Equinumerosity

🅟 Mar 06, 2026

  🅤 Apr 19, 2026

EQU#DEF. Equinumerosity.

  • $X$ and $Y$ are equinumerous, written

    \[X\equ Y,\]

    if there exists a bijection from $X$ onto $Y$.

  • $X$ is not a greater set than $Y$, written

    \[X\lequ Y,\]

    if there exists an injection from $X$ to $Y$.

  • $X$ is a smaller set than $Y$, written

    \[X\lnequ Y,\]

    if

    \[X\lequ Y \enspace\land\enspace X\not\equ Y.\]

EQU#PROP-REF. Reflexivity of $\equ$.

For any $X$,

\[X \equ X.\]

EQU#PROP-SYM. Symmetry of $\equ$.

For any $X$ and $Y$,

\[X \equ Y \enspace\rimp\enspace Y \equ X.\]

EQU#PROP-TRA. Transitivity of $\equ$.

For any $X$, $Y$ and $Z$,

\[X\equ Y \,\land\, Y\equ Z \enspace\rimp\enspace X\equ Z.\]

EQU#PROP-EQV.

$\equ$ is an equivalence relation.

Proof.By reflexivity, symmetry and transitivity of $\equ$.


EQU#PROP-L-REF. Reflexivity of $\lequ$.

For any $X$,

\[X \lequ X.\]

EQU#PROP-L-TRA. Transitivity of $\lequ$.

For any $X$, $Y$ and $Z$,

\[X \lequ Y \,\land\, Y\lequ Z \enspace\rimp\enspace X\lequ Z.\]

EQU#PROP-SB. Schröder-Bernstein Theorem.

For any $X$ and $Y$,

\[X \lequ Y \,\land\, Y\lequ X \enspace\rimp\enspace X\equ Y.\]

EQU#PROP-SUB.

If $X\subseteq Y$, then $X\lequ Y$.

Proof.$\id_X:X\to Y$ is an injection.