Math with Bad DrawingsCartoon Archive

Uncountable Wishes

April 29, 2019

A genie grants uncountably many wishes, but without the Axiom of Choice the wisher can't pick a 'second' one.

Use this cartoon

Free for classrooms, worksheets, slides and other non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0, with credit to Ben Orlin.

Cartoon by Ben Orlin, Math with Bad Drawings. https://cartoons.mathwithbaddrawings.com/2019-04-29-uncountable-wishes/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)
Transcript

A: "For my first wish, I want uncountably many wishes!" Genie: "It is done."

A: "And for my second wish…" Genie: "Ah ah ah! There is no 'second' wish."

A: "Wait… you mean…" Genie: "You didn't wish for the Axiom of Choice." A: "NOOOOOOOOOO"

Topics
Sets & Infinity › Uncountable SetsSets & Infinity › Axiom of ChoiceSets & Infinity › Well-OrderingSets & Infinity › Infinity
Level
College
Themes
Literature & MythJokes & RiddlesPuzzles & Problems