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If an infinite set is a [[well-orderable set]], then it has many well-orderings which are non-isomorphic.
If an infinite set is a [[well-orderable set]], then it has many well-orderings which are non-isomorphic.


Infinite set theory involves proofs and definitions. <ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Burton |first=David |title=The History of Mathematics: An Introduction |publisher=McGraw Hill |year=2007 |isbn=9780073051895 |edition=6th ed |location=Boston |pages=666-689 |language=Eng}}</ref> Important ideas discussed by Burton include how to define "elements" or parts of a set, how to define unique elements in the set, and how to prove infinity. <ref name=":2" /> Burton also discusses proofs for different types of infinity, including countable and uncountable sets. <ref name=":2" /> Topics used when comparing infinite and finite sets include ordered sets, cardinality, equivalency, coordinate planes, universal sets, mapping, subsets, continuity, and transcendence. <ref name=":2" /> Candor's set ideas were influenced by trigonometry and irrational numbers. Other key ideas in infinite set theory mentioned by Burton, Paula, Narli and Rodger include real numbers such as pi, integers, and Euler's number. <ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pala |first=Ozan |last2=Narli |first2=Serkan |date=2020-12-15 |title=Role of the Formal Knowledge in the Formation of the Proof Image: A Case Study in the Context of Infinite Sets |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/turkbilmat/issue/58294/702540 |journal=Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT) |language=en |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=584–618 |doi=10.16949/turkbilmat.702540}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Rodgers |first=Nancy |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/757394919 |title=Learning to reason : an introduction to logic, sets and relations |date=2000 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-16570-6 |location=New York |oclc=757394919}}</ref>
Infinite set theory involves proofs and definitions.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Burton |first=David |title=The History of Mathematics: An Introduction |publisher=McGraw Hill |year=2007 |isbn=9780073051895 |edition=6th |location=Boston |pages=666-689 |language=en}}</ref> Important ideas discussed by Burton include how to define "elements" or parts of a set, how to define unique elements in the set, and how to prove infinity.<ref name=":2" /> Burton also discusses proofs for different types of infinity, including countable and uncountable sets.<ref name=":2" /> Topics used when comparing infinite and finite sets include ordered sets, cardinality, equivalency, coordinate planes, universal sets, mapping, subsets, continuity, and transcendence.<ref name=":2" /> Candor's set ideas were influenced by trigonometry and irrational numbers. Other key ideas in infinite set theory mentioned by Burton, Paula, Narli and Rodger include real numbers such as pi, integers, and Euler's number.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pala |first=Ozan |last2=Narli |first2=Serkan |date=2020-12-15 |title=Role of the Formal Knowledge in the Formation of the Proof Image: A Case Study in the Context of Infinite Sets |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/turkbilmat/issue/58294/702540 |journal=Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT) |language=en |volume=11 |issue=3 |pages=584–618 |doi=10.16949/turkbilmat.702540}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Rodgers |first=Nancy |title=Learning to reason: an introduction to logic, sets and relations |date=2000 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-16570-6 |location=New York |oclc=757394919}}</ref>


Both Burton and Rogers use finite sets to start to explain infinite sets using proof concepts such as mapping, proof by induction, or proof by contradiction. <ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Mathematical trees can also be used to understand infinite sets.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gollin |first=J. Pascal |last2=Kneip |first2=Jakob |date=2021-04-01 |title=Representations of Infinite Tree Sets |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11083-020-09529-0 |journal=Order |language=en |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=79–96 |doi=10.1007/s11083-020-09529-0 |issn=1572-9273}}</ref> Burton also discusses proofs of infinite sets including ideas such as unions and subsets. <ref name=":2" />
Both Burton and Rogers use finite sets to start to explain infinite sets using proof concepts such as mapping, proof by induction, or proof by contradiction.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Mathematical trees can also be used to understand infinite sets.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gollin |first=J. Pascal |last2=Kneip |first2=Jakob |date=2021-04-01 |title=Representations of Infinite Tree Sets |journal=Order |language=en |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=79–96 |doi=10.1007/s11083-020-09529-0 |issn=1572-9273}}</ref> Burton also discusses proofs of infinite sets including ideas such as unions and subsets.<ref name=":2" />


In Chapter 12 of The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, Burton emphasizes how mathematicians such as Zermelo, Dedekind, Galileo, Kronecker, Cantor, and Bolzano investigated and influenced infinite set theory. <ref name=":2" /> Potential historical influences, such as how Prussia's history in the 1800's, resulted in an increase in scholarly mathematical knowledge, including Candor's theory of infinite sets. <ref name=":2" />
In Chapter 12 of ''The History of Mathematics: An Introduction'', Burton emphasizes how mathematicians such as Zermelo, Dedekind, Galileo, Kronecker, Cantor, and Bolzano investigated and influenced infinite set theory.<ref name=":2" /> Potential historical influences, such as how Prussia's history in the 1800's, resulted in an increase in scholarly mathematical knowledge, including Candor's theory of infinite sets.<ref name=":2" />


Mathematicians including Zermelo, Dedekind, Galileo, Kronecker, Cantor, and Bolzano investigated or influenced infinite set theory. Many of these mathematicians either debated infinity or otherwise added to the ideas of infinite sets.<ref name=":2" />
Mathematicians including Zermelo, Dedekind, Galileo, Kronecker, Cantor, and Bolzano investigated or influenced infinite set theory. Many of these mathematicians either debated infinity or otherwise added to the ideas of infinite sets.<ref name=":2" />


