Are the following 3 statements true and does the cantor-bernstein theorem follow

  • Thread starter Wiz14
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Theorem
In summary: After all, it is not true that A is strictly less than itself, that would be absurd!In summary, the Cantor-Schroeder-Berstein theorem states that if there exists an injection from set A to set B and also an injection from set B to set A, then there exists a bijection between set A and set B. This theorem requires a nontrivial argument to prove and cannot be deduced from the definitions of ≤ and ≥ for cardinalities of sets.
  • #1
Wiz14
20
0
1.There exists an injection from A to B ⇔ A ≤ B
2.There exists an injection from B to A ⇔ B ≤ A
3.If A ≤ B and B ≤ A, then A = B

Does this prove the Cantor Bernstein theorem? Which says that if 1 and 2 then there exists a Bijection between A and B (A = B)

And if it does, why is there a different, longer proof for it?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Wiz14 said:
1.There exists an injection from A to B ⇔ A ≤ B
2.There exists an injection from B to A ⇔ B ≤ A
3.If A ≤ B and B ≤ A, then A = B

Does this prove the Cantor Bernstein theorem?

No. 1) and 2) are definitions of ≤ and ≥ for cardinalities of sets. 3) is a nontrivial consequence for which you have provided no argument at all.
 
  • #3
Statement 3 IS the Cantor-Schroeder-Berstein theorem: "If the cardinality of A is less than or equal to the cardinality of B, and the cardinality of B is less than or equal to the cardinality of A, then the cardinality of A is equal to the cardinality of B." You can also state it as "If there is an injection from A to B, and there is an injection from B to A, then there is a bijection from A to B." As Norweigan said, it requires a nontrivial argument to prove this theorem.

EDIT: See the easy-to-understand proof here.
 
Last edited:
  • #4
lugita15 said:
Statement 3 IS the Cantor-Schroeder-Berstein theorem: "If the cardinality of A is less than or equal to the cardinality of B, and the cardinality of B is less than or equal to the cardinality of A, then the cardinality of A is equal to the cardinality of B." You can also state it as "If there is an injection from A to B, and there is an injection from B to A, then there is a bijection from A to B." As Norweigan said, it requires a nontrivial argument to prove this theorem.

EDIT: See the easy-to-understand proof here.

I am reading that proof now but where is the flaw in my reasoning?
A ≤B and B ≤ A is like saying A = B or A is strictly less than B and B is strictly less than A, which is a contradiction, so A must = B.
 
  • #5
Wiz14 said:
I am reading that proof now but where is the flaw in my reasoning?
A ≤B and B ≤ A is like saying A = B or A is strictly less than B and B is strictly less than A, which is a contradiction, so A must = B.
If A and B were numbers, then yes it would be trivially true that if A≤B and B≤A then A would equal B. But A and B are sets, and what we mean by A≤B is that "there exists an injection from A to B". We don't know beforehand whether "less than or equal to" for sets, which has to do with existence of an injection, has the same properties as "less than or equal to" for numbers. We have to prove it. So you can't use your familiar properties of numbers, like the fact that two things can't be strictly less than each other.
 

1. Are the following 3 statements true?

Without knowing the specific statements in question, it is impossible to determine their truthfulness. In order to evaluate the truth of a statement, it must be stated clearly and supported by evidence or logical reasoning.

2. Does the Cantor-Bernstein theorem follow?

The Cantor-Bernstein theorem, also known as the Cantor-Schröder-Bernstein theorem, states that if there is an injective function from set A to set B and an injective function from set B to set A, then there exists a bijective function between the two sets. Whether or not the theorem follows depends on the context and the information given about the sets A and B.

3. What is the Cantor-Bernstein theorem?

The Cantor-Bernstein theorem, also known as the Cantor-Schröder-Bernstein theorem, is a mathematical theorem that states the existence of a bijective function between two sets if there are injective functions from each set to the other. It is an important tool in set theory and has applications in computer science and other fields.

4. How is the Cantor-Bernstein theorem used in mathematics?

The Cantor-Bernstein theorem is used in mathematics to prove the equivalence of cardinalities (sizes) of sets. It is often used in the study of infinite sets and has applications in topology, measure theory, and other areas of mathematics.

5. What are injective and bijective functions?

An injective function is a function that maps each element of its domain to a unique element in its range. In other words, no two elements in the domain are mapped to the same element in the range. A bijective function is both injective and surjective, meaning that it is one-to-one and onto, mapping every element in its domain to a unique element in its range and vice versa.

Similar threads

  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
5
Views
236
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Precalculus Mathematics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
2
Replies
54
Views
4K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
11
Views
502
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
Replies
7
Views
1K
Back
Top