Proving a set to be countable
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A set $S = leftlbrace left( x, y right) vert x^2 + y^2 = dfrac{1}{n^2}, text{ where } n in mathbb{N} text{ and either } x in mathbb{Q} text{ or } y in mathbb{Q} rightrbrace$ is given. I need to prove that this is countable.
I have tried looking for a bijection $f: mathbb{Q} rightarrow S$ as $f left( x right) = left( x, y right)$ where $y$ is a fixed real number such that the property of the set is satisfied.
Clearly, this function is not even a surjection.
How should we define our bijection so that we prove $S$ is countable?
real-analysis elementary-set-theory
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
A set $S = leftlbrace left( x, y right) vert x^2 + y^2 = dfrac{1}{n^2}, text{ where } n in mathbb{N} text{ and either } x in mathbb{Q} text{ or } y in mathbb{Q} rightrbrace$ is given. I need to prove that this is countable.
I have tried looking for a bijection $f: mathbb{Q} rightarrow S$ as $f left( x right) = left( x, y right)$ where $y$ is a fixed real number such that the property of the set is satisfied.
Clearly, this function is not even a surjection.
How should we define our bijection so that we prove $S$ is countable?
real-analysis elementary-set-theory
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
A set $S = leftlbrace left( x, y right) vert x^2 + y^2 = dfrac{1}{n^2}, text{ where } n in mathbb{N} text{ and either } x in mathbb{Q} text{ or } y in mathbb{Q} rightrbrace$ is given. I need to prove that this is countable.
I have tried looking for a bijection $f: mathbb{Q} rightarrow S$ as $f left( x right) = left( x, y right)$ where $y$ is a fixed real number such that the property of the set is satisfied.
Clearly, this function is not even a surjection.
How should we define our bijection so that we prove $S$ is countable?
real-analysis elementary-set-theory
A set $S = leftlbrace left( x, y right) vert x^2 + y^2 = dfrac{1}{n^2}, text{ where } n in mathbb{N} text{ and either } x in mathbb{Q} text{ or } y in mathbb{Q} rightrbrace$ is given. I need to prove that this is countable.
I have tried looking for a bijection $f: mathbb{Q} rightarrow S$ as $f left( x right) = left( x, y right)$ where $y$ is a fixed real number such that the property of the set is satisfied.
Clearly, this function is not even a surjection.
How should we define our bijection so that we prove $S$ is countable?
real-analysis elementary-set-theory
real-analysis elementary-set-theory
asked 2 hours ago
Aniruddha Deshmukh
806418
806418
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add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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up vote
2
down vote
accepted
If you index on $x$ and $n$, you can do the following. Let
$$
E_n=mathbb Qcap left[-tfrac1{n^2},tfrac1{n^2}right].
$$
This sets $E_n$ are countable, because they are subsets of $mathbb Q$.
Then $S=S_1cup S_2$, where
$$
S_1=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{xin E_n}left{(x,sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}cupleft{(x,-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}.
$$
$$
S_2=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{yin E_n}left{(sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2},y)right}cupleft{(-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2}.y)right}.
$$
We can map this to a subset of $(mathbb Ntimesmathbb Qtimes{1,2})^2$. And this last set is countable, so $S$ is countable.
The key fact is that subsets of countable sets are countable, and that finite cartesian products of countable sets are countable.
The way you have written the union for $S$, only takes into consideration when $x$ is rational and $y$ can be anything. What if it goes the other way round?
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Or do you want to say that the final mapping would be $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, x, 1 right)$ if $x$ is rational and $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, y, 2 right)$ if $y$ is rational but $x$ is not.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Yes, you are right. I needed to duplicate the sets. It's done now.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
Why are we mapping it to $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)^2$? I think $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)$ should work with the mapping I defined in the comment.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
I'm using the 1 and 2 to count the positive and negative roots. There is some overlapping, but it's not a big deal. The maps as you say also work, I think.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
Note that $x^2=frac1{n^2}-y^2$ and $y^2=frac1{n^2}-x^2$. So if $y$ is rational, then $x^2$ is rational as well, and likewise for $y^2$ if $x$ is rational.
Therefore you can define a surjection from the collection of all roots of rational numbers (which also includes all the rationals). So now comes the question, can you prove that this set is countable?
