Alphabeta Math
TheoremStatement: AI-adaptedProof: AI-adaptedSession-authored (Fable 5 assisted)precheck passjudge pass (z-ai/glm-5.2)audited 2026-07-27
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The first chip identifies the source of the statement or construction; the second identifies the source of its local proof or verification.

  • Literature-sourced — the exact statement appears in a cited source; only wording and notation differ.
  • AI-adapted — a semantically identical restatement of literature-sourced material, modulo indexing, notation, and boundary cases adopted by the library.
  • AI-generated — a genuinely novel statement formulated by AI, with no source for the claim itself.

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The Cantor set is exactly the set of k1ak3k\sum_{k \ge 1} a_k 3^{-k} with every ak{0,2}a_k \in \{0,2\}, and this gives a bijection with {0,1}N\{0,1\}^{\mathbb{N}}

Statement

Let DD be the set of sequences a:N{0,2}a : \mathbb{N} \to \{0,2\} (Sequences of reals: bounded, eventually, frequently, tails, subsequences), the two values being the real numbers 00 and 22. For aDa \in D the series k0ak3k1\sum_{k \ge 0} a_k 3^{-k-1} converges (Series, partial sums, convergence and the sum, divergence, and the tail series); write

Φ(a)  :=  k=0ak3k1.\Phi(a) \;:=\; \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} a_k 3^{-k-1} .

Then, with CC and (Cn)(C_n) as in The Cantor middle-thirds set as the intersection of the sets CnC_n obtained by removing open middle thirds:

  1. Φ(a)[0,1]\Phi(a) \in [0,1] for every aDa \in D, and C={Φ(a):aD}C = \{\, \Phi(a) : a \in D \,\};
  2. Φ\Phi is injective, so Φ\Phi is a bijection from DD onto CC (Injection, surjection, bijection);
  3. consequently bΦ((2bk)k)b \mapsto \Phi\big((2 b_k)_k\big) is a bijection from {0,1}N\{0,1\}^{\mathbb{N}}, the set of sequences with values in {0,1}\{0,1\}, onto CC;
  4. C=13C(23+13C)C = \tfrac13 C \cup \big(\tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C\big), and the two sets on the right are disjoint.

On the indexing. The digit aka_k carries the weight 3k13^{-k-1}, so the series starts at k=0k = 0 with the term a0/3a_0/3; written with the classical 11-based index it reads k1ak3k\sum_{k \ge 1} a_k 3^{-k}, which is the form in the title. Sequences in this library are functions on N\mathbb{N} and N\mathbb{N} contains 00 (Sequences of reals: bounded, eventually, frequently, tails, subsequences), so the 00-based form is the one used throughout the proof.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The sets CnC_n and CC of The Cantor middle-thirds set as the intersection of the sets CnC_n obtained by removing open middle thirds, the set DD of sequences with values in {0,2}\{0,2\}, and for aDa \in D the shifted sequence σa\sigma a defined by (σa)k:=ak+1(\sigma a)_k := a_{k+1}, which again lies in DD.

[L1]

The Cantor set: C0=[0,1]C_0 = [0,1], Cn+1=13Cn(23+13Cn)C_{n+1} = \tfrac13 C_n \cup (\tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C_n), C=nCn=nCn+1C = \bigcap_n C_n = \bigcap_n C_{n+1}, every Cn[0,1]C_n \subseteq [0,1], the two halves of Cn+1C_{n+1} lie in [0,13][0,\tfrac13] and in [23,1][\tfrac23,1] respectively and are disjoint, and 3n3^{-n} denotes (31)n(3^{-1})^n (The Cantor middle-thirds set as the intersection of the sets CnC_n obtained by removing open middle thirds, Intervals of R\mathbb{R}: the nine order-convex forms, nondegeneracy, and length).

[L2]

Series: partial sums sn=k<ntks_n = \sum_{k<n} t_k, convergence of (sn)(s_n), the sum as its limit, the tail clause kmtk\sum_{k \ge m} t_k and the identity k<n+1tk=t0+j<ntj+1\sum_{k<n+1} t_k = t_0 + \sum_{j<n} t_{j+1} (Series, partial sums, convergence and the sum, divergence, and the tail series, Sequences of reals: bounded, eventually, frequently, tails, subsequences).

