Higher Cardinals: Example of Set with Cardinality Aleph2?

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In summary, higher cardinals are cardinal numbers that are greater than aleph-one and cannot be reached by any iteration of the power set operation. A set with cardinality aleph-two is significant in indicating an even larger infinity and has important implications in set theory and other branches of mathematics. It can be constructed using axioms and principles of set theory, transfinite recursion, or by taking the power set of a set with cardinality aleph-one. According to the Continuum Hypothesis, there are no cardinal numbers between aleph-one and aleph-two, but this cannot be proven or disproven. Higher cardinals have theoretical applications in mathematics and also have implications in computer science, particularly in the study of complexity classes and algorithmic
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Son Goku
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Just an ideal question, possibly asked before, but is there an example of a Set which has cardinality of [tex]\aleph_{2}[/tex]?
 
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  • #2
That's a tough one, since it depends on the assumptions you use. With the GCH, the set of all functions [itex]f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}[/itex] has cardinality [itex]\aleph_2[/itex].
 
  • #3


Yes, there are several examples of sets with cardinality \aleph_{2}. One example is the set of all countable ordinals, denoted by \omega_{2}. This set has cardinality \aleph_{2} because it contains all countable ordinals up to and including the second uncountable ordinal, \omega_{2}. Another example is the set of all subsets of the real numbers with cardinality \aleph_{1}, denoted by \mathcal{P}(\mathbb{R})_{\aleph_{1}}. This set has cardinality \aleph_{2} because there are \aleph_{1} subsets of \mathbb{R}, and each of these subsets has cardinality \aleph_{1}, resulting in a total cardinality of \aleph_{1} \cdot \aleph_{1} = \aleph_{2}. Additionally, the set of all functions from \mathbb{R} to \mathbb{R} has cardinality \aleph_{2} because there are \aleph_{2} real numbers and each function can be represented as a subset of \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R}, resulting in a total cardinality of \mathcal{P}(\mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R}) = \aleph_{2}. These are just a few examples, as there are many other sets with cardinality \aleph_{2} in higher cardinality mathematics.
 

1. What are higher cardinals and how are they defined?

Higher cardinals are cardinal numbers that are greater than the first uncountable cardinal, aleph-one. They are defined as the smallest cardinal numbers that cannot be reached by any iteration of the power set operation starting from the empty set.

2. What is the significance of having a set with cardinality aleph-two?

A set with cardinality aleph-two is significant because it is the third uncountable cardinal number and indicates the existence of an even larger infinity. It also has important implications in set theory, logic, and other branches of mathematics.

3. How does one construct a set with cardinality aleph-two?

A set with cardinality aleph-two can be constructed using certain axioms and principles of set theory, such as the Axiom of Choice and the Continuum Hypothesis. It can also be constructed using transfinite recursion or by taking the power set of the set with cardinality aleph-one.

4. Can a set have a cardinality between aleph-one and aleph-two?

No, according to the Continuum Hypothesis, there are no cardinal numbers between aleph-one and aleph-two. However, this hypothesis is independent of the standard axioms of set theory, so it cannot be proven or disproven.

5. Are there any real-world applications for higher cardinals?

Higher cardinals have mostly theoretical applications in mathematics, particularly in set theory and logic. However, they also have implications in computer science, particularly in the study of complexity classes and algorithmic randomness.

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