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Glite Dictionary
🔢 Can be listed 📚 Can be counted
countability

countability

8.1
A property of a set that lets you list its elements one by one
  • noun
  • /ˌkaʊntəˈbɪləti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : contabilidad
  • The concept of countability is fundamental in set theory.

Examples

  • Mathematicians study countability to understand the size of different infinite sets.

  • The countability of natural numbers means they can be listed in order, one after another.

  • The concept of countability helps distinguish between types of infinity in mathematics.

  • Can you explain countability in simple terms?

  • In set theory, the countability of a set determines whether its elements can be matched with the natural numbers.

  • The mathematician explained the concept of countability by illustrating how some infinities can be enumerated.

  • Understanding countability is essential when distinguishing between finite, countably infinite, and uncountable sets.

Surface Forms

countability singular
countabilities plural

Morphology

countability = countable (semi-transparent) = count + able + ity

Built from 'count' -> 'countable' -> 'countability', but the mathematical sense is technical (countable sets may be infinite), so learners can be misled by a naive 'can be counted = finite' interpretation.

Etymology

Countability comes from the simple word count ('to say numbers one by one') and the ending -ability ('can be done'), so it literally means 'can be counted'. In math, countability means a set's items can be listed one after another.