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The length of $C_{n+1}$ is simply two thirds of the length of $C_n$,
as $C_{n+1}$ is purely $C_n$ with the middle thirds removed.
Now taking $L_n$ to be the length of $C_n$:
$L_2$ = $\frac{2}{3}$,
$L_3$ = $\frac{4}{9}$,
$L_4$ = $\frac{8}{27}$ etc. etc.
It's obvious that $L_n$ = $\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{n-1}$.
So as n tends to infinity, $L_n$ gets increasingly smaller, i.e. tends to zero.
Therefore the length of the Cantor set is zero. In fact, the Cantor set is a set of points, because endpoints of line segments will never be removed, only middle thirds.
And as Euclid said, 'A point is that which has no part', i.e. a point has zero length, zero width and zero height.
Well done to you all.
How Long Is the Cantor Set?
Age 11 to 14
Challenge Level 
Gregory from Magnus C of E School in Nottingham and Luke from St Patrick's School reasoned correctly. Here is Luke's explanation:
For this question I found a pattern in it:
For example $C_1$ has length of 1 and $C_2$ has length of
$\frac{2}{3}$
and there is a pattern in this because 1 $\times$2 = 2, so
there is your numerator,
and to get your denominator you multiply 1 by 3, so there you
have your $\frac{2}{3}$.
So to put this into easier words, it simply means multiply the
numerator by 2 the whole way and multiply the denominator by
3.
So there is my strategy.
So the answer to $C_3$ is $\frac{4}{9}$
and the answer to $C_4$ is $\frac{8}{27}$
and finally $C_5$ is $\frac{16}{81}$.
$C_n$ is $\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{n-1}$
and when n $\rightarrow$ infinity, $ C_n \rightarrow$ 0
David from Gordonstoun School got the same
result and added:
In a geometric progression,
$a$ = $ 1^{st}$ term
$r$ = constant factor
$n$ = number of terms
Any value in a geometric progression is $ ar^{n-1}$
In this case
$a$ = 1
$r$ = $\frac{2}{3}$
$r$ = $\frac{2}{3}$ (which is less than 1),
so the higher its power, the closer the result is to
zero.
(Any positive number smaller than 1, to the power of infinity,
tends to zero.
Therefore $ r^{n}$ tends to zero)
So as $n$ tends to infinity,
$ar^{n-1}$ tends to $a \times 0 = 0$
So the Cantor Set's length is zero.
Liam from Wilbarston School reasoned in a
similar way:
The length of $C_{n+1}$ is simply two thirds of the length of $C_n$,
as $C_{n+1}$ is purely $C_n$ with the middle thirds removed.
Now taking $L_n$ to be the length of $C_n$:
$L_2$ = $\frac{2}{3}$,
$L_3$ = $\frac{4}{9}$,
$L_4$ = $\frac{8}{27}$ etc. etc.
It's obvious that $L_n$ = $\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{n-1}$.
So as n tends to infinity, $L_n$ gets increasingly smaller, i.e. tends to zero.
Therefore the length of the Cantor set is zero. In fact, the Cantor set is a set of points, because endpoints of line segments will never be removed, only middle thirds.
And as Euclid said, 'A point is that which has no part', i.e. a point has zero length, zero width and zero height.
Well done to you all.
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