Examples 2.1.2:

Find the bijections to prove the following statements:
  1. Let E be the set of all even integers, O be the set of odd integers. Then card(E) = card(O)
  2. Let E be the set of even integers, Z be the set of all integers. Then card(E) = card(Z)
  3. Let N be the set of natural numbers, Z be the set of all integers. Then card(N) = card(Z)
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In each of the three cases we have to find a bijection between the two pairs of sets.

  1. Define the function f(n) = n + 1 with domain E and range O. Then the function f is clearly one-to-one and onto, hence it is a bijection. Now f is a bijection between E and O, so that card(E) = card(O).

  2. Define the function f(n) = 2n with domain Z and range E. Then it is straight-forward to show that this function is one-to-one and onto, giving the required bijection. Hence, card(Z) = card(E).

  3. Define the following function: f(n) = n / 2 if n is even and f(n) =- (n-1) / 2 if n is odd, with domain N and range Z. Again, it is not hard to show that this function is one-to-one and onto, and therefore card(N) = card(Z).
The actual details of proving that the functions are bijections are left as an exercise.

Interactive Real Analysis, ver. 1.9.5
(c) 1994-2007, Bert G. Wachsmuth
Page last modified: Mar 28, 2007