Infinite Sets
The pigeonhole principle can be extended to infinite sets by phrasing it in terms of cardinal numbers: if the cardinality of set A is greater than the cardinality of set B, then there is no injection from A to B. However in this form the principle is tautological, since the meaning of the statement that the cardinality of set A is greater than the cardinality of set B is exactly that there is no injective map from A to B. What makes the situation of finite sets interesting is that adding at least one element to a set is sufficient to ensure that the cardinality increases.
Read more about this topic: Pigeonhole Principle
Famous quotes containing the words infinite and/or sets:
“This is the monstruosity in love, ladythat the will is infinite and the execution confined; that the desire is boundless and the act a slave to limit.”
—William Shakespeare (15641616)
“A continual feast of commendation is only to be obtained by merit or by wealth: many are therefore obliged to content themselves with single morsels, and recompense the infrequency of their enjoyment by excess and riot, whenever fortune sets the banquet before them.”
—Samuel Johnson (17091784)