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True Theorem The symmetric groups (consisting of all permutations) on infinite sets of different cardinalities are not isomorphic.

False proof: The two groups have different cardinalities, since there are $2^\kappa$ many permutations of an infinite set of size $\kappa$, and $\kappa\lt\lambda$ implies $2^\kappa\lt 2^\lambda$. QED

See the question: Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic?Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic? for further information and a correct proof.

I find the false proof illuminating, since it shows the limitation of a naive treatment of the continuum function $\kappa\mapsto 2^\kappa$. It simply isn't necessarily the case that the two groups have different cardinalities, even though it is necessarily the case that they are not isomorphic.

True Theorem The symmetric groups (consisting of all permutations) on infinite sets of different cardinalities are not isomorphic.

False proof: The two groups have different cardinalities, since there are $2^\kappa$ many permutations of an infinite set of size $\kappa$, and $\kappa\lt\lambda$ implies $2^\kappa\lt 2^\lambda$. QED

See the question: Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic? for further information and a correct proof.

I find the false proof illuminating, since it shows the limitation of a naive treatment of the continuum function $\kappa\mapsto 2^\kappa$. It simply isn't necessarily the case that the two groups have different cardinalities, even though it is necessarily the case that they are not isomorphic.

True Theorem The symmetric groups (consisting of all permutations) on infinite sets of different cardinalities are not isomorphic.

False proof: The two groups have different cardinalities, since there are $2^\kappa$ many permutations of an infinite set of size $\kappa$, and $\kappa\lt\lambda$ implies $2^\kappa\lt 2^\lambda$. QED

See the question: Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic? for further information and a correct proof.

I find the false proof illuminating, since it shows the limitation of a naive treatment of the continuum function $\kappa\mapsto 2^\kappa$. It simply isn't necessarily the case that the two groups have different cardinalities, even though it is necessarily the case that they are not isomorphic.

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David White
David White
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True Theorem The symmetric groups (consisting of all permutations) on infinite sets of different cardinalities are not isomorphic.

False proof: The two groups have different cardinalities, since there are $2^\kappa$ many permutations of an infinite set of size $\kappa$, and $\kappa\lt\lambda$ implies $2^\kappa\lt 2^\lambda$. QED

See the question: Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic? for further information and a correct proof.

I find the false proof illuminating, since it shows the limitation of a naive treatementtreatment of the continuum function $\kappa\mapsto 2^\kappa$. It simply isn't necessarily the case that the two groups have different cardinalities, even though it is necessarily the case that they are not isomorphic.

True Theorem The symmetric groups (consisting of all permutations) on infinite sets of different cardinalities are not isomorphic.

False proof: The two groups have different cardinalities, since there are $2^\kappa$ many permutations of an infinite set of size $\kappa$, and $\kappa\lt\lambda$ implies $2^\kappa\lt 2^\lambda$. QED

See the question: Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic? for further information and a correct proof.

I find the false proof illuminating, since it shows the limitation of a naive treatement of the continuum function $\kappa\mapsto 2^\kappa$. It simply isn't necessarily the case that the two groups have different cardinalities, even though it is necessarily the case that they are not isomorphic.

True Theorem The symmetric groups (consisting of all permutations) on infinite sets of different cardinalities are not isomorphic.

False proof: The two groups have different cardinalities, since there are $2^\kappa$ many permutations of an infinite set of size $\kappa$, and $\kappa\lt\lambda$ implies $2^\kappa\lt 2^\lambda$. QED

See the question: Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic? for further information and a correct proof.

I find the false proof illuminating, since it shows the limitation of a naive treatment of the continuum function $\kappa\mapsto 2^\kappa$. It simply isn't necessarily the case that the two groups have different cardinalities, even though it is necessarily the case that they are not isomorphic.

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Joel David Hamkins
Joel David Hamkins
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True Theorem The symmetric groups (consisting of all permutations) on infinite sets of different cardinalities are not isomorphic.

False proof: The two groups have different cardinalities, since there are $2^\kappa$ many permutations of an infinite set of size $\kappa$, and $\kappa\lt\lambda$ implies $2^\kappa\lt 2^\lambda$. QED

See the question: Can the symmetric groups on sets of differing infinite cardinalities be isomorphic? for further information and a correct proof.

I find the false proof illuminating, since it shows the limitation of a naive treatement of the continuum function $\kappa\mapsto 2^\kappa$. It simply isn't necessarily the case that the two groups have different cardinalities, even though it is necessarily the case that they are not isomorphic.