What Does the Mathematical Notation XN∞ Represent in Set Theory?

  • Context: Python 
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mathematical notation \( \mathbb{N}_\infty \) in set theory, specifically its definition and implications as presented in a referenced paper. Participants explore the notation's meaning, its application in programming (Python), and the underlying concepts of infinite sets and sequences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express confusion about the notation \( \mathbb{N}_\infty \) and seek clarification on its meaning and application.
  • One participant suggests that the notation \( p: X \to 2 \) indicates a mapping of integers to the set \{0, 1\}, proposing that it represents decreasing sequences of binary values.
  • Another participant introduces the concept of \( \mathbb{N}_\infty \) as the one-point compactification of the natural numbers, referencing the paper for context.
  • Concerns are raised about the appropriateness of applying computational methods to constructive mathematics, with some participants questioning the validity of the notation used in the paper.
  • Several participants request more effort from the original poster (OP) to demonstrate their understanding and approach to implementing the concepts in Python.
  • One participant attempts to summarize the notation's implications but is met with corrections regarding their interpretations of the symbols and concepts involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the interpretation of the notation or the concepts discussed. There are multiple competing views and ongoing confusion regarding the definitions and implications of \( \mathbb{N}_\infty \) and related notations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note that the notation and definitions may depend on specific interpretations from the referenced paper, which could lead to misunderstandings. The discussion highlights the complexity of the concepts involved and the need for clarity in mathematical communication.

ShellWillis
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TL;DR
im wondering how to turn this into a functional equation on python
could someone please explain this to me? I'm kind of looking at it and skimming it in different ways I need some help.
 
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Your equation as it appears in the title doesn't really make sense to begin with. Titles of threads are not good places to put equations. I would suggest posting the equation using the PF LaTeX feature in the body of a post. Also a reference to where you got the equation would help.
 
@ShellWillis
Welcome to PF.
I think this thread will be worth watching.
 
ShellWillis said:
Summary:: I am wondering how to turn this into a functional equation on python

could someone please explain this to me? I'm kind of looking at it and skimming it in different ways I need some help.
No doubt the formula you're trying to implement in Python comes from the paper you linked to in another post:

https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~mhe/papers/omniscient-journal-revised.pdf

In this paper, the author gave an example of an infinite omniscient set (? -- this is might be a term known only to the author of the paper) defined in this way:
$$\mathbb N_\infty = \{x \in 2^{\mathbb N}~|~ \forall i \in \mathbb N(x_i \ge x_{i + 1}\} $$

Note that this is not quite the same as what you wrote in the title of this thread. Before you can write a program that implements this set, you need to understand what this equation is saying. Please "unpack" the equation above and tell us four or five of the numbers that belong to this set.
 
The author introduces this set as the one-point compactification of the natural numbers.

Earlier in the paper the author uses the notation [itex]p: X \to 2[/itex] in defining a function, so I suspect 2 actually means [itex]\{0,1\}[/itex] and we are looking at the set of all decreasing sequences taking values in [itex]\{0,1\}[/itex]. You can identify such a sequence by [tex] I(x) = \begin{cases} 0 & \mbox{$x_i = 1$ for all $i \in \mathbb{N}$,}\\<br /> (\min\{ i \in \mathbb{N} : x_i = 0\})^{-1} & \mbox{otherwise.}<br /> \end{cases}[/tex]
since once such a sequence hits zero it must stay there. This creates a bijection between [itex]\mathbb{N}_\infty[/itex] and [tex]K = \{0\} \cup \{n^{-1} : n \in \mathbb{Z}, n > 0 \}[/tex]
 
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What does a functional equation look like in Python?
 
pasmith said:
Earlier in the paper the author uses the notation [itex]p: X \to 2[/itex] in defining a function, so I suspect 2 actually means [itex]\{0,1\}[/itex] and we are looking at the set of all decreasing sequences taking values in [itex]\{0,1\}[/itex].
That's my take as well, that ##p: X \to 2## maps integers to a number in the set {0, 1}. Seems like weird notation to me.
 
Mark44 said:
That's my take as well, that ##p: X \to 2## maps integers to a number in the set {0, 1}. Seems like weird notation to me.
Yes, and it looks like a bit of a cheat to me in a constructivist context, although I can see its attraction: if we have such a function (and we can rely on the usual properties of a function) then we don't need LOM.

I'm also very wary of applying computational methods to constructive mathematics in general: ## (P \lor \neg P) ## is built into the hardware.

I'd like to see a lot more effort from the OP demonstrating how they expect to tackle this, and what the answer they expect to see looks like.
 
pbuk said:
I'd like to see a lot more effort from the OP demonstrating how they expect to tackle this, and what the answer they expect to see looks like.
Same here.
Let's all hold off any more replies until we hear back from the OP.
 
  • #10
Mark44 said:
That's my take as well, that ##p: X \to 2## maps integers to a number in the set {0, 1}. Seems like weird notation to me.
I hope I'm not conflicting with the idea to wait for the OP to clarify. But I just have some insight on the notation to offer.

It makes some sense to use this notation because the notation for the Cantor space is ##2^{\mathbb{N}}## or ##2^{\omega}##, while in more explicit notation, this means ##\{0,1\}^{\mathbb{N}}##. The notation for the cantor set using 2 to represent ##\{0,1\}## is weird, but I guess it makes sense to be consistent with it.

Note that the other part of the notation (aside from 2) comes from regular expressions. ##\{0,1\}^{\mathbb{N}}## means the set of infinite binary strings, ##\{0,1\}^*## means the set of all finite binary strings including the empty string. ##\{0,1\}^n## means all binary strings of length ##n##, ##1^n## is short for ##\{1\}^n## which is the set with 1 element, ##111...## , etc.

The set the OP is asking about seems to be ##1^*0^{\mathbb{N}} \cup 1^{\mathbb{N}}##.
 
  • #11
From what I gather...

"2" is unwanted divergence

N is every pattern of union amongst empty sets

i means every set

x, i are each individual empty set aligned

And thatN infinity has the greatest magnitude of power
 
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  • #12
For reference, here's the definition I wrote in post #4:
$$\mathbb N_\infty = \{x \in 2^{\mathbb N}~|~ \forall i \in \mathbb N(x_i \ge x_{i + 1}\} $$
ShellWillis said:
From what I gather...

"2" is unwanted divergence
No. See posts #7 and #10.
ShellWillis said:
N is every pattern of union amongst empty sets
No. What you wrote makes no sense at all. ##\mathbb N## is commonly used to mean the set of natural numbers 1, 2, 3, ..., with the possible inclusion of 0.
ShellWillis said:
i means every set
No. i is a particular but unspecified member of ##\mathbb N##.
ShellWillis said:
x, i are each individual empty set aligned
No.
ShellWillis said:
And thatN infinity has the greatest magnitude of power
##N_\infty## is defined in the paper as well as at the top of this post.

It seems clear to me that you do not understand what the paper is trying to convey, so there is no possibility that you will be able to implement what the paper is discussing in Python or any other programming language. For this reason, I am closing this thread.

If at some point you come to a better understanding of what the paper is saying, please send me a PM and I will reopen the thread.
 
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