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Prove that the set of continuous functions $f: (0,1) \to (0,1)$ has the same cardinality as the open interval $(0,1)$.

I am not sure exactly how to get started. I have access to Schröder-Bernstein, but don't think there is a good way to use it. I can prove that $(0,1)$ has the same cardinality as $\mathbb{R}$, so it would suffice to show that the set of continuous functions has the same cardinality as $\mathbb{R}$, but I don't know how to " exclude" non-continuous functions.

Any help would be appreciated.

Brian M. Scott
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  • Schröder-Bernstein can indeed be used here. If you’d like a hint before looking at the answers to the older question, note that two continuous functions that agree on $\Bbb Q$ must be equal. – Brian M. Scott Oct 26 '20 at 17:43

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Let $A=\{f\mid f:(0,1)\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\mbox{ is continuous}\}.$ Let $B=\mathbb{R}^{\mathbb{Q}\cap(0,1)}=\{g\mid g:\mathbb{Q}\cap(0,1)\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\}$ be the set of all real-valued functions defined on $\mathbb{Q}\cap(0,1)$. Clearly $|B|=c^{\omega}=(2^{\omega})^{\omega}=2^{\omega\times\omega}=c$. Define $\theta:A\rightarrow B$ by $\theta(f)=f|_{\mathbb{Q}\cap(0,1)}$ (i.e., $f$ restricted on $\mathbb{Q}\cap(0,1)$). Note that $\theta$ is injective. For, let $f_{1},f_{2}\in A$ such that $\theta(f_{1})=\theta(f_{2})$. Let $x\in(0,1)$ be arbitrary. Choose a sequence $(r_{n})$ in $\mathbb{Q}\cap(0,1)$ such that $r_{n}\rightarrow x$. By continuity, we have \begin{eqnarray*} f_{1}(x) & = & \lim_{n}f_{1}(r_{n})\\ & = & \lim_{n}\theta(f_{1})(r_{n})\\ & = & \lim_{n}\theta(f_{2})(r_{n})\\ & = & \lim_{n}f_{2}(r_{n})\\ & = & f_{2}(x). \end{eqnarray*} Therefore, $f_{1}=f_{2}$.

It follows that $|A|\leq|B|=c$. For each $a\in\mathbb{R}$, define $\bar{a}:(0,1)\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ by $\bar{a}(x)=a$. (i.e., $\bar{a}$ is a constant function). Let $A_{0}=\{\bar{a}\mid a\in\mathbb{R}\}$. Clearly, the map $\mathbb{R}\rightarrow A_{0}$, $a\mapsto\bar{a}$ is injective, so $c=|\mathbb{R}|\leq|A_{0}|$. Obviously, $A_{0}\subseteq A$. Therefore, we have $c\leq|A_{0}|\leq|A|\leq c$. This shows that $|A|=c$.