Theorem ackm 10221

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 9922. 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 9922.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 9922 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 9922. (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 10220	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 9922	. 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 1537   = wceq 1539  ∃wex 1782   ∈ wcel 2106  CHOICEwac 9871

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1798  ax-4 1812  ax-5 1913  ax-6 1971  ax-7 2011  ax-8 2108  ax-9 2116  ax-10 2137  ax-11 2154  ax-12 2171  ax-ext 2709  ax-rep 5209  ax-sep 5223  ax-nul 5230  ax-pow 5288  ax-pr 5352  ax-un 7588  ax-ac2 10219

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 206  df-an 397  df-or 845  df-3an 1088  df-tru 1542  df-fal 1552  df-ex 1783  df-nf 1787  df-sb 2068  df-mo 2540  df-eu 2569  df-clab 2716  df-cleq 2730  df-clel 2816  df-nfc 2889  df-ne 2944  df-ral 3069  df-rex 3070  df-rab 3073  df-v 3434  df-sbc 3717  df-csb 3833  df-dif 3890  df-un 3892  df-in 3894  df-ss 3904  df-nul 4257  df-if 4460  df-pw 4535  df-sn 4562  df-pr 4564  df-op 4568  df-uni 4840  df-iun 4926  df-br 5075  df-opab 5137  df-mpt 5158  df-id 5489  df-xp 5595  df-rel 5596  df-cnv 5597  df-co 5598  df-dm 5599  df-rn 5600  df-res 5601  df-ima 5602  df-iota 6391  df-fun 6435  df-fn 6436  df-f 6437  df-fv 6441  df-ac 9872

This theorem is referenced by: (None)