TITLE: The Number of Topologies on a Finite Set
QUESTION [18 upvotes]: I would like to know if there is like a magical formula to know how many topologies exist on a finite set
For example for $X = \{ a, b, c \}$ I found $29$, but I dont know if there are more or how to know this exact number without writing all topologies first.

REPLY [6 votes]: The number 29 is apparently correct.  See oeis.  It is the same as the number of quasi orders on the set, as well as some other equivalent formulations.  I don't know any quick way to compute it;  maybe because I can tell a doughnut from a coffee cup. ..
All kidding aside  (or almost all ), consider a set with $5$ labeled elements.   Then there are $2^5$, or $32$ subsets to "work with "...
Now, we need to see how many ways some of these can be selected which meet the definition of a topology...
Namely,  $\emptyset  $ and the whole set, call it $X $;  and closure under finite (which is automatic, here) intersections, and arbitrary unions...
There are, amazing in a way, $6942$ ways to do this...
If you think of how many ways you can choose subsets, you're looking at the power set again,  so $2^{2^5} $ ways...
Now, $2^{10}\approx 10^3$, so we're looking at on the order of  $10^9$ collections that we can use to try to build a topology.  ..
Only about  $1$ in every  $10^6$ subsets of the power set qualifies as a topology. ..
The moral of the story seems to be that we have our work cut out for us...  and remember we are only at $n=5$...