2

I could find proof for $|(0,1)| = |\mathbb{R}|$, but could not find anything about $|(0, 1]| = |\mathbb{R}|$. I do not know how to prove this. The only way I can think of is showing that there is a bijection from $(0, 1] \rightarrow (0,1)$, then we will have $|(0, 1]| = |(0,1)| = |\mathbb{R}|$. However, I would like to prove this by using The Schroder-Bernstein theorem with $(0,1]$. What would be the key difference between $|(0,1)| = |\mathbb{R}|$ and $|(0, 1]| = |\mathbb{R}|$? I think there still should be the bijection from $(0,1]$ to $\mathbb{R}$, but I'm struggling with coming up with idea.

so0jong
  • 107
  • 1
    Are you trying to show $|(0,1]| = |(0,1)|$ with Schroder-Bernstein? Or are you trying to show $|(0,1]| = |\mathbb{R}|$ directly with Schroder-Bernstein? – HallaSurvivor Apr 06 '21 at 21:04
  • 1
    @HallaSurvivor I'd like to prove in the latter way which is showing $|(0,1]| = |\mathbb{R}|$ directly with Schroder-Bernstein. Sorry for my messy post. – so0jong Apr 06 '21 at 21:04
  • 1
    I'm forced to leave this as a comment, since it seems your question was closed. Sorry that's going to make it a bit harder to read. It's clear that the standard inclusion $\iota : (0,1] \hookrightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is an injection. So it suffices to find an injection $f : \mathbb{R} \to (0,1]$. But notice, say $f(x) = \frac{1}{2 + e^x}$ is a function $\mathbb{R} \to (0,1]$. Can you show it is an injection? As a hint, you might want to write $f$ as the composite
    1. $y = e^x$
    2. $z = y + 2$
    3. $f = 1/z$.

    I hope this helps ^_^

    – HallaSurvivor Apr 06 '21 at 21:11
  • 1
    That's easy then! Let $f: \mathbb R \to (0,1)$ be your bijection. THen $f:\mathbb R\to (0,1]$ is injective (but not surjective). And let $g:(0,1] \to \mathbb R$ be the identity function. That is injective but not surjective. SO via SB Th we know a bijection between $(0,1]$ and $\mathbb R$ must exist. SB doesn't tell us what it is, but it tells us one does exist. – fleablood Apr 06 '21 at 21:25

1 Answers1

3

Lemma: If $X$ is an infinite set and $a \not \in X$ then $|X \cup \{a\}| = |X|$.

SO if $|(0,1)| = |\mathbb R|$ then $|(0,1]|=|(0,1)\cup \{1\}| = |(0,1)| = |\mathbb R|$.

SO let's prove the lemma.

Let $a \not \in X$ and $X$ is not empty so there is an $x_1\in X$. Let $\phi(a)= x_1$.

$X$ is infinite so $X_1= X\setminus \{x_1\}$ is infinite (why?) so there is an $x_2\in X_1$. So let $\phi(x_1) = x_2$.

Via recursion induction we can define $X_{k} = X_{k-1} - \{x_{k-1}\}$ is infinite and and $x_{k} \in X_{k}$ as $\phi(x_{k-1}) = x_k$.

So we end up with an infinite countable set $\{a, x_1, x_2, .....\}$ with $\phi(a) = x_1$ and $\phi(x_k) = x_{k+1}$. For all $w \in X \setminus \{a, x_1, x_2, .....\}$ we can just let $\phi(w) = w$.

That is a bijection.

.....

Or a practical example. Let $\phi(1) = \frac 12$. And $\phi (\frac 1{2^k}) = \frac 1{2^{k+1}}$. Other wise let $\phi(w) = w$.

That is a bijection of $(0,1]\to (0,1)$. Compose it with your bijection of $(0,1)\to \mathbb R$.

That is.... if $\chi: (0,1)\to \mathbb R$ then let $\phi(\frac 1{2^k}) =\chi (\frac 1{2^{k+1}})$. and for all other $w$ let $\phi(w) = \chi(w)$.

===

Ah, Shroeder Berstein! That makes it easy!

Let $f:(0,1] \to \mathbb R$ be $f(x) =x$. That's clearly injective. (but not onto)

And let $g:\mathbb R \to (0,1]$ be... well, whatever you did for $\mathbb R\to (0,1)$ extend it to $(0,1]$ and it will be injective but not unto....

We can use $\arctan: \mathbb R \to (-\frac \pi 2, \frac \pi 2)$ is bijective.

So $\frac {\arctan x +\frac \pi 2}{\pi}: \mathbb R \to (0,1)$ is bijective.

So $g(x) = \frac {\arctan x +\frac \pi 2}{\pi}$ so $g:\mathbb R \to (0,1]$ is injective. (It's not onto as there is no $x: g(x)=1$ but we don't need it to be onto. Just injective.)

So as we have injective $f:(0,1]\to \mathbb R$ and injective $g:\mathbb R\to (0,1]$ we know a bijection $\chi: (0,1]\to \mathbb R$ must exist.

Just what is that bijection?.... who the @#%\$ knows and who the @#%\$ cares? We have the SB theorem so we don't have to care. Citing theorems is free. Thinking will cost you extra.

fleablood
  • 124,253
  • I didn't know that we don't need a bijection. This helps a lot. Thank you! – so0jong Apr 06 '21 at 21:38
  • Well, you do need a bijection. But SB Theorem says that you know one exists. You don't have to know what it is; just that it exists. – fleablood Apr 07 '21 at 03:11