Questions tagged [continuum-hypothesis]
Questions about the continuum hypothesis, or where the continuum hypothesis or its negation plays a role. This tag is also suitable, by extension, to refer to the generalized continuum hypothesis and related issues.
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Solutions to the Continuum Hypothesis
Related MO questions: What is the general opinion on the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis? ; Completion of ZFC ; Complete resolutions of GCH How far wrong could the Continuum Hypothesis be? When was ...
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What is the most "concrete-feeling" equivalent formulation of the Continuum Hypothesis that you can think of?
There are many equivalent formulations of the Continuum Hypothesis, but I think the most standard one is that
there is no infinite cardinality lying strictly between the cardinality of the natural ...
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Hilbert's alleged proof of the Continuum Hypothesis in "On the Infinite"
As is known, Hilbert attempted a proof sketch of the Continuum Hypothesis in the latter part of his paper, "On the Infinite". It is also known that it is false.
Has there ever been a published ...
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Is it still an open problem whether $\mathbb{R}^\omega$ is normal in the box topology?
On page 205 of his Topology textbook, James Munkres made an interesting remark:
It is not known whether $\mathbb{R}^\omega$ is normal in the box topology. Mary-Ellen Rudin has shown that the answer ...
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Mathematical Evidence Backing $|\mathbb{R}|=\aleph_2$
The "true" size of the real line, $\mathbb{R}$, has been the subject of Hilbert's first problem. Due to the Goedel and Cohen's work on the inner and outer models of $\text{ZFC}$, it turned ...
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On the probability of the truth of the continuum hypothesis
First note that there exists a natural measure $\mu$ on $P(\omega \times \omega)$, inherited from the Lebesgue measure on the reals (by identifying the reals with $P(\omega)$ and $\omega$ with $\omega ...
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When $2^\alpha = 2^\beta$ implies $\alpha=\beta$ ($\alpha,\beta$ cardinals)
Sorry if this is a silly question. I was wondering, under what axioms of set theory is it true that if $\alpha$,$\beta$ are cardinals, and $2^\alpha=2^\beta$, then $\alpha=\beta$? Do people use these ...
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The Continuum Hypothesis and Countable Unions
I recently edited an answer of mine on math.SE which discussed the implication of the two assertions:
$AH(0)$ which is $2^{\aleph_0}=\aleph_1$, and
$CH$ which says that if $A\subseteq 2^{\omega}$ and ...
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Why does CH imply that there is a unique ultrapower of $\mathbb{N}$?
I've read these words: "How many ultra products $∏_Uℕ$ exist up to isomorphism, where $U$ is a non-principal ultrafilter over $ℕ$? If continuum hypothesis(CH) holds, then obviously just one ..."
i ...
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On Erdös–Kakutani like Equivalents of the Failure of Continuum Hypothesis
Among all mysterious equivalents of the Continuum Hypothesis and its negation, there is an algebraic combinatorial equivalent of $\neg \mathit{CH}$ in Erdös and Kakutani - On non-denumerable graphs (...
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Unnecessary uses of the Continuum Hypothesis
This question was inspired by the MathOverflow question "Unnecessary uses of the axiom of choice". I want to know of statements in ZFC that can be proven by assuming the Continuum Hypothesis,...
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Does $V = \textit{Ultimate }L$ imply GCH?
In his Midrasha Mathematicae lectures ("In Search of Ultimate $L$", BSL 23 [2017]: 1–109), Woodin notes that $V = \textit{Ultimate }L$ implies $\textrm{CH}$ (Theorem 7.26, p.103). Is it known whether $...
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A New Continuum Hypothesis (Revised Version)
Define $N_n$ as $n$ th natural number: $N_0=0, N_1=1, N_2=2, ...$.
What happens after exponentiation?
We have the following equation: $2^{N_n}=N_{2^{n}}$.
(Which says: For all finite cardinal $n$ ...
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Can we find CH in the analytical hierarchy?
Recently I was talking to my friend and I have mentioned to him that it was proven that CH is not provably (over ZFC) equivalent to any statement in second-order arithmetic. However, today I found out ...
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Is this Variation of the Continuum Hypothesis Inconsistent with ZFC or ZF?
It is a well-known fact that the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis is undecidable from ZFC. For similar sentences $\phi$, this is simply equivalent to ZFC having a model $M$ for which $M\models\phi$.
...
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Intersection of compact sets in the unit interval
Let $\mathscr K$ be an uncountable set such that every $K\in\mathscr K$ is a compact subset of $[0,1]$ with positive Lebesgue measure. Does it then follow that there exists an uncountable $\mathscr A\...
