Theorem ackm 10503

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 10205. 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 10205.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10205 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10205. (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 10502	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10205	. 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 1535   = wceq 1537  ∃wex 1776   ∈ wcel 2106  CHOICEwac 10153

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1792  ax-4 1806  ax-5 1908  ax-6 1965  ax-7 2005  ax-8 2108  ax-9 2116  ax-10 2139  ax-11 2155  ax-12 2175  ax-ext 2706  ax-rep 5285  ax-sep 5302  ax-nul 5312  ax-pow 5371  ax-pr 5438  ax-un 7754  ax-ac2 10501

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 207  df-an 396  df-or 848  df-3an 1088  df-tru 1540  df-fal 1550  df-ex 1777  df-nf 1781  df-sb 2063  df-mo 2538  df-eu 2567  df-clab 2713  df-cleq 2727  df-clel 2814  df-nfc 2890  df-ne 2939  df-ral 3060  df-rex 3069  df-rab 3434  df-v 3480  df-sbc 3792  df-csb 3909  df-dif 3966  df-un 3968  df-in 3970  df-ss 3980  df-nul 4340  df-if 4532  df-pw 4607  df-sn 4632  df-pr 4634  df-op 4638  df-uni 4913  df-iun 4998  df-br 5149  df-opab 5211  df-mpt 5232  df-id 5583  df-xp 5695  df-rel 5696  df-cnv 5697  df-co 5698  df-dm 5699  df-rn 5700  df-res 5701  df-ima 5702  df-iota 6516  df-fun 6565  df-fn 6566  df-f 6567  df-fv 6571  df-ac 10154

This theorem is referenced by: (None)