[L3]

A series of nonnegative terms converges exactly when its partial sums are bounded above, its sum is then their supremum, every partial sum is at most the sum, and a convergent series of nonnegative terms has sum 0\ge 0 (A series of nonnegative terms converges iff its partial sums are bounded, and then the sum is their supremum).

[L4]

k=03k=1/(131)=321\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} 3^{-k} = 1/(1 - 3^{-1}) = 3 \cdot 2^{-1} (For r<1|r| < 1, k0rk=1/(1r)\sum_{k \ge 0} r^k = 1/(1-r), and for r1|r| \ge 1 the series diverges, Integer powers ama^m, Laws of integer exponents).

[L5]

Convergent series add and scale termwise (Convergent series add and scale termwise).

[L6]

Recursion and induction on N\mathbb{N} (The recursion theorem, The principle of mathematical induction).

[L7]

Every nonempty subset of N\mathbb{N} has a least element (The well-ordering principle).

[L8]

3n03^{-n} \to 0 (For r<1|r| < 1 the sequence rkr^k is null, and for r>1|r| > 1 the sequence rk|r|^k diverges to ++\infty); convergence is tested against rational ε>0\varepsilon > 0 and a convergent sequence has exactly one limit (Limits and Cauchy sequences of reals, A sequence has at most one limit); z0|z| \ge 0 and z=z|z| = z for z0z \ge 0 (Basic properties of the absolute value).

[L9]

Ordered-field arithmetic: 0<10 < 1, so 2>02 > 0 and 3>03 > 0 and 31>03^{-1} > 0, and 31<2313^{-1} < 2 \cdot 3^{-1}; adding a constant and multiplying by a positive preserve an inequality; the order is total and transitive (The multiplicative identity is positive, Order is preserved by adding a constant and by adding inequalities, Sign rules for products and monotonicity of multiplication, Ordered field, Complete ordered field (least-upper-bound property)). These order-arithmetic facts are stated by their sources for the strict order only; the nonstrict forms used below follow by adjoining the equality case, in which the two sides coincide.

Proof

technique · direct
1.1

Φ\Phi is well defined and takes values in [0,1][0,1]. For aDa \in D every term ak3k1a_k 3^{-k-1} is 0\ge 0 by [L1] and [L9], and for every nn the partial sum satisfies k<nak3k1k<n2313k=231k<n3k231321=1\sum_{k<n} a_k 3^{-k-1} \le \sum_{k<n} 2 \cdot 3^{-1} \cdot 3^{-k} = 2 \cdot 3^{-1} \sum_{k<n} 3^{-k} \le 2 \cdot 3^{-1} \cdot 3 \cdot 2^{-1} = 1, by [L3], [L4] and [L9]. So by [L3] the series converges, its sum Φ(a)\Phi(a) satisfies 0Φ(a)10 \le \Phi(a) \le 1, and Φ(a)[0,1]\Phi(a) \in [0,1] by [L1].

givenL1L3L4L9
1.2

Shift identity: Φ(a)=a031+31Φ(σa)\Phi(a) = a_0 \cdot 3^{-1} + 3^{-1}\Phi(\sigma a) for every aDa \in D. Indeed by [L2] the partial sums satisfy k<n+1ak3k1=a031+j<naj+13j2=a031+31j<naj+13j1\sum_{k<n+1} a_k 3^{-k-1} = a_0 3^{-1} + \sum_{j<n} a_{j+1} 3^{-j-2} = a_0 3^{-1} + 3^{-1}\sum_{j<n} a_{j+1}3^{-j-1}, using 3j2=313j13^{-j-2} = 3^{-1}\cdot 3^{-j-1} from [L1] and [L9]; letting nn grow and using [L5] and [L2] gives the identity.

