Is it generally true that if $|P(A)|=|P(B)|$ then $|A|=|B|$? Why? Thanks.
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5$\begingroup$ A very closely related question on MathOverflow: mathoverflow.net/questions/17152/… $\endgroup$– Jonas MeyerCommented Mar 27, 2011 at 21:48
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1$\begingroup$ And also this one: mathoverflow.net/questions/67473/… $\endgroup$– Martin SleziakCommented Nov 19, 2015 at 14:21
1 Answer
Your question is undecidable in ZFC. If you assume the generalized continuum hypothesis then what you state is true. On the other hand Easton's theorem shows that if you have a function $F$ from the regular cardinals to cardinals such that $F(\kappa)>\kappa$, $\kappa\leq\lambda\Rightarrow F(\kappa)\leq F(\lambda)$ and $cf(F(\kappa))>\kappa$ then it's consistent that $2^\kappa=F(\kappa)$. This of course shows that it's consistent that we can have two cardinals $\kappa<\lambda$ such that $2^\kappa=2^\lambda$.
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12$\begingroup$ Easton's theorem is overkill here. Cohen's original model for ZFC + $\neg$CH had $2^{\aleph_0}=2^{\aleph_1}=\aleph_2$. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 7, 2013 at 2:07