Could the Cartesian Product be finite?

In summary, the Cartesian product of two at most countable sets is countable. This is proven by defining a surjective function $h$ from the set of ordered pairs of natural numbers to the Cartesian product of the two sets. Since the product of two surjective functions is also surjective, we can conclude that $A \times B$ is at most countable, and in the case of finite sets, it is also countable.
  • #1
evinda
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Hey! (Mmm)

Proposition
The Cartesian product of two at most countable sets is countable.

Proof

Let $A,B$ sets both of which are at most countable.
That means that there are functions: $f : \omega \overset{\text{surjective}}{\rightarrow} A, \ g : \omega \overset{\text{surjective}}{\rightarrow} B$.

We define the function $h: \omega^2 \to A \times B \\ \langle m, n \rangle \mapsto \langle f(m), g(n) \rangle$

We can easily see that $h$ is surjective.

Thus, $A \times B$ is at most countable.

In order to justify that $h$ is surjective could we say that since $f,g$ are surjective we know that $\forall f,g, \exists m, n \in \omega$ such that $f(m)=m, g(n)=n$?
Also we have shown that $A \times B$ is at most countable, but according to the proposition it is just countable.
So can it be that it $A \times B$ is finite in this case or not?
 
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  • #2
Yes, if $A$ and $B$ are both finite sets then $A \times B$ will also be a finite set and therefore countable.
 

FAQ: Could the Cartesian Product be finite?

What is the Cartesian Product?

The Cartesian Product is a mathematical operation that combines two sets to create a new set. It is denoted by the symbol "x" and is often used to find all possible combinations between the elements of the two sets.

Can the Cartesian Product be finite?

Yes, the Cartesian Product can be finite. This means that the resulting set will have a limited number of elements. For example, if we take the Cartesian Product of the set {1, 2, 3} and the set {a, b}, the resulting set will have 6 elements: {(1, a), (1, b), (2, a), (2, b), (3, a), (3, b)}.

How do you determine if the Cartesian Product is finite?

To determine if the Cartesian Product is finite, you can count the number of elements in the resulting set. If the number is finite, then the Cartesian Product is also finite. Additionally, you can look at the elements in the resulting set and see if there is a pattern or if they can be listed in a finite manner.

What are some real-life applications of the Cartesian Product?

The Cartesian Product has many real-life applications, such as in combinatorics, probability, and computer science. It can be used to find all possible outcomes in a game or to generate all possible combinations in a survey. In computer science, the Cartesian Product is used in database queries and to create tables in relational databases.

Is there a limit to the size of the Cartesian Product?

Yes, there is a limit to the size of the Cartesian Product. The number of elements in the resulting set is determined by the cardinality (number of elements) of the two original sets. As the cardinality of the sets increases, the size of the Cartesian Product also increases. However, there may be practical limitations in calculating or representing a very large Cartesian Product.

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