Proving Infinitely Many Segments in an Opened Set

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of proving that infinitely many segments can be created within any open set, specifically focusing on intervals within a scaled line. Participants explore the definition of segments and the implications of constructing them within a given interval.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant queries how to prove that infinitely many segments can be created within an open set, particularly within an interval (a,b).
  • Another participant seeks clarification on the definition of a segment, suggesting it includes all points between two fixed boundary points.
  • A further response indicates that while one cannot "construct" infinitely many segments, one can prove that there is no upper limit to the number of segments that can be created by dividing existing segments.
  • This participant proposes a proof strategy involving the division of segments and the assumption of an upper bound, ultimately leading to a contradiction.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to have differing views on the concept of constructing segments, with some focusing on the definition and others on the implications of segment division. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the method of proving the original claim.

Contextual Notes

There are nuances in the definitions and assumptions about segments and their construction that are not fully resolved, particularly regarding the nature of infinitely many segments and the implications of segment division.

sutupidmath
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Hi,
i was just wondering how to prove that from every opened set we can create infinitely many segments within it. My point is this, if we have a scaled line, and if we choose an interval, let's say (a,b), then how can i prove that i can construct infinitely many segments whithin the given interval (a,b)?

I hope u got my point, couse i have been a little ambiguous.
 
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What is a segment?
 
Well, a segment is the set of all points,that lay on a line, between two fixed points, including these two,boundary, points. [a,b].
Something like this, right?
 
Last edited:
Well, it's a subtle point, but you can't actually "construct" infinitely many segments. Rather what the question is asking you to prove is that there is no upper limit on the number of segments you can construct.

You would prove there is no upper limit as follows. First prove that you can divide any given line segment into finitely more line segments(two will do). Then assume there is an upper bound N, on the number of segments (a,b) can be divided into. But every one of those line segments can be divided up into more by the first part of the proof, and now (a,b) has been divided up inot more than N segments. So the assumption of an upper bound on the number of segments is false, and there is no upper limit on how many times you can segment an interval.
 

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