Set Theory

Set Theory explores the fundamental concepts of sets, including operations, relations, and applications in mathematics.

Advanced Topics

Infinite Sets and Cardinality

Infinite Sets

Some sets, like the set of all natural numbers \(\mathbb{N} = {1, 2, 3, \ldots}\), go on forever. These are infinite sets.

Cardinality

The cardinality of a set is a measure of its size, or how many elements it has. For finite sets, it's just the count. But infinite sets get interesting!

Comparing Infinite Sets

Not all infinite sets are the same size. The set of natural numbers is infinite, but so is the set of real numbers between 0 and 1. Surprisingly, there are more real numbers than natural numbers!

Cantor's Discovery

Mathematician Georg Cantor showed that some infinities are bigger than others using clever arguments like diagonalization.

Examples

  • The set of all even numbers is infinite, just like the set of all whole numbers.

  • The set of real numbers is a 'bigger' infinity than the set of natural numbers.

In a Nutshell

Infinite sets can have different sizes, and cardinality helps us compare them.

Key Terms

Cardinality
The number of elements in a set.
Infinite Set
A set with an endless number of elements.
Diagonalization
A method used to show that some infinities are larger than others.