null set

created by Woundweavr
(thing) by Woundweavr (4.1 y) (print)   (I like it!) Sat Nov 13 1999 at 14:24:21
The set of numbers that contain no numbers. If there is no answer to some math problems, the answer is the null set.
(idea) by Muerte (8.2 y) (print)   (I like it!) Thu Apr 20 2000 at 18:28:25
A group of numbers that are the solution to an equation with no valid solutions. If the return set contains no valid answers it retuns a null set. A null set is often displayed as (or Ø) or { } for simplicity.

Also called the empty set.

(idea) by vagary (4.1 y) (print)   (I like it!) Fri Jun 15 2001 at 15:57:08

One formal method for defining the null set is:

ø = the set of all x such that x is not identical with x

This relies on the Axioms of Identity and Existence completely; the Axiom of Infinity is also important indirectly. It should be noted that, unlike other formal methods, this has no problem with multi-valued logic.

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