Theorem ackm 10506

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 10208. 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 10208.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10208 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10208. (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 10505	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10208	. 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 1537   = wceq 1539  ∃wex 1778   ∈ wcel 2107  CHOICEwac 10156

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1794  ax-4 1808  ax-5 1909  ax-6 1966  ax-7 2006  ax-8 2109  ax-9 2117  ax-10 2140  ax-11 2156  ax-12 2176  ax-ext 2707  ax-rep 5278  ax-sep 5295  ax-nul 5305  ax-pow 5364  ax-pr 5431  ax-un 7756  ax-ac2 10504

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 207  df-an 396  df-or 848  df-3an 1088  df-tru 1542  df-fal 1552  df-ex 1779  df-nf 1783  df-sb 2064  df-mo 2539  df-eu 2568  df-clab 2714  df-cleq 2728  df-clel 2815  df-nfc 2891  df-ne 2940  df-ral 3061  df-rex 3070  df-rab 3436  df-v 3481  df-sbc 3788  df-csb 3899  df-dif 3953  df-un 3955  df-in 3957  df-ss 3967  df-nul 4333  df-if 4525  df-pw 4601  df-sn 4626  df-pr 4628  df-op 4632  df-uni 4907  df-iun 4992  df-br 5143  df-opab 5205  df-mpt 5225  df-id 5577  df-xp 5690  df-rel 5691  df-cnv 5692  df-co 5693  df-dm 5694  df-rn 5695  df-res 5696  df-ima 5697  df-iota 6513  df-fun 6562  df-fn 6563  df-f 6564  df-fv 6568  df-ac 10157

This theorem is referenced by: (None)