Theorem ackm 10444

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 10146. 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 10146.

The original FOM posts are: https://fomarchive.ugent.be/2003-November/007631.html 10146 https://fomarchive.ugent.be/2003-November/007641.html 10146. (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 10443	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10146	. 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 233	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 400   ∨ wo 860  ∀wal 1568   = wceq 1570  ∃wex 1809   ∈ wcel 2143  CHOICEwac 10095

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1825  ax-4 1839  ax-5 1940  ax-6 1997  ax-7 2038  ax-8 2145  ax-9 2153  ax-10 2176  ax-11 2192  ax-12 2213  ax-ext 2735  ax-rep 5238  ax-sep 5257  ax-nul 5269  ax-pow 5336  ax-pr 5404  ax-un 7732  ax-ac2 10442

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 210  df-an 401  df-or 861  df-3an 1105  df-tru 1573  df-fal 1583  df-ex 1810  df-nf 1814  df-sb 2097  df-mo 2567  df-eu 2597  df-clab 2742  df-cleq 2755  df-clel 2838  df-nfc 2912  df-ne 2959  df-ral 3080  df-rex 3090  df-rab 3417  df-v 3457  df-sbc 3745  df-csb 3854  df-dif 3908  df-un 3910  df-in 3912  df-ss 3922  df-nul 4287  df-if 4488  df-pw 4564  df-sn 4590  df-pr 4592  df-op 4596  df-uni 4873  df-iun 4958  df-br 5110  df-opab 5174  df-mpt 5193  df-id 5556  df-xp 5667  df-rel 5668  df-cnv 5669  df-co 5670  df-dm 5671  df-rn 5672  df-res 5673  df-ima 5674  df-iota 6492  df-fun 6538  df-fn 6539  df-f 6540  df-fv 6544  df-ac 10096

This theorem is referenced by: (None)