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
If you index on $x$ and $n$, you can do the following. Let
$$
E_n=mathbb Qcap left[-tfrac1{n^2},tfrac1{n^2}right].
$$
This sets $E_n$ are countable, because they are subsets of $mathbb Q$.
Then $S=S_1cup S_2$, where
$$
S_1=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{xin E_n}left{(x,sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}cupleft{(x,-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}.
$$
$$
S_2=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{yin E_n}left{(sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2},y)right}cupleft{(-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2}.y)right}.
$$
We can map this to a subset of $(mathbb Ntimesmathbb Qtimes{1,2})^2$. And this last set is countable, so $S$ is countable.
The key fact is that subsets of countable sets are countable, and that finite cartesian products of countable sets are countable.
The way you have written the union for $S$, only takes into consideration when $x$ is rational and $y$ can be anything. What if it goes the other way round?
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Or do you want to say that the final mapping would be $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, x, 1 right)$ if $x$ is rational and $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, y, 2 right)$ if $y$ is rational but $x$ is not.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Yes, you are right. I needed to duplicate the sets. It's done now.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
Why are we mapping it to $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)^2$? I think $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)$ should work with the mapping I defined in the comment.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
I'm using the 1 and 2 to count the positive and negative roots. There is some overlapping, but it's not a big deal. The maps as you say also work, I think.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
If you index on $x$ and $n$, you can do the following. Let
$$
E_n=mathbb Qcap left[-tfrac1{n^2},tfrac1{n^2}right].
$$
This sets $E_n$ are countable, because they are subsets of $mathbb Q$.
Then $S=S_1cup S_2$, where
$$
S_1=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{xin E_n}left{(x,sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}cupleft{(x,-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}.
$$
$$
S_2=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{yin E_n}left{(sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2},y)right}cupleft{(-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2}.y)right}.
$$
We can map this to a subset of $(mathbb Ntimesmathbb Qtimes{1,2})^2$. And this last set is countable, so $S$ is countable.
The key fact is that subsets of countable sets are countable, and that finite cartesian products of countable sets are countable.
The way you have written the union for $S$, only takes into consideration when $x$ is rational and $y$ can be anything. What if it goes the other way round?
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Or do you want to say that the final mapping would be $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, x, 1 right)$ if $x$ is rational and $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, y, 2 right)$ if $y$ is rational but $x$ is not.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Yes, you are right. I needed to duplicate the sets. It's done now.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
Why are we mapping it to $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)^2$? I think $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)$ should work with the mapping I defined in the comment.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
I'm using the 1 and 2 to count the positive and negative roots. There is some overlapping, but it's not a big deal. The maps as you say also work, I think.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
If you index on $x$ and $n$, you can do the following. Let
$$
E_n=mathbb Qcap left[-tfrac1{n^2},tfrac1{n^2}right].
$$
This sets $E_n$ are countable, because they are subsets of $mathbb Q$.
Then $S=S_1cup S_2$, where
$$
S_1=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{xin E_n}left{(x,sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}cupleft{(x,-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}.
$$
$$
S_2=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{yin E_n}left{(sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2},y)right}cupleft{(-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2}.y)right}.
$$
We can map this to a subset of $(mathbb Ntimesmathbb Qtimes{1,2})^2$. And this last set is countable, so $S$ is countable.
The key fact is that subsets of countable sets are countable, and that finite cartesian products of countable sets are countable.
If you index on $x$ and $n$, you can do the following. Let
$$
E_n=mathbb Qcap left[-tfrac1{n^2},tfrac1{n^2}right].
$$
This sets $E_n$ are countable, because they are subsets of $mathbb Q$.
Then $S=S_1cup S_2$, where
$$
S_1=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{xin E_n}left{(x,sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}cupleft{(x,-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-x^2})right}.
$$
$$
S_2=bigcup_{ninmathbb N}bigcup_{yin E_n}left{(sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2},y)right}cupleft{(-sqrt{tfrac1{n^2}-y^2}.y)right}.
$$
We can map this to a subset of $(mathbb Ntimesmathbb Qtimes{1,2})^2$. And this last set is countable, so $S$ is countable.
