Cardinality of non-measurable sets

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the cardinality of non-measurable sets, particularly in the context of the interval [0,1] and the implications of the Continuum Hypothesis. Participants explore the nature of these sets, their measure, and the relationship between cardinality and measurability, with references to concepts like the Banach-Tarski paradox and the axiom of choice.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that non-measurable sets may have a cardinality of either 2^{\aleph_0} or \aleph_0, questioning whether this is undecidable in ZFC axioms.
  • Another participant states that if the Continuum Hypothesis is accepted, then any unmeasurable set on the real line must have cardinality 2^{\aleph_0}.
  • A different participant points out that the existence of non-measurable sets follows from the axiom of choice, implying that the Continuum Hypothesis is not necessary for this discussion.
  • Some participants clarify that the question may be interpreted as asking about the size of the set of all non-measurable sets rather than the size of a single non-measurable set.
  • There is a consensus among some that any non-measurable set must be uncountable, with cardinality greater than \aleph_0, but the exact cardinality remains debated.
  • One participant mentions that every subset of a set of measure 0 is measurable with measure zero, adding to the complexity of the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing interpretations of the original question regarding non-measurable sets, leading to multiple competing views on the cardinality of these sets. The discussion remains unresolved with respect to the exact nature and cardinality of non-measurable sets.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the potential for confusion in interpreting the question, and there are references to the implications of the Continuum Hypothesis and the axiom of choice, which are not universally accepted as necessary for the existence of non-measurable sets.

Demystifier
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TL;DR
Is cardinality of non-measurable sets ##\aleph_0## or ##2^{\aleph_0}##?
The interval ##[0,1]## of real numbers has a non-zero measure. The set of all rational numbers in the interval ##[0,1]## has zero measure. But there are also sets that are somewhere in between, in the sense that their measure is neither zero nor non-zero. They are sets for which measure is not defined. Such sets, for instance, appear in the Banach-Tarski paradox. With a desire to get some better intuition of such sets, I ask about their cardinality. Are such sets continuous with cardinality ##2^{\aleph_0}##, or discrete with cardinality ##\aleph_0##? My intuition tells me that they should be continuous, but I want a confirmation.

Or is it perhaps undecidable in the ZFC axioms, in the same sense in which it is undecidable whether exist sets with cardinality bigger than ##\aleph_0## and smaller than ##2^{\aleph_0}##?
 
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Any countable set can be covered by a set of open intervals whose total length is less than any given ##\epsilon > 0##. So the measure of any countable set is zero. The Continuum Hypothesis is that there is no set with cardinality between ##\aleph_0## and ##2^{\aleph_0}##. If we accept the Continuum Hypothesis, then any unmeasurable set on the real line must have cardinality ##2^{\aleph_0}##
 
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Have you tried googling? This is the first result:

https://math.stackexchange.com/a/1367140/661543
It should be noted that the existence of a non-measurable set follows from the axiom of choice. There is no need to invoke the continuum hypothesis here.
 
FactChecker said:
Any countable set can be covered by a set of open intervals whose total length is less than any given ##\epsilon > 0##. So the measure of any countable set is zero. The Continuum Hypothesis is that there is no set with cardinality between ##\aleph_0## and ##2^{\aleph_0}##. If we accept the Continuum Hypothesis, then any unmeasurable set on the real line must have cardinality ##2^{\aleph_0}##

I think the question asks about the size of the set of all non-measurable sets, not the size of a non-measurable set. But anyway, given that a countable set is the countable union of singeltons, it is trivial that any countable set is measurable. Thus any non-measurable set is uncountable.
 
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Math_QED said:
I think the question asks about the size of the set of all non-measurable sets, not the size of a non-measurable set.
I just re-read it and am still not sure. I do not interpret it the way you do.
But anyway, given that a countable set is the countable union of singeltons, it is trivial that any countable set is measurable.
I agree.
Thus any non-measurable set is uncountable with cardinality ##|\mathbb{R}|##. There really is no need to use the continuum hypothesis here.
It just guarantees a cardinality greater than ##\aleph_0##. The continuum hypothesis says that it must be ##2^{\aleph_0}##.
 
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FactChecker said:
I just re-read it and am still not sure. I do not interpret it the way you do.I agree.It just guarantees a cardinality greater than ##\aleph_0##. The continuum hypothesis says that it must be ##2^{\aleph_0}##.

Ok, the question is multi-interpretable. Forgive my stuborness. This happens when you post after a 12h flight on a plane. You are also right about the continuum hypothesis part.

[Edited my previous post to avoid confusion]
 
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Math_QED said:
I think the question asks about the size of the set of all non-measurable sets, not the size of a non-measurable set.
Just to avoid confusion, I asked about the size of a non-measurable set.
 
Maybe to add or put the nail in the coffin, using completeness of measure, every subset of a set of measure 0 is measurable with measure zero. Edit: and every measure can be completed.
 
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