Definition of the Finite typeclass #
This file defines a typeclass Finite saying that α : Sort* is finite. A type is Finite if it
is equivalent to Fin n for some n. We also define Infinite α as a typeclass equivalent to
¬Finite α.
The Finite predicate has no computational relevance and, being Prop-valued, gets to enjoy proof
irrelevance -- it represents the mere fact that the type is finite. While the Finite class also
represents finiteness of a type, a key difference is that a Fintype instance represents finiteness
in a computable way: it gives a concrete algorithm to produce a Finset whose elements enumerate
the terms of the given type. As such, one generally relies on congruence lemmas when rewriting
expressions involving Fintype instances.
Every Fintype instance automatically gives a Finite instance, see Fintype.finite, but not vice
versa. Every Fintype instance should be computable since they are meant for computation. If it's
not possible to write a computable Fintype instance, one should prefer writing a Finite instance
instead.
Main definitions #
Implementation notes #
The definition of Finite α is not just Nonempty (Fintype α) since Fintype requires
that α : Type*, and the definition in this module allows for α : Sort*. This means
we can write the instance Finite.prop.
Tags #
finite, fintype
A type is Finite if it is in bijective correspondence to some Fin n.
This is similar to Fintype, but Finite is a proposition rather than data.
A particular benefit to this is that Finite instances are definitionally equal to one another
(due to proof irrelevance) rather than being merely propositionally equal,
and, furthermore, Finite instances generally avoid the need for Decidable instances.
One other notable difference is that Finite allows there to be Finite p instances
for all p : Prop, which is not allowed by Fintype due to universe constraints.
An application of this is that Finite (x ∈ s → β x) follows from the general instance for pi
types, assuming [∀ x, Finite (β x)].
Implementation note: this is a reason Finite α is not defined as Nonempty (Fintype α).
Every Fintype instance provides a Finite instance via Finite.of_fintype.
Conversely, one can noncomputably create a Fintype instance from a Finite instance
via Fintype.ofFinite. In a proof one might write
have := Fintype.ofFinite α
to obtain such an instance.
Do not write noncomputable Fintype instances; instead write Finite instances
and use this Fintype.ofFinite interface.
The Fintype instances should be relied upon to be computable for evaluation purposes.
Theorems should use Finite instead of Fintype, unless definitions in the theorem statement
require Fintype.
Definitions should prefer Finite as well, unless it is important that the definitions
are meant to be computable in the reduction or #eval sense.
Instances
Alias of the reverse direction of not_infinite_iff_finite.
Alias of the forward direction of not_infinite_iff_finite.