# How to construct an increasing sequence in an ordinal $\alpha$ from a bijection $f: |\alpha| \rightarrow \alpha$

I have a question related to cofinality:

Let $$\alpha$$ is a limit ordinal and is not a cardinal. How can I construct an increasing sequence $$\alpha_{\xi}$$ in $$\alpha$$ with the length $$|\alpha|$$ from a bijection $$f: |\alpha| \rightarrow \alpha$$ such that $$\lim_{\xi \rightarrow |\alpha|} \alpha_{\xi} = \alpha$$.

I have read one construction from here where the sequence was built based on a set $$S$$:

$$S = \{ \beta \in |\alpha| \mid \forall \gamma \prec \beta: f(\gamma) \prec f(\beta) \}$$

However, let take an example for $$\alpha = \omega +1$$ where the bijection $$f$$ is defined with $$f(0) = \omega$$ and $$f(n+1) = n$$ for all $$n \in \omega$$. We can easily get $$S = \emptyset$$.

I cannot comment to that question so my post (as an answer) has been deleted by moderators. I hope your helps in this case and so sorry if I made a mistake.

Edited: $$\alpha$$ is a limit ordinal.

• Just to clarify, your answer was not deleted by the moderators. It was deleted by users who decided (correctly) that it is not an answer. Asking new questions should be done by asking new questions, not by writing an answer on a different question. This is the platform, use it appropriately. Dec 7 '20 at 23:57
• Thank you @AsafKaragila. I noted it. Dec 8 '20 at 3:55
• In the question you cite, the result is the existence of a sequence of length $\leq |\alpha|$ and not of length exactly $|\alpha|$. In general for ordinals $\beta,\alpha$ where $\alpha$ is a limit, there is a non-decreasing cofinal function $\beta \rightarrow \alpha$ if and only if $\operatorname{cf}(\beta)=\operatorname{cf}(\alpha)$. Dec 9 '20 at 11:59

In general this is not possible: the best that can be hoped for is a cofinal increasing sequence of length $$\operatorname{cf}\alpha$$. It certainly isn’t possible if $$\alpha$$ is not a limit ordinal, but it isn’t possible for all limit ordinals, either. For instance, let $$\alpha=\omega_1+\omega$$; then $$|\alpha|=\omega_1$$, but $$\operatorname{cf}\alpha=\omega$$. There are certainly increasing $$\omega$$-sequences cofinal in $$\alpha$$, the simplest being $$\langle \omega_1+n:n\in\omega\rangle$$, but no increasing $$\omega_1$$-sequence can be cofinal in $$\alpha$$.
• Indeed, the most we can do is construct a cofinal sequence of minimal length, but not necessarily of type $|\alpha|$. Dec 7 '20 at 23:57
• Thank you very much for your answer @BrianM.Scott. Firstly, $\alpha$ is a limit ordinal. Secondly, could you please tell me if it's possible to construct the sequence with a length $\leq |\alpha|$ instead of $|\alpha|$? Dec 8 '20 at 3:52
• @ChauLong: If $\alpha$ is a limit ordinal, the shortest sequences cofinal in $\alpha$ will all have length $\operatorname{cf}\alpha$, and the longest is of course $\alpha$ itself. If $\beta$ is the length of a sequence cofinal in $\alpha$, then $\operatorname{cf}\beta=\operatorname{cf}\alpha$. The only cardinal that is the length of a sequence cofinal in $\alpha$ is $|\alpha|$. Dec 9 '20 at 17:58