# Set comprehension when the condition is false [closed]

The Cartesian product of two empty sets is the singleton set $\{ () \}$ containing the empty tuple. So, given a set $A$ which is empty, $A \times A$ is defined as: $$A \times A = \{ (a,a) \mid a \in A \} = \{ () \}$$ Now, does that mean that $()$ satisfies the condition $a \in A$? And if so, why don't we include the empty tuple in the Cartesian product of non-empty sets?

(It would be nice if you point out which concept I mis-understand: the set comprehension, or the tuple.)

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## closed as off-topic by Ramiro de la Vega, Lucia, Yemon Choi, Joonas Ilmavirta, Stefan KohlMar 27 at 14:53

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If $A = \emptyset$ is empty, then A x B is empty for any B. Note that the empty set is NOT equal to {$\emptyset$} –  Jason DeVito Mar 6 '10 at 0:12
I believe you're confusing "the empty product" with "the product of empty sets." The former is a singleton but the latter is empty. –  François G. Dorais Mar 6 '10 at 0:35
I don't think this question is suitable for MO. –  Andrea Ferretti Mar 6 '10 at 1:19
The first equality in your equation is true, but for reasons probably too confusing for your own good, the second equality, on the other hand, is false. –  Mariano Suárez-Alvarez Mar 6 '10 at 3:26

You're misinterpreting the cartesian product. Your link to La Wik describes the cartesian product of no sets, i.e. the zero-th cartesian power of any set $A$. This is isomorphic to the space of functions from the empty set to $A$, which contains the empty function.