections imply choice
I am reading a paper where a side remark said that if a sequence $\langle g_\beta\colon\omega\to\beta\mid\beta<\omega_1\rangle$ is a sequence of surjections then $\omega_1$ is regular.
I have ...
5
votes
2answers
251 views
mahlo and hyper-inaccessible cardinals
Wikipedia states that a Mahlo cardinal is hyper-inaccessible, hyper-hyper-inaccessible, etc. Is this a characterisation of Mahlo? If not what about "alpha = hyper^alpha-inaccessible" with the obvious ...
5
votes
1answer
53 views
$ZFC^- + AFA$ and infinite cardinals
$ZFC^-+AFA$ is a non-well-founded set theory, where $ZFC^-=ZFC-FA$ is $ZFC$ without the axiom of foundation, and $AFA$ is an anti-foundational axiom
With the axiom of foundation we have that every ...
5
votes
1answer
239 views
Cardinality of sets of functions with well-ordered domain and codomain
I would like to determine the cardinality of the sets specified bellow. Nevertheless, I don't know how to approach or how to start such a proof. Any help will be appreciated.
If $X$ and $Y$ are ...
5
votes
1answer
644 views
Examples of sets whose cardinalities are $\aleph_{n}$, or any large cardinal. (not assuming GCH)
One of the answers to this question indicates that large cardinals are useful for destructive testing of set theory. That aside, and not assuming GCH, are there any sets known that have a cardinality ...
5
votes
1answer
93 views
About cardinalities of almost disjoint systems of functions
Let us call a system $\{f_i; i\in I\}$ of functions $f_i\colon\omega\to\omega$ almost disjoint if the set $\{n\in\omega; f_i(n)=f_j(n)\}$ is finite whenever $i\ne j$. (I am not entirely sure whether ...
5
votes
1answer
84 views
What indexes do the subgroups of $\mathrm{GL}_n(\Bbb C)$ have?
Let $B_n\subset\mathrm{GL}_n(\Bbb C)$ be the group of invertible upper-triangular matrices. What is the index $[\mathrm{GL}_n(\Bbb C):B_n]?$ (By index I mean the cardinality of a coset space.)
In ...
5
votes
1answer
102 views
Differences in worlds with and without $\aleph_0<|S|<2^{\aleph_0}$
Paul Cohen told us that whether or not there is $S$ with \begin{equation}
\aleph_0<|S|<2^{\aleph_0}
\end{equation} cannot be decided within ZFC, and hence it is reasonable to work in two ...
5
votes
1answer
93 views
Orders of subgroups of Infinite Profinite Groups
This question is in some sense equivalent to my question here. A proof would answer that question in the case when the base field is perfect.
Let $G$ be a profinite group of cardinality $\kappa$, ...
5
votes
1answer
159 views
Question about the order of a Stationary subset of $ \kappa$
Greets
I'm trying to prove one part of exercise 8.14 of Jech's "Set Theory", namely that if $o(k)\geq k$, then $k$ is weakly inaccessible, where $\kappa$ is regular; $o(\kappa)$ is defined as ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
Show that for $n, m \in \omega$, the ordinal and cardinal exponentiations $n^m$
This is an exercise from Kunen's book.
Show that for $n, m \in \omega$, the ordinal and cardinal exponentiations $n^m$
are equal.
What I've tried: I want to prove by using induction on $m$. ...
5
votes
2answers
112 views
Effective cardinality
Consider $X,Y \subseteq \mathbb{N}$.
We say that $X \equiv Y$ iff there exists a bijection between $X$ and $Y$.
We say that $X \equiv_c Y$ iff there exist a bijective computable function between ...
5
votes
2answers
722 views
Non-existence of a surjection $\aleph_n \to \aleph_{n+1}$, without the axiom of choice
Firstly, let's establish what exactly I mean by these symbols. Let $\omega_0 = \{ 0, 1, 2, \ldots \}$, where $0, 1, 2, \ldots$ are the usual von Neumann representations of the natural numbers. Let $n$ ...
5
votes
1answer
47 views
A question regarding the Power set
In the proofs that I have seen so far for showing that the power set $2^X$ of a set $X$ cannot be in bijection to $X$, the common idea is to assume that there exists a surjection $f \colon X \to 2^X$ ...
5
votes
2answers
71 views
Product of a family of spaces of countable tightness
I recently learned the concept of cardinal functions and some of the definitions and theorems are not clear to me. How can we prove this theorem?
Finite family of compact spaces of countable ...
5
votes
1answer
99 views
Instance of Continuum Hypothesis implying cardinal inequality
I'm currently trying to solve Exercise 5.27 of Jech's Set Theory (3rd Millennium ed.), viz:
If $2^{\aleph_1}=\aleph_2$, then $\aleph_{\omega}^{\aleph_0} \ne \aleph_{\omega_1}$.
The presumption ...
