Which of the following is an example of a finite set?

Which of the following is an example of a finite set?

• A. The set of all even numbers
• B. The set of continents
• C. The set of all real numbers
• D. The set of all points in a line

Answer: (B)

The set of continents is an example of a finite set because it contains a specific, countable number of elements. There are only seven continents on Earth: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. This limited number allows us to enumerate the continents easily, confirming that it is finite. In contrast, the set of all even numbers is infinite since there are infinitely many even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, and so on). Similarly, the set of all real numbers is unbounded and also infinite, including both rational and irrational numbers without limit. Lastly, the set of all points in a line is similarly infinite because between any two points, there are countless additional points. Thus, only the set of continents possesses the characteristic of finiteness.

The set of continents is an example of a finite set because it contains a specific, countable number of elements. There are only seven continents on Earth: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. This limited number allows us to enumerate the continents easily, confirming that it is finite.

In contrast, the set of all even numbers is infinite since there are infinitely many even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, and so on). Similarly, the set of all real numbers is unbounded and also infinite, including both rational and irrational numbers without limit. Lastly, the set of all points in a line is similarly infinite because between any two points, there are countless additional points. Thus, only the set of continents possesses the characteristic of finiteness.