Theorem ackm 10418

Description: A remarkable equivalent to the Axiom of Choice that has only five quantifiers (when expanded to use only the primitive predicates = and ∈ and in prenex normal form), discovered and proved by Kurt Maes. This establishes a new record, reducing from 6 to 5 the largest number of quantified variables needed by any ZFC axiom. The ZF-equivalence to AC is shown by Theorem dfackm 10120. Maes found this version of AC in April 2004 (replacing a longer version, also with five quantifiers, that he found in November 2003). See Kurt Maes, "A 5-quantifier (∈ , =)-expression ZF-equivalent to the Axiom of Choice", https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.0705.3162 10120.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10120 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10120. (Contributed by NM, 29-Apr-2004.) (Revised by Mario Carneiro, 17-May-2015.) (Proof modification is discouraged.)

Assertion

Ref	Expression
ackm	⊢ ∀𝑥∃𝑦∀𝑧∃𝑣∀𝑢((𝑦 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ (𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ((𝑣 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ ¬ 𝑦 = 𝑣) ∧ 𝑧 ∈ 𝑣))) ∨ (¬ 𝑦 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ (𝑧 ∈ 𝑥 → ((𝑣 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝑣 ∈ 𝑦) ∧ ((𝑢 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝑢 ∈ 𝑦) → 𝑢 = 𝑣)))))

Distinct variable group:   𝑥,𝑦,𝑧,𝑣,𝑢

Proof of Theorem ackm

Step	Hyp	Ref	Expression
1		axac3 10417	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10120	. 2 ⊢ (CHOICE ↔ ∀𝑥∃𝑦∀𝑧∃𝑣∀𝑢((𝑦 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ (𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ((𝑣 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ ¬ 𝑦 = 𝑣) ∧ 𝑧 ∈ 𝑣))) ∨ (¬ 𝑦 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ (𝑧 ∈ 𝑥 → ((𝑣 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝑣 ∈ 𝑦) ∧ ((𝑢 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝑢 ∈ 𝑦) → 𝑢 = 𝑣))))))
3	1, 2	mpbi 230	1 ⊢ ∀𝑥∃𝑦∀𝑧∃𝑣∀𝑢((𝑦 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ (𝑧 ∈ 𝑦 → ((𝑣 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ ¬ 𝑦 = 𝑣) ∧ 𝑧 ∈ 𝑣))) ∨ (¬ 𝑦 ∈ 𝑥 ∧ (𝑧 ∈ 𝑥 → ((𝑣 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝑣 ∈ 𝑦) ∧ ((𝑢 ∈ 𝑧 ∧ 𝑢 ∈ 𝑦) → 𝑢 = 𝑣)))))

Syntax hints:  ¬ wn 3   → wi 4   ∧ wa 395   ∨ wo 847  ∀wal 1538   = wceq 1540  ∃wex 1779   ∈ wcel 2109  CHOICEwac 10068

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1795  ax-4 1809  ax-5 1910  ax-6 1967  ax-7 2008  ax-8 2111  ax-9 2119  ax-10 2142  ax-11 2158  ax-12 2178  ax-ext 2701  ax-rep 5234  ax-sep 5251  ax-nul 5261  ax-pow 5320  ax-pr 5387  ax-un 7711  ax-ac2 10416

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 207  df-an 396  df-or 848  df-3an 1088  df-tru 1543  df-fal 1553  df-ex 1780  df-nf 1784  df-sb 2066  df-mo 2533  df-eu 2562  df-clab 2708  df-cleq 2721  df-clel 2803  df-nfc 2878  df-ne 2926  df-ral 3045  df-rex 3054  df-rab 3406  df-v 3449  df-sbc 3754  df-csb 3863  df-dif 3917  df-un 3919  df-in 3921  df-ss 3931  df-nul 4297  df-if 4489  df-pw 4565  df-sn 4590  df-pr 4592  df-op 4596  df-uni 4872  df-iun 4957  df-br 5108  df-opab 5170  df-mpt 5189  df-id 5533  df-xp 5644  df-rel 5645  df-cnv 5646  df-co 5647  df-dm 5648  df-rn 5649  df-res 5650  df-ima 5651  df-iota 6464  df-fun 6513  df-fn 6514  df-f 6515  df-fv 6519  df-ac 10069

This theorem is referenced by: (None)