Abstract
This project is concerned with articulating the necessary background in order to understand the famous result of the undecidability of the continuum hypothesis. The first chapter of this independent study discusses the foundations of set theory, stating fundamental definitions and theorems that will be used throughout the remainder of the project. The second chapter focuses on ordinal and cardinal numbers which will directly relate to the final chapter. First, there is a clear explanation of the notion of order and what it means for a set to be well-ordered. Then ordinal numbers are defined and some properties are listed and proved. The second half of this chapter discusses cardinal numbers. Similarly, they are defined and some of their properties are stated. Some arithmetic rules surrounding cardinal numbers are discussed as an extension to those properties. The next chapter is concerned with Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory and the axiom of choice (ZFC) which introduces the idea of set theoretic systems and models. All nine axioms are listed and expanded upon. Additional focus is put on the axiom of choice and its equivalent statements. The final chapter states the continuum hypothesis, as well as the weak continuum hypothesis and the generalized continuum hypothesis. Some additional background of inner models is discussed for subsequent proof. Kurt Gödel proved that the continuum hypothesis could not be proven false within ZFC. The outline for this proof is discussed to reflect its main points. Paul Cohen proved that the continuum hypothesis could not be proven true within ZFC, although this is not discussed as extensively. With this last chapter, the end result becomes clear that the continuum hypothesis is independent of ZFC.
Advisor
Chowdhury, Subhadip
Department
Mathematics
Recommended Citation
Helck, Sabrina Grace, "The Infinity Conundrum: Understanding Topics In Set Theory And The Continuum Hypothesis" (2022). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 9828.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/9828
Disciplines
Set Theory
Publication Date
2022
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis Exemplar
Included in
© Copyright 2022 Sabrina Grace Helck