The key fact is that subsets of countable sets are countable, and that finite cartesian products of countable sets are countable.
edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
Martin Argerami
123k1176174
123k1176174
The way you have written the union for $S$, only takes into consideration when $x$ is rational and $y$ can be anything. What if it goes the other way round?
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Or do you want to say that the final mapping would be $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, x, 1 right)$ if $x$ is rational and $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, y, 2 right)$ if $y$ is rational but $x$ is not.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Yes, you are right. I needed to duplicate the sets. It's done now.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
Why are we mapping it to $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)^2$? I think $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)$ should work with the mapping I defined in the comment.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
I'm using the 1 and 2 to count the positive and negative roots. There is some overlapping, but it's not a big deal. The maps as you say also work, I think.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
The way you have written the union for $S$, only takes into consideration when $x$ is rational and $y$ can be anything. What if it goes the other way round?
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Or do you want to say that the final mapping would be $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, x, 1 right)$ if $x$ is rational and $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, y, 2 right)$ if $y$ is rational but $x$ is not.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Yes, you are right. I needed to duplicate the sets. It's done now.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
Why are we mapping it to $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)^2$? I think $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)$ should work with the mapping I defined in the comment.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
I'm using the 1 and 2 to count the positive and negative roots. There is some overlapping, but it's not a big deal. The maps as you say also work, I think.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
The way you have written the union for $S$, only takes into consideration when $x$ is rational and $y$ can be anything. What if it goes the other way round?
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
The way you have written the union for $S$, only takes into consideration when $x$ is rational and $y$ can be anything. What if it goes the other way round?
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Or do you want to say that the final mapping would be $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, x, 1 right)$ if $x$ is rational and $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, y, 2 right)$ if $y$ is rational but $x$ is not.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Or do you want to say that the final mapping would be $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, x, 1 right)$ if $x$ is rational and $left( x, y right) mapsto left( n, y, 2 right)$ if $y$ is rational but $x$ is not.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Yes, you are right. I needed to duplicate the sets. It's done now.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
Yes, you are right. I needed to duplicate the sets. It's done now.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
Why are we mapping it to $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)^2$? I think $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)$ should work with the mapping I defined in the comment.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
Why are we mapping it to $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)^2$? I think $left( mathbb{N} times mathbb{Q} times leftlbrace 1, 2 rightrbrace right)$ should work with the mapping I defined in the comment.
– Aniruddha Deshmukh
2 hours ago
I'm using the 1 and 2 to count the positive and negative roots. There is some overlapping, but it's not a big deal. The maps as you say also work, I think.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
I'm using the 1 and 2 to count the positive and negative roots. There is some overlapping, but it's not a big deal. The maps as you say also work, I think.
– Martin Argerami
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
2
down vote
Note that $x^2=frac1{n^2}-y^2$ and $y^2=frac1{n^2}-x^2$. So if $y$ is rational, then $x^2$ is rational as well, and likewise for $y^2$ if $x$ is rational.
Therefore you can define a surjection from the collection of all roots of rational numbers (which also includes all the rationals). So now comes the question, can you prove that this set is countable?
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Note that $x^2=frac1{n^2}-y^2$ and $y^2=frac1{n^2}-x^2$. So if $y$ is rational, then $x^2$ is rational as well, and likewise for $y^2$ if $x$ is rational.
Therefore you can define a surjection from the collection of all roots of rational numbers (which also includes all the rationals). So now comes the question, can you prove that this set is countable?
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Note that $x^2=frac1{n^2}-y^2$ and $y^2=frac1{n^2}-x^2$. So if $y$ is rational, then $x^2$ is rational as well, and likewise for $y^2$ if $x$ is rational.
Therefore you can define a surjection from the collection of all roots of rational numbers (which also includes all the rationals). So now comes the question, can you prove that this set is countable?
Note that $x^2=frac1{n^2}-y^2$ and $y^2=frac1{n^2}-x^2$. So if $y$ is rational, then $x^2$ is rational as well, and likewise for $y^2$ if $x$ is rational.
Therefore you can define a surjection from the collection of all roots of rational numbers (which also includes all the rationals). So now comes the question, can you prove that this set is countable?
answered 2 hours ago
Asaf Karagila♦
301k32422752
301k32422752
add a comment |
add a comment |
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