Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications, Seventh Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073383090
ISBN 13: 978-0-07338-309-5

Chapter 2 - Section 2.5 - Cardinality of Sets - Exercises - Page 176: 6

Answer

Move each guest from room $n$ to $2n-1$

Work Step by Step

Since Hilbert's Grand Hotel has a countable infinite number of rooms, we can number the rooms by positive integers $Z^+: 1,2,3,4.....$ The even numbered rooms are closed down We can then move each guest from room $n$ to room $2n -1$ $f: Z^+ \implies Z^+, f (n) = 2n- 1$ This then means that the guest in room $1$ stays in room $1=2(1)- 1)$, guest in room $2$ moves to room $3(= 2(2) -1)$, guest in room $3$ moves to room $5( =2(3)-1)$, etc We then note that each guest then still has a room and thus all guests can remain in the hotel
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.