Theorem ackm 10534

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 10236. 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 10236.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10236 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10236. (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 10533	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10236	. 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 846  ∀wal 1535   = wceq 1537  ∃wex 1777   ∈ wcel 2108  CHOICEwac 10184

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1793  ax-4 1807  ax-5 1909  ax-6 1967  ax-7 2007  ax-8 2110  ax-9 2118  ax-10 2141  ax-11 2158  ax-12 2178  ax-ext 2711  ax-rep 5303  ax-sep 5317  ax-nul 5324  ax-pow 5383  ax-pr 5447  ax-un 7770  ax-ac2 10532

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 207  df-an 396  df-or 847  df-3an 1089  df-tru 1540  df-fal 1550  df-ex 1778  df-nf 1782  df-sb 2065  df-mo 2543  df-eu 2572  df-clab 2718  df-cleq 2732  df-clel 2819  df-nfc 2895  df-ne 2947  df-ral 3068  df-rex 3077  df-rab 3444  df-v 3490  df-sbc 3805  df-csb 3922  df-dif 3979  df-un 3981  df-in 3983  df-ss 3993  df-nul 4353  df-if 4549  df-pw 4624  df-sn 4649  df-pr 4651  df-op 4655  df-uni 4932  df-iun 5017  df-br 5167  df-opab 5229  df-mpt 5250  df-id 5593  df-xp 5706  df-rel 5707  df-cnv 5708  df-co 5709  df-dm 5710  df-rn 5711  df-res 5712  df-ima 5713  df-iota 6525  df-fun 6575  df-fn 6576  df-f 6577  df-fv 6581  df-ac 10185

This theorem is referenced by: (None)