One potential application of infinite set theory is in genetics and biology. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shelah |first=Saharon |last2=Strüngmann |first2=Lutz |date=2021-06-01 |title=Infinite combinatorics in mathematical biology |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303264721000496 |journal=Biosystems |language=en |volume=204 |pages=104392 |doi=10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104392 |issn=0303-2647}}</ref>
One potential application of infinite set theory is in genetics and biology.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Shelah |first=Saharon |last2=Strüngmann |first2=Lutz |date=2021-06-01 |title=Infinite combinatorics in mathematical biology |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0303264721000496 |journal=Biosystems |language=en |volume=204 |pages=104392 |doi=10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104392 |issn=0303-2647}}</ref>


==Examples==
==Examples==

Revision as of 14:55, 14 June 2022

Set Theory Image
Set Theory Image

In set theory, an infinite set is a set that is not a finite set. Infinite sets may be countable or uncountable.[1][2]

Properties

The set of natural numbers (whose existence is postulated by the axiom of infinity) is infinite.[2][3] It is the only set that is directly required by the axioms to be infinite. The existence of any other infinite set can be proved in Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory (ZFC), but only by showing that it follows from the existence of the natural numbers.

A set is infinite if and only if for every natural number, the set has a subset whose cardinality is that natural number.[citation needed]

If the axiom of choice holds, then a set is infinite if and only if it includes a countable infinite subset.

If a set of sets is infinite or contains an infinite element, then its union is infinite. The power set of an infinite set is infinite.[4] Any superset of an infinite set is infinite. If an infinite set is partitioned into finitely many subsets, then at least one of them must be infinite. Any set which can be mapped onto an infinite set is infinite. The Cartesian product of an infinite set and a nonempty set is infinite. The Cartesian product of an infinite number of sets, each containing at least two elements, is either empty or infinite; if the axiom of choice holds, then it is infinite.

If an infinite set is a well-ordered set, then it must have a nonempty, nontrivial subset that has no greatest element.

In ZF, a set is infinite if and only if the power set of its power set is a Dedekind-infinite set, having a proper subset equinumerous to itself.[5] If the axiom of choice is also true, then infinite sets are precisely the Dedekind-infinite sets.

If an infinite set is a well-orderable set, then it has many well-orderings which are non-isomorphic.

Infinite set theory involves proofs and definitions.[6] Important ideas discussed by Burton include how to define "elements" or parts of a set, how to define unique elements in the set, and how to prove infinity.[6] Burton also discusses proofs for different types of infinity, including countable and uncountable sets.[6] Topics used when comparing infinite and finite sets include ordered sets, cardinality, equivalency, coordinate planes, universal sets, mapping, subsets, continuity, and transcendence.[6] Candor's set ideas were influenced by trigonometry and irrational numbers. Other key ideas in infinite set theory mentioned by Burton, Paula, Narli and Rodger include real numbers such as pi, integers, and Euler's number.[6][7][8]

Both Burton and Rogers use finite sets to start to explain infinite sets using proof concepts such as mapping, proof by induction, or proof by contradiction.[6][8] Mathematical trees can also be used to understand infinite sets.[9] Burton also discusses proofs of infinite sets including ideas such as unions and subsets.[6]

In Chapter 12 of The History of Mathematics: An Introduction, Burton emphasizes how mathematicians such as Zermelo, Dedekind, Galileo, Kronecker, Cantor, and Bolzano investigated and influenced infinite set theory.[6] Potential historical influences, such as how Prussia's history in the 1800's, resulted in an increase in scholarly mathematical knowledge, including Candor's theory of infinite sets.[6]

Mathematicians including Zermelo, Dedekind, Galileo, Kronecker, Cantor, and Bolzano investigated or influenced infinite set theory. Many of these mathematicians either debated infinity or otherwise added to the ideas of infinite sets.[6]

One potential application of infinite set theory is in genetics and biology.[10]

Examples

Countably infinite sets

The set of all integers, {..., -1, 0, 1, 2, ...} is a countably infinite set. The set of all even integers is also a countably infinite set, even if it is a proper subset of the integers.[4]

The set of all rational numbers is a countably infinite set as there is a bijection to the set of integers.[4]

Uncountably infinite sets

The set of all real numbers is an uncountably infinite set. The set of all irrational numbers is also an uncountably infinite set.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Weisstein, Eric W. "Infinite Set". mathworld.wolfram.com. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  2. ^ a b "infinite set in nLab". ncatlab.org. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  3. ^ Bagaria, Joan (2019), "Set Theory", in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2019 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University, retrieved 2019-11-30
  4. ^ a b c d Caldwell, Chris. "The Prime Glossary — Infinite". primes.utm.edu. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  5. ^ Boolos, George (1994), "The advantages of honest toil over theft", Mathematics and mind (Amherst, MA, 1991), Logic Comput. Philos., Oxford Univ. Press, New York, pp. 27–44, MR 1373892. See in particular pp. 32–33.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Burton, David (2007). The History of Mathematics: An Introduction (6th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill. pp. 666–689. ISBN 9780073051895.
  7. ^ Pala, Ozan; Narli, Serkan (2020-12-15). "Role of the Formal Knowledge in the Formation of the Proof Image: A Case Study in the Context of Infinite Sets". Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT). 11 (3): 584–618. doi:10.16949/turkbilmat.702540.
  8. ^ a b Rodgers, Nancy (2000). Learning to reason: an introduction to logic, sets and relations. New York: Wiley. ISBN 978-1-118-16570-6. OCLC 757394919.
  9. ^ Gollin, J. Pascal; Kneip, Jakob (2021-04-01). "Representations of Infinite Tree Sets". Order. 38 (1): 79–96. doi:10.1007/s11083-020-09529-0. ISSN 1572-9273.
  10. ^ Shelah, Saharon; Strüngmann, Lutz (2021-06-01). "Infinite combinatorics in mathematical biology". Biosystems. 204: 104392. doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104392. ISSN 0303-2647.
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