Infinite set

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In set theory, an infinite set is a set that is not a finite set. Infinite sets may be countable or uncountable. Some examples are:

  • the set of all integers, {..., -1, 0, 1, 2, ...}, is a countably infinite set; and
  • the set of all real numbers is an uncountably infinite set.

Counter-example:

  • the set of natural numbers less than four, i.e. {0, 1, 2, 3}, is a finite set, not an infinite set.

The set of natural numbers (whose existence is assured by the axiom of infinity) is infinite. It is the only set which is directly required by the axioms to be infinite. The existence of any other infinite set can be proved in ZFC only by showing that it follows from the existence of the natural numbers.

A set is infinite if and only if for every natural number the set has a subset whose cardinality is that natural number.

If a set of sets is infinite or contains an infinite element, then its union is infinite. The powerset of an infinite set is infinite. Any superset of an infinite set is infinite. If an infinite set is partitioned into finitely many subsets, then at least one of them must be infinite. Any set which can be mapped onto an infinite set is infinite. The Cartesian product of an infinite set and a nonempty set is infinite. If the axiom of choice holds, the Cartesian product of an infinite number of sets each containing at least two elements is infinite.

If an infinite set is well-ordered, then it must have a nonempty subset which has no greatest element.

In ZF, a set is infinite if and only if the powerset of its powerset is a Dedekind-infinite set, having a proper subset equinumerous to itself. If the axiom of choice is also true, infinite sets are precisely the Dedekind-infinite sets.

If an infinite set is well-orderable, then it has many well-orderings which are non-isomorphic.

Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.