givenL1L2L5L9
1.3

Self-similarity of CC, claim 4. If yCy \in C then yCny \in C_n for every nn, so y3113CnCn+1y \cdot 3^{-1} \in \tfrac13 C_n \subseteq C_{n+1} and 231+y3123+13CnCn+12 \cdot 3^{-1} + y \cdot 3^{-1} \in \tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C_n \subseteq C_{n+1} for every nn, whence both lie in nCn+1=C\bigcap_n C_{n+1} = C by [L1]; this gives the inclusion \supseteq. Conversely let xCx \in C, so xCn+1x \in C_{n+1} for every nn. By [L1] the first half of Cn+1C_{n+1} lies in [0,13][0,\tfrac13] and the second in [23,1][\tfrac23,1], and 13<23\tfrac13 < \tfrac23 by [L9]. If x13x \le \tfrac13 then x[23,1]x \notin [\tfrac23,1], so for every nn one has x13Cnx \in \tfrac13 C_n, that is 3xCn3x \in C_n; hence 3xC3x \in C and x13Cx \in \tfrac13 C. If x>13x > \tfrac13 then x[0,13]x \notin [0,\tfrac13], so for every nn one has x23+13Cnx \in \tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C_n, that is 3x2Cn3x - 2 \in C_n; hence 3x2C3x - 2 \in C and x23+13Cx \in \tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C. Disjointness is [L1] and [L9], since 13C[0,13]\tfrac13 C \subseteq [0,\tfrac13] and 23+13C[23,1]\tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C \subseteq [\tfrac23,1].

L1L9
2.1

Φ(a)C\Phi(a) \in C for every aDa \in D. By induction on nn ([L6]) the statement "for every aDa \in D, Φ(a)Cn\Phi(a) \in C_n" holds for every nn: at n=0n = 0 it is step 1.1 and [L1]; and if it holds at nn, then for aDa \in D the value a0a_0 is 00 or 22, so step 1.2 gives Φ(a)=31Φ(σa)13Cn\Phi(a) = 3^{-1}\Phi(\sigma a) \in \tfrac13 C_n in the first case and Φ(a)=231+31Φ(σa)23+13Cn\Phi(a) = 2 \cdot 3^{-1} + 3^{-1}\Phi(\sigma a) \in \tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C_n in the second, so Φ(a)Cn+1\Phi(a) \in C_{n+1} by [L1]. Hence Φ(a)nCn=C\Phi(a) \in \bigcap_n C_n = C.

step 1.1step 1.2L1L6
2.2

The digit recursion. Fix xCx \in C and let T:RRT : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R} be T(y):=3yT(y) := 3y for y31y \le 3^{-1} and T(y):=3y2T(y) := 3y - 2 for y>31y > 3^{-1}, a definition by cases on the total order ([L9]) and so a genuine function. By [L6] there is y:NRy : \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{R} with y0=xy_0 = x and yn+1=T(yn)y_{n+1} = T(y_n); put an:=0a_n := 0 when yn31y_n \le 3^{-1} and an:=2a_n := 2 otherwise, so that aDa \in D and yn+1=3ynany_{n+1} = 3 y_n - a_n for every nn. Every yny_n lies in CC, by induction on nn: y0=xCy_0 = x \in C; and if ynCy_n \in C then, by step 1.3, either yn13C[0,13]y_n \in \tfrac13 C \subseteq [0,\tfrac13] or yn23+13C[23,1]y_n \in \tfrac23 + \tfrac13 C \subseteq [\tfrac23,1], and these two cases are exactly yn13y_n \le \tfrac13 and yn>13y_n > \tfrac13 by [L9]; in the first yn=z31y_n = z \cdot 3^{-1} with zCz \in C and yn+1=3yn=zCy_{n+1} = 3y_n = z \in C, in the second yn=231+z31y_n = 2 \cdot 3^{-1} + z \cdot 3^{-1} with zCz \in C and yn+1=3yn2=zCy_{n+1} = 3y_n - 2 = z \in C.