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Must uncountable standard models of ZFC satisfy CH?
In Cohen's article, The Discovery of Forcing, he says that "one cannot prove the
existence of any uncountable standard model in which AC holds, and
CH is false,"
and offers the following ...
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How much of GCH do we need to guarantee well-ordering of continuum?
It's well known that, if GCH holds, then every cardinal can be well-ordered. However, I'm sure we don't need full power of GCH to prove it for specific cardinal, e.g. continuum. I have been wondering, ...
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Continuum Hypothesis
I am new here, so forgive me if this question does not satisfy the protocols of the site.
I know there are so many equivalents to the AC (axiom of choice) and there are books that lists this ...
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Open coloring axiom vs. CH
Is there a simple, direct proof that the open coloring axiom contradicts CH (straight from the definitions, no machinery allowed)? The separable metric spaces version of OCA, if that helps.
Edit: ...
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If someone can prove Goldbach conjecture assuming the continuum hypothesis, do we consider the conjecture proved?
If someone can prove Goldbach conjecture assuming the continuum hypothesis, do we consider the Goldbach conjecture proved?
If ZFC+CH implies Goldbach, and if the Goldbach turn out to be false, then it ...
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Complete resolutions of GCH
Let's say that a "complete resolution of GCH" is a definable class function $F: \operatorname{Ord}\longrightarrow \operatorname{ Ord}$ such that $2^{\aleph_\alpha} = \aleph_{F(\alpha)}$ for all ...
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Continuum Hypothesis and the fact that every co-finite topological space, with uncountable underlying set , is contractible
Let $X$ be a co-finite topological space. If $|X| \ge 2^{\aleph_0}=\mathfrak c$, then $X$ is contractible (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contractible_space) . Indeed, there is a bijection $f: X \times ...
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Are there additive subgroups of reals of dimension 1 with no subgroups of dimension strictly between 0 and 1?
I will use $dimA$ to denote the Hausdorff dimension of a set $A \subseteq \mathbb{R}$. Being a null set means having Lebesgue measure zero.
In the 1966 paper "Additive gruppen mit vorgegebener ...
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When was the continuum hypothesis born?
The question Solutions to the Continuum Hypothesis states that the continuum hypothesis was posed by Cantor in 1890. In http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuum_hypothesis the year 1878 is quoted ...
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Does small forcing preserve CH?
Suppose CH holds and $\mathbb{P}$ is a poset of size $\omega_1$, such that forcing with $\mathbb{P}$ preserves $\omega_1$. Does forcing with $\mathbb{P}$ preserve CH? If $\mathbb{P}$ is proper then ...
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Almost everywhere “filling” of the continuum by the first uncountable cardinal without CH
Assuming the negation of CH, let $\omega_1$ be the first uncountable ordinal, $\mathfrak{c}$ be the cardinality of the continuum. Does there exist a map $f: \omega_1 \times [0, 1] \rightarrow \...
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Ground Axiom and behaviors of continuum function
The Ground Axiom ($GA$) is the assertion that the universe of
sets ($V$) is not a forcing extension of any inner model $W$ by nontrivial forcing
$P\in W$.
Is $GA$ consistent with any possible ...
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Bernstein's proof of the continuum hypothesis
In the paper The Continuumproblem, Felix Bernstein introduces a new axiom and uses it to conclude the continuum hypothesis.
(1) As the paper is relatively old and the writing style is somehow informal,...
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The continuum hypothesis for packing shapes without overlapping
Consider the finite cross $C$ (=union of line segments $\overline{(0, -1)(0, 1)}$ and $\overline{(-1, 0)(1, 0)}$) and the unit half-circle $H$. It is easy to see that we may pack continuum-many ...
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Families of pairwise incomparable subsets of the integers
Certain maximal objects whose existence follows from Zorn's Lemma have received some
set-theoretic attention.
Examples are maximal independent families and maximal almost disjoint families.
There is ...
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Is $[0,1]$ a disjoint union of $\aleph_1$ compact subsets with empty interior?
Is $[0,1]$ a disjoint union of $\aleph_1$ compact subsets with empty interior?
The answer is obviously yes assuming the continuum hypothesis. Also, by Baire's lemma, the answer is negative if one ...
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Last Status of Feferman's Conjecture on Indefinite Value of Continuum
The "true" value of $2^{\aleph_0}$ is one of the most fundamental open questions of mathematics and its philosophy. Hundreds of set theoretic results during the last century don't say anything more ...