5
votes
1answer
105 views
Exercise on partially ordered sets from Kunen's *Set Theory*
This problem is Exercise (F4) from Chapter VII of Kunen's text. Apparently, it is a result of Tarski. It goes as follows:
Let $ \mathbb{P} $ be a partial order. Define $ \text{c.c.}(\mathbb{P}) $ ...
5
votes
1answer
120 views
Cardinality of Reals and Turing Machines
I'm a math hobbyist, so forgive me if what I ask is silly.
I just learned that the cardinality of Reals is greater than the Naturals.
So, because of that, there can be no turing machines which ...
5
votes
1answer
287 views
Finding the cardinality of a set
I have to construct a few things before I get to my question: it's possible we don't need all of it, but I am stuck on the very last step so I should recap everything so far.
Let $\kappa$ be a ...
5
votes
1answer
298 views
Is $2^\infty$ uncountable and is cardinality a continuous function?
I apologize if the title seems too vague, but this is how I was asked the question. So one of my friends intended to write an infinite sum like $\displaystyle \sum_{i=1}^{\infty} a_{2^i}$ .
However, ...
5
votes
1answer
256 views
cardinality of infinite sets
prove or disprove:
If two infinite sets $A$,$B$ have the same cardinality, then $A\cup B$ and $A$ have the same cardinality.
I even cannot make a judgement.
P.S: Can this be done without using ...
5
votes
0answers
113 views
Is there a simple example of a ring that satifies the DCC on two-sided ideals, but doesn't satisfy the ACC on two-sided ideals?
It follows from the Hopkins–Levitzki theorem that if a ring satisfies the DCC on left ideals, then it also satisfies the ACC on left ideals. I've been trying to find a counterexample to the following ...
4
votes
5answers
202 views
How many cardinals are there?
I'm trying to do the following exercise:
EXERCISE 9(X): Is there a natural end to this process of forming new infinite cardinals? We recommend this exercise instead of counting sheep when you have ...
4
votes
2answers
159 views
Why are infinite cardinals limit ordinals?
My book states this as obvious, but it isn't so trivial to me. thanks
4
votes
3answers
303 views
How many $p$-adic numbers are there?
Let $\mathbb Q_p$ be $p$-adic numbers field. I know that the cardinal of $\mathbb Z_p$ (interger $p$-adic numbers) is continuum, and every $p$-adic number $x$ can be in form $x=p^nx^\prime$, where ...
4
votes
3answers
301 views
cardinality of set of all real continuous functions
Could somebody explain to me how to prove that the cardinality of all real continuous functions is $c$ ?
The first problem is that I don't know how to show that each real continuous function $f: X ...
4
votes
4answers
342 views
What is the cardinality of the group of bijections from $\Omega$ to $\Omega$ with finite support?
These questions cropped up in the discussion in this question,
What is the cardinality of the group of bijections from $\Omega$ to $\Omega$ with finite support, where $\Omega=\mathbb{N}$?
...
4
votes
2answers
58 views
$\sum_{\alpha<\omega_2}|\alpha|^{\aleph_0}=\aleph_2\cdot\aleph_1^{\aleph_0}$
I've seen this statement in multiple posts (e.g. here and here), but I can't seem to understand it. I can see why
$$\sum_{\alpha<\omega_2}|\alpha|^{\aleph_0}=\aleph_1^{\aleph_0},$$
by noting that ...
4
votes
2answers
130 views
In set theory, what does the symbol $\mathfrak b$ mean?
In set theory, what does the symbol $\mathfrak b$ mean? Could somebody tell me something basic about $\mathfrak b$? In particulat, I want to know the relation between $\mathfrak b$
and $\mathfrak c$.
...
4
votes
4answers
225 views
Cardinality of Vitali sets: countably or uncountably infinite?
I am a bit confused about the cardinality of the Vitali sets.
Just a quick background on what I gather about their construction so far:
We divide the real interval $[0,1]$ into an uncountable number ...
4
votes
1answer
179 views
Cardinal power $\kappa^\kappa$. When is it equal to $2^\kappa$?
Under what assumptions on an infinite cardinal $\kappa$ we have
$$\kappa^\kappa= 2^\kappa?$$
Please delete this question. I know the answer.
4
votes
1answer
85 views
What is the value of $\aleph_1^{\aleph_0}$?
Is there any neat way to calculate the value of $\aleph_1^{\aleph_0}$?
4
votes
3answers
173 views
Looking for Cantor's original proof of the Cantor-Bernstein theorem that relies on the axiom of choice?
Even a sketch of it would be good enough. Thanks.
4
votes
4answers
291 views
Problems about Countability related to Function Spaces
Suppose we have the following sets, and determine whether they are countably infinite or uncountable .
The set of all functions from $\mathbb{N}$ to $\mathbb{N}$.
The set of all non-increasing ...
