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[parent] beth numbers (Definition)

The beth numbers are infinite cardinal numbers defined in a similar manner to the aleph numbers, as described below. They are written $\beth_\alpha$ where $\beth$ is beth, the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and $\alpha$ is an ordinal number.

We define $\beth_0$ to be the first infinite cardinal (that is, $\aleph_0$ . For each ordinal $\alpha$ we define $\beth_{\alpha+1}=2^{\beth_\alpha}$ For each limit ordinal $\delta$ we define $\beth_\delta=\bigcup_{\alpha\in\delta}\beth_\alpha$

Note that $\beth_1$ is the cardinality of the continuum.

For any ordinal $\alpha$ the inequality $\aleph_\alpha\leq\beth_\alpha$ holds. The Generalized Continuum Hypothesis is equivalent to the assertion that $\aleph_\alpha=\beth_\alpha$ for every ordinal $\alpha$

For every limit ordinal $\delta$ the cardinal $\beth_\delta$ is a strong limit cardinal. Every uncountable strong limit cardinal arises in this way.




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See Also: aleph numbers, generalized continuum hypothesis


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Cross-references: uncountable, strong limit cardinal, generalized continuum hypothesis, inequality, cardinality of the continuum, limit ordinal, ordinal number, aleph numbers, cardinal numbers, infinite
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This is version 6 of beth numbers, born on 2004-04-02, modified 2006-12-30.
Object id is 5740, canonical name is BethNumbers.
Accessed 2590 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC03E10 (Mathematical logic and foundations :: Set theory :: Ordinal and cardinal numbers)

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