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Can the cardinal $2^{\aleph_0}$ be order-embedded in ${\cal P}(\omega)/(\text{fin})$?
For $A,B\in{\cal P}(\omega)$ we say $A\subseteq^* B$ if $A\setminus B$ is finite (that is, $A$ is "almost contained" in $B$). We write $A\simeq_{\text{fin}} B$ if $A\subseteq^* B$ and $B\...
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Conceptual structuralism and continuum hypothesis
In Ferefman's paper 'Is the Continuum Hypothesis a definite mathematical problem?', he argues that within the philosophy of conceptual structuralism, the continuum hypothesis is not a definite ...
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The Parovichenko cardinal, is it equal to $\max\{\aleph_2,\mathfrak p\}$?
Let us define the Parovichenko cardinal $\mathfrak{P}$ as the largest cardinal $\kappa$ such that each compact Hausdorff space $K$ of weight $w(K)<\kappa$ is the continuous image of the remainder $...
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$\Sigma^2_1$ and the Continuum Hypothesis
This is a follow up to Will Brian's answer to this recent question. In particular, quoting Brian:
"In fact, Paul Larson has pointed out to me that the statement "$\phi$ and $\phi^{-1}$ are conjugate"...
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Can GCH fail everywhere every way?
The following question is about if it is compatible to add to $\sf ZF$ an axiom asserting the existence of a countable transitive model of $\sf ZF$ such that for every strictly increasing function $f$ ...
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Difference between ZFC and ZF+GCH
I hear that the axiom of choice (AC) derives from
The generalized continuum hypothesis(GCH).
And also hear that both AC and GCH are independent of
Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory(ZF).
So, I'm just ...
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Very Large Cardinal Axioms and Continuum Hypothesis
Are very large cardinal axioms like $I_0$, $I_1$, $I_2$ consistent with $CH$ and $GCH$?
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Does GCH for alephs imply the axiom of choice?
GCH for alephs means the statement that, for any aleph $\kappa$, there are no cardinals $\mathfrak{r}$ such that $\kappa<\mathfrak{r}<2^\kappa$.
Does GCH for alephs imply the axiom of choice?
...
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Is it known whether or not $\aleph_\alpha=\beth_\alpha$ can be proven by ZFC?
Given a cardinal number $\aleph_\alpha$, is it known whether or not $\aleph_\alpha=\beth_\alpha$ is independent of ZFC?
One could define $\mathrm{CH}(\aleph_\alpha)$ as $\aleph_\alpha=\beth_\alpha$. ...
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Is it possible to define cardinals that are distinct from either the $\aleph$ numbers or $\beth$ numbers?
I am wondering if there are ways of defining "structure" on infinite sets that generate sequences of cardinals that cannot be proved to have the same cardinality as either the $\aleph$ or $\beth$ ...
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Does anyone understand this comment about the continuum hypothesis?
At 31:37 in his lecture titled What is a manifold? posted on Youtube, Mikhail Gromov states that if we do not allow generic functions to exist then the continuum hypothesis is "obviously" true, and ...
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$\Sigma^2_2$ absoluteness and $\diamondsuit$
This question touches on recent questions concerning the role of $\diamondsuit$ and the Continuum Hypothesis. In particular, I would like to know more information about a conjecture of Woodin on the ...
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On the role of $\diamondsuit$
The well-known axiom $\diamondsuit$ states that there is a sequence $\langle A_\alpha:\alpha<\omega_1\rangle$ (a $\diamondsuit$-sequence) of countable sets with the property that for any $A\...
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Is "the purely probabilistic version of Freiling's axiom of symmetry" disprovable in ZFC?
I'm trying to pinpoint the "intuitive argument" for Freiling's Axiom of Symmetry. It's meant to be a "probabilistic" argument, so thinking about what seems to me to be the ...
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Iterated forcing and CH
I need some help with this theorem: if $P_\beta=\langle P_\alpha,\dot{Q}_\alpha:\alpha\leq\beta\rangle$, $\beta<\omega_2$, is a CSI of proper forcings, $P_\alpha\Vdash \lvert \dot{Q}_\alpha\rvert\...
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Making all cardinals countable and its HOD
Suppose that $G$ is $Col(\omega, <Ord)$-generic over $V$ and let $W=HOD^{V[G]}$. Is $CH$ true in $W$? In general, what can we say about the behaviour of the power function in $W$?
Update. Are the ...
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Are there analogues of real-valued measurability for larger powersets?
Apologies if the question is somewhat naïve - I'm not a set theorist, just an enthusiast.
One possible intuition we could have about the generalized continuum hypothesis is that power sets are so ...