4
votes
3answers
174 views
The cardinality of a countable union of sets with less than continuum cardiality
Can continuum be a countable union of sets with cardinality, less than continuum? I can prove it for a finite union by mathematical induction from this:
$\mathbb R = A_1 + A_2 => |\mathbb R| = ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
Prove that: $\aleph_0 \cdot \frak{c} = \frak{c} \cdot \frak{c}$
I've been fiddling with this enough.
Found an answer here but didn't quite understand it.
How do I prove that:
$$\aleph_0 \cdot \frak{c} \leq \frak{c} \cdot \frak{c}$$
$$\frak{c} \cdot \frak{c} \leq ...
4
votes
1answer
64 views
What is the cardinality of $\Bbb{R}^L$?
By $\Bbb{R}^L$, I mean the set that is interpreted as $\Bbb{R}$ in $L$, Godel's constructible universe. For concreteness, and to avoid definitional questions about $\Bbb{R}$, I'm looking at the set ...
4
votes
3answers
128 views
$\aleph_1\leq A$ for an uncountable set $A$
So we have to prove (axiom of choice is given) that $\aleph_1$ which is the next aleph after $\aleph_0=\omega$ satisfies $$\aleph_1\leq A$$ given that $A$ is uncountable.
Here was my reasoning. The ...
4
votes
1answer
276 views
Intuition about the size of $\aleph_k$ with $k>1$
Assuming CH for simplicity, I know of some more or less intuitive way to think about difference in sizes of $\aleph_0$ and $\aleph_1$. The most straightforward is the distinction of natural/rational ...
4
votes
1answer
445 views
Cardinality of a set that consists of all existing cardinalities
I have taken a look at the following topics:
number of infinite sets with different cardinalities
Cardinality of all cardinalities
Are there uncountably infinite orders of infinity?
Types of ...
4
votes
3answers
301 views
Do the real numbers and the complex numbers have the same cardinality?
So it's easy to show that the rationals and the integers have the same size, using everyone's favorite spiral-around-the-grid.
Can the approach be extended to say that the set of complex numbers has ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
A cardinal $\kappa$ such that $2^{\lambda}<\kappa$ for all $\lambda<\kappa$ is regular?
A cardinal $\kappa$ such that $2^{\lambda}<\kappa$ for all $\lambda<\kappa$ is regular?
I would appreciate very much an answer
4
votes
1answer
41 views
How to show $\kappa^{cf(\kappa)}>\kappa$?
For $\kappa \geq \omega$, which is a cardinal, then how to show $\kappa^{cf(\kappa)}>\kappa$?
My idea: When $\kappa=\aleph_\omega$, then $cf(\kappa)=\omega$, is $\kappa^\omega>\kappa$? It seems ...
4
votes
2answers
51 views
Question about proof of Hessenberg: $\kappa \cdot \lambda = \lambda$
The following is a theorem:
(Hessenberg) Let $1 \le \kappa \le \lambda$ where $\lambda$ is an infinite cardinal. Then $\kappa \cdot \lambda = \lambda$.
The proof in the book proceeds by transfinite ...
4
votes
2answers
70 views
About a proof of “$\bigcup A$ is a limit cardinal”
Assume that if $A$ is a set of cardinals such that $A$ contains no largest element and assume that we have shown that $\bigcup A$ is a cardinal. Now we want to show that $\bigcup A$ is a limit ...
4
votes
2answers
109 views
how to prove the addition of transfinite cardinal numbers?
How do you prove the following transfinite cardinal addition?:
$ \alpha + \beta = \max(\alpha,\beta)$?
And as the consequence, $\alpha + \alpha = \alpha$ where $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are transfinite ...
4
votes
2answers
329 views
Number of countable subsets of $\mathbb{R}$
More generally, if a set $S$ has cardinality $\mathfrak{m}$, how many of its subsets have cardinality $\mathfrak{n}$? Clearly there are at least $2^\mathfrak{n}$ such subsets. I don't see how many ...
4
votes
2answers
180 views
Fodor's lemma on singular cardinals
Fodor's lemma asserts that if $\kappa$ is a regular and uncountable cardinal, then if $f(\alpha)<\alpha$ for a stationary subset of $\kappa$, then it is constant on stationary subset.
Suppose ...
4
votes
2answers
211 views
If $|X|=|Y|=|X-Y|=\kappa$, can we find a bijection on $X$ that fixes $Y$ only?
in a previous question, I mistakenly attempted to subtract one cardinal number from another. Anyway, this got me to thinking, suppose I have two sets $X$ and $Y$, with $Y\subseteq X$. Suppose also ...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
$\kappa\psi (x,X)\leq \psi (x,X)$
The $\kappa$-pseudocharacter $\kappa\psi (x,X)$ of a space $X$ at a point
$x\in X$ is the smallest infinite cardinal number $\tau$ such that
there exists a family $\gamma$
of $\kappa$-sets in $X$ ...


