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Do Unto Caesar


The Cantor Set


Take a line segment of length 1. We'll call it $C_1$.

Now remove the middle third. Call what's left $C_2$.

Now remove the middle third of each line segment in $C_2$. Call what's left $C_3$.

We can keep doing this, at each stage removing the middle third of each of the line segments in $C_n$ to form $C_{n+1}$.
Construction of cantor set

Draw pictures of $C_4$ and $C_5$.

If we suppose that the end points of $C_1$ are 0 and 1, then we can mark on the end points of the line segments for the later $C_n$ too. For example, $C_2$ has end points $0$, $\frac{1}{3}$, $\frac{2}{3}$ and $1$ as shown below.
Cantor sets with labels

Draw $C_3$ and label the end points, and label the end points on your pictures of $C_4$ and $C_5$.

We can keep removing middle thirds infinitely many times. The set of points left having done it infinitely many times is called the Cantor set.

Which of the following points are in the Cantor set?

$\frac{1}{3}$, $\frac{4}{9}$, $\frac{3}{81}$, $\frac{4}{81}$.

Explain how you decided which belong and which don't.


Full screen version

This text is usually replaced by the Flash movie.

See also the problem Smaller and Smaller.