Considerations on Bernstein's theorem (Q2566613)

This paper deals with the theorem of Felix Bernstein of 1897 -- which was also proved by Dedekind in 1887 -- and which states: Let \(X, Y\) be sets and \(f:X\to Y\) and \(g:Y\to X\) injective mappings, then there is also a bijective mapping of \(X\) onto \(Y\). The proof which is presented here corresponds to that of Banach's generalization of this theorem, in which it is proved that the mapping \(\varphi\), which ascribes to each set \(E\subseteq X\) the set \(X\setminus g(Y \setminus f(X))\), has a fixed point \(B=\varphi(E)\) (here called a Bernstein set). Starting from this theorem many aspects of set theory can be illustrated. Several examples for the use of Bernstein sets and explicit constructions are presented.