# Cardinality of Infinite Sets

kingwinner

## Homework Statement

Q1) Assuming that |R|=|[0,1]| is true, how can we rigorously prove that |R2|=|[0,1] x [0,1]|? How to define the bijection? [Q1 is solved, please see Q2]

Q2) Prove that |[0,1] x [0,1]| ≤ |[0,1]|
Proof: Represent points in [0,1] x [0,1] as infinite decimals
x=0.a1a2a3...
y=0.b1b2b3...
Define f(x,y)=0.a1b1a2b2a3b3...
To avoid ambiguity, for any number that has two decimal representations, choose the one with a string of 9's.
f: [0,1] x [0,1] -> [0,1] is one-to-one, but not onto.
This one-to-one map proves that |[0,1] x [0,1]| ≤ |[0,1]|.

Now how can we formally prove that f is a one-to-one map (i.e. f(m)=f(n) => m=n)? All textbooks are avoiding this step, they just say it's obviously one-to-one, but this is exactly where I'm having trouble. How to prove formally?

## The Attempt at a Solution

As shown above.

Thanks a million! :)

Last edited:

kingwinner
Q1 is solved, but I'm still having trouble with Q2.

Can someone help me with Q2, please? It is an example I found on the internet, but I don't understand why the function f is one-to-one. How can we formally PROVE that f is a one-to-one map?

Any help is appreciated!

mrbohn1
There is really nothing to it...you just have to say: suppose $$f(a,b)=f(c,d).$$ Then:

$$0.a_1b_1a_2b_2...=0.c_1d_1c_2d_2...$$, so:

$$a_i=c_i$$ and $$b_i=d_i$$ for all $$i$$,

ie: $$a=c$$ and $$b=d$$, so $$(a,b)=(c,d).$$

kingwinner
There is really nothing to it...you just have to say: suppose $$f(a,b)=f(c,d).$$ Then:

$$0.a_1b_1a_2b_2...=0.c_1d_1c_2d_2...$$, so:

$$a_i=c_i$$ and $$b_i=d_i$$ for all $$i$$,

ie: $$a=c$$ and $$b=d$$, so $$(a,b)=(c,d).$$

We can say $$a_i=c_i$$ and $$b_i=d_i$$ for all $$i$$ only because we have removed all ambiguities, so the decimal expansion of each number is unique, right??

Also, why is f NOT onto??

Thanks!!

Also, why is f NOT onto??
Why do you think it's not? It is! Hence it is a bijection, which means $|[0,1]^2|=|[0,1]|$.

The proof is trivial: let $z\in [0,1]$, $z=0,z_1z_2z_3z_4z_5...$.
Take $x,y\in[0,1]$ with $x=0.z_1z_3z_5...$ and $y=0.z_2z_4z_6...$. Then obviously $f(x,y)=z$.

It seems to me to make more sense to construct a surjective (onto) map in the other direction, say $g : [0,1] \rightarrow [0,1] \times [0,1]$. If you can find such a map, then it's immediate that $|[0,1]| \geq |[0,1]\times[0,1]|$.
To create such a map, just do the opposite of what your $f$ function does.
First, this is exactly the same since f is bijective, hence you would just be computing the inverse which contributes nothing. Second, |A|<=|B| means by definition that there exists an injection A->B, not that there exists a surjection B->A. These are only equivalent if we invoke the axiom of choice. So it does not make more sence to construct a surjective map in the other direction.

\\edit: it seems jbunniii deleted his reply.

Homework Helper
Gold Member
\\edit: it seems jbunniii deleted his reply.

Yeah, I realized pretty quickly that it didn't make any sense, but not quickly enough!

I apologize ;)

kingwinner
Hi,

But now I seriously think that f is NOT onto.

For example, 0.17070707... is not in the image of f.
It must come from (0.10000..., 0.7777...), but by our definition of f, 0.10000... is always represented as 0.0999..., (we have to remove all the ambiguities, for any number that has two decimal representations, we choose the one with a string of 9's. When we define f, we have to remove the ambiguities, otherwise, f won't be one-to-one, actually I think f wouldn't even be a function.)
So (0.10000..., 0.7777...) is always represented as (0.09999..., 0.7777...). There is no way we can get the element 0.17070707... in the image of f.

Hence, f is definitely NOT onto, am I right???

ShortFive
It looks to me like you are trying to prove that $$|[0,1] \times [0,1]| = |[0,1]|$$. Now, I do not know what facts of life you are allowed to assume here, but it seems like the easiest way to go is to appeal to the Schroeder-Bernstein Theorem. If you are unfamiliar with it, the Schroeder-Bernstein Theorem says, briefly, that if $$A$$ and $$B$$ are sets, with both $$|A| \leq |B|$$ and $$|B| \leq |A|$$, then $$|A| = |B|$$. This is more than a mere triviality, since it means that if we have an injection (one-one map, not necessarily onto, as pointed out above) $$A \rightarrow B$$ and an injection $$B \rightarrow A$$, then $$A$$ and $$B$$ have the same cardinal number.

In this case, an injection $$[0,1] \rightarrow [0,1] \times [0,1]$$ is easy. An injection $$[0,1] \times [0,1] \rightarrow [0,1]$$ requires a bit more thought, but is readily exhibited, as you have seen.

Homework Helper
If you are given that |R|= |[0,1]|, you already know that there exists a bijection f(x) from R to [0,1]. Then F(x,y)= (f(x), f(y)) is a bijection from RxR to [0, 1]x[0,1].

Homework Helper
Great proof Halls!

kingwinner
Hi,

For Q2, to prove |[0,1]|=|[0,1]x[0,1]|, I was going to use the Schroeder-Bernstein theorem, too.

But someone said that f(x,y)=0.a1b1a2b2a3b3... is a BIJECTION. If it is a bijection, then we don't need that theorem. Can someone explain why f(x,y)=0.a1b1a2b2a3b3... is onto? I think my post #9 demonstrates that f is NOT onto. Am I missing something??