Theorem ackm 10387

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 10089. 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 10089.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10089 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10089. (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 10386	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10089	. 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 848  ∀wal 1540   = wceq 1542  ∃wex 1781   ∈ wcel 2114  CHOICEwac 10037

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1797  ax-4 1811  ax-5 1912  ax-6 1969  ax-7 2010  ax-8 2116  ax-9 2124  ax-10 2147  ax-11 2163  ax-12 2185  ax-ext 2709  ax-rep 5226  ax-sep 5243  ax-nul 5253  ax-pow 5312  ax-pr 5379  ax-un 7690  ax-ac2 10385

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 207  df-an 396  df-or 849  df-3an 1089  df-tru 1545  df-fal 1555  df-ex 1782  df-nf 1786  df-sb 2069  df-mo 2540  df-eu 2570  df-clab 2716  df-cleq 2729  df-clel 2812  df-nfc 2886  df-ne 2934  df-ral 3053  df-rex 3063  df-rab 3402  df-v 3444  df-sbc 3743  df-csb 3852  df-dif 3906  df-un 3908  df-in 3910  df-ss 3920  df-nul 4288  df-if 4482  df-pw 4558  df-sn 4583  df-pr 4585  df-op 4589  df-uni 4866  df-iun 4950  df-br 5101  df-opab 5163  df-mpt 5182  df-id 5527  df-xp 5638  df-rel 5639  df-cnv 5640  df-co 5641  df-dm 5642  df-rn 5643  df-res 5644  df-ima 5645  df-iota 6456  df-fun 6502  df-fn 6503  df-f 6504  df-fv 6508  df-ac 10038

This theorem is referenced by: (None)