Presenter(s)

Chester E. Lian

Download

Download Project (188 KB)

Description

Contrary to the popular belief that "infinity is not a number; it's a concept," numbers that are not finite do exist. Mathematicians call them transfinite numbers. Just like ordinary numbers, some transfinite numbers are larger than others. This can be thought of as there being different levels of infinity, where some infinities are "more infinite" than others. If we draw a family tree in which every generation has finitely many offspring, and every chain of descendants is finite, then it is clear that we cannot have infinitely many family members. In the realm of the transfinite, things are not as intuitive: If we draw a family tree in which every generation has offspring at a certain level of infinity, and every chain of descendants is at that same level of infinity, it is possible (though not necessary) that the total number of family members is at a higher level of infinity.

Publication Date

4-17-2013

Project Designation

Honors Thesis

Primary Advisor

Lynne C. Yengulalp

Primary Advisor's Department

Mathematics

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

An Aronszajn Tree

Share

COinS