step 1.3L1L6L9
2.3

Φ\Phi is injective. Let a,bDa, b \in D with aba \ne b; the set of kk with akbka_k \ne b_k is a nonempty subset of N\mathbb{N}, so by [L7] it has a least element kk, and by symmetry we may take ak=0a_k = 0 and bk=2b_k = 2. By [L5], Φ(b)Φ(a)=j0(bjaj)3j1\Phi(b) - \Phi(a) = \sum_{j \ge 0}(b_j - a_j)3^{-j-1}, and the terms with j<kj < k vanish, so by [L2] this equals 23k1+R2 \cdot 3^{-k-1} + R with R:=jk+1(bjaj)3j1R := \sum_{j \ge k+1}(b_j - a_j)3^{-j-1}. Every bjajb_j - a_j is at least 2-2, so the series jk+1((bjaj)+2)3j1\sum_{j \ge k+1}\big((b_j - a_j) + 2\big)3^{-j-1} has nonnegative terms and hence nonnegative sum by [L3], giving Rjk+123j1=23k2321=3k1R \ge -\sum_{j \ge k+1} 2 \cdot 3^{-j-1} = -2 \cdot 3^{-k-2} \cdot 3 \cdot 2^{-1} = -3^{-k-1} by [L2], [L4], [L5] and [L9]. Therefore Φ(b)Φ(a)23k13k1=3k1>0\Phi(b) - \Phi(a) \ge 2 \cdot 3^{-k-1} - 3^{-k-1} = 3^{-k-1} > 0 and Φ(a)Φ(b)\Phi(a) \ne \Phi(b).

step 1.1L2L3L4L5L7L9
3.1

The value is recovered from the digits. With xx, (yn)(y_n) and aa as in step 2.2, put sn:=k<nak3k1s_n := \sum_{k<n} a_k 3^{-k-1}. Then x=sn+3nynx = s_n + 3^{-n} y_n for every nn, by induction on nn ([L6]): at n=0n = 0 both sides are xx, since s0=0s_0 = 0 by [L2] and 30=13^{0} = 1; and if x=sn+3nynx = s_n + 3^{-n}y_n then sn+1+3n1yn+1=sn+an3n1+3n1(3ynan)=sn+3nyn=xs_{n+1} + 3^{-n-1}y_{n+1} = s_n + a_n 3^{-n-1} + 3^{-n-1}(3y_n - a_n) = s_n + 3^{-n}y_n = x, using [L1], [L2] and [L9].

step 2.2L1L2L6L9
4.1

Hence x=Φ(a)x = \Phi(a), so CΦ[D]C \subseteq \Phi[D]. Every yny_n lies in C[0,1]C \subseteq [0,1] by step 2.2 and [L1], so 0xsn=3nyn3n0 \le x - s_n = 3^{-n}y_n \le 3^{-n} by step 3.1 and [L9]. Given a rational ε>0\varepsilon > 0, [L8] supplies NN with 3n<ε3^{-n} < \varepsilon for all nNn \ge N, and then snx=xsn3n<ε|s_n - x| = x - s_n \le 3^{-n} < \varepsilon by [L8]; so snxs_n \to x. But snΦ(a)s_n \to \Phi(a) by [L2], since (sn)(s_n) is the sequence of partial sums of the series defining Φ(a)\Phi(a), and limits are unique by [L8]; therefore x=Φ(a)x = \Phi(a) with aDa \in D.

step 2.2step 3.1L1L2L8L9
5.1

By steps 2.1 and 4.1 the image of DD under Φ\Phi is exactly CC, which with step 1.1 is claim 1; step 2.3 is claim 2, so Φ\Phi is a surjection from DD onto CC that is injective, that is, a bijection (Injection, surjection, bijection); the map b(2bk)kb \mapsto (2b_k)_k is a bijection from {0,1}N\{0,1\}^{\mathbb{N}} onto DD, with inverse a(ak21)ka \mapsto (a_k \cdot 2^{-1})_k by [L9], and a composition of bijections is a bijection, which is claim 3; and step 1.3 is claim 4.

step 1.1step 1.3step 2.1step 2.3step 4.1L9

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