Transfinite numbers - Definition and Overview

Transfinite numbers, also known as infinite numbers, are numbers that are not finite. These numbers were discovered by Georg Cantor.

As with finite numbers, there are two ways of thinking of transfinite numbers, as ordinal and cardinal numbers. Unlike the finite ordinals and cardinals, the transfinite ordinals and cardinals define different classes of numbers.

• The lowest transfinite ordinal number is ω.

• The first transfinite cardinal number is aleph-null, <math>\aleph_0<math>, the cardinality of the infinite set of the integers. The next higher cardinal number is aleph-one, <math>\aleph_1<math>.

The continuum hypothesis states that there are no intermediate cardinal numbers between aleph-null and the cardinality of the real numbers (the "continuum"): that is to say, aleph-one is the cardinality of the set of real numbers.

In both the cardinal and ordinal number systems, the transfinite numbers can keep on going forever, with progressively more bizarre kinds of number.

Beyond all these, Georg Cantor's conception of the Absolute Infinite surely represents the absolute largest possible concept of "large number".

See also:

• 2 to the power of C
• Large cardinal
• Mahlo cardinals
• Indescribable cardinals
• Infinitesimal