A full infinite hotel can still make room
Imagine Hilbert's Hotel: infinitely many numbered rooms, every one occupied, and a new guest at reception. Moving each guest from room n to room n + 1 frees Room 1 because there is no last room. Explore why a different reassignment can even accommodate a countably infinite busload.
Questions you could explore
- Why does moving everyone to the next room fail in an ordinary finite hotel?
- How does reassigning rooms for one new guest differ from accommodating infinitely many new guests?
Start reading
- Ana Rita Pires; Institute for Advanced StudyHospitality at the Hilbert Hotel
A mathematician gives the reassignment rules and shows exactly where the new guests can go.
Ready to try your ideas aloud?
Your topic carries over. Record up to 2½ minutes, depending on your plan.