Theorem ackm 10222

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 9923. 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 9923.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 9923 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 9923. (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 10221	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 9923	. 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 229	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 396   ∨ wo 844  ∀wal 1540   = wceq 1542  ∃wex 1786   ∈ wcel 2110  CHOICEwac 9872

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1802  ax-4 1816  ax-5 1917  ax-6 1975  ax-7 2015  ax-8 2112  ax-9 2120  ax-10 2141  ax-11 2158  ax-12 2175  ax-ext 2711  ax-rep 5214  ax-sep 5227  ax-nul 5234  ax-pow 5292  ax-pr 5356  ax-un 7582  ax-ac2 10220

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 206  df-an 397  df-or 845  df-3an 1088  df-tru 1545  df-fal 1555  df-ex 1787  df-nf 1791  df-sb 2072  df-mo 2542  df-eu 2571  df-clab 2718  df-cleq 2732  df-clel 2818  df-nfc 2891  df-ne 2946  df-ral 3071  df-rex 3072  df-reu 3073  df-rab 3075  df-v 3433  df-sbc 3721  df-csb 3838  df-dif 3895  df-un 3897  df-in 3899  df-ss 3909  df-nul 4263  df-if 4466  df-pw 4541  df-sn 4568  df-pr 4570  df-op 4574  df-uni 4846  df-iun 4932  df-br 5080  df-opab 5142  df-mpt 5163  df-id 5490  df-xp 5596  df-rel 5597  df-cnv 5598  df-co 5599  df-dm 5600  df-rn 5601  df-res 5602  df-ima 5603  df-iota 6390  df-fun 6434  df-fn 6435  df-f 6436  df-f1 6437  df-fo 6438  df-f1o 6439  df-fv 6440  df-ac 9873

This theorem is referenced by: (None)