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2013/02/27

countable sets 2

We accepted that although a set (for example rational numbers) was infinite, it could be countable. But all infinite sets are not countable. We should show that real numbers are uncountable.

At first, we show that \mathbb{R}=(-\infty,\infty) is corresponding to open interval (0,1). It is very simple, because we have only to arrange the function
 f(x)=\tan \left(x-\frac{1}{2}\right)\pi, \quad x\in (0,1) 
It may be kind of weird. But the function must have been familiar to you.

Hence, we decide to show that open interval (0,1) is uncountable. The proof is by contradiction. Let the open interval (0,1) be the set I. If I is countable, then all elements x of I can be listed in any order.

x_1=0.c_{11}c_{12}c_{13}\cdots
x_2=0.c_{21}c_{22}c_{23}\cdots
x_3=0.c_{31}c_{32}c_{33}\cdots
\quad \cdots \cdots \cdots
x_n=0.c_{n1}c_{n2}c_{n3}\cdots
\quad \cdots \cdots \cdots

In here, c_{ij} is a single digit figure from 0 to 9 and suppose that for a i, all c_{ij} (j=0,1,\cdots \infty) of x_i are not nine and are not zero, because 0.999\cdots =1 and 0.000\cdots =0 are out of interval.

This list is with no limit. However, after listing, we are able to make a new number y by the following procedure.

Let y be 0.d_1d_2d_3\cdots where d_i (i=0,1,\cdots \infty) is also a single digit figure. Then, we pick a number different from c_{11} as d_1. Next, we pick a number different from c_{22} as d_2, and also do a number different from c_{33} as d_3. Furthermore we keep carrying on this choice with no limit. As a result, the number y becomes a new number different from every x_i. Although all x_i is all elements of I, we have gotten a new number y. It is a contradiction. Therefore, open interval I is not countable and real numbers become uncountable.

It is the famous Cantor's diagonal argument. How do you feel about two procedures with no end?

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