Theorem ackm 10457

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 10158. 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 10158.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10158 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10158. (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 10456	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10158	. 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 395   ∨ wo 844  ∀wal 1531   = wceq 1533  ∃wex 1773   ∈ wcel 2098  CHOICEwac 10107

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1789  ax-4 1803  ax-5 1905  ax-6 1963  ax-7 2003  ax-8 2100  ax-9 2108  ax-10 2129  ax-11 2146  ax-12 2163  ax-ext 2695  ax-rep 5276  ax-sep 5290  ax-nul 5297  ax-pow 5354  ax-pr 5418  ax-un 7719  ax-ac2 10455

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 206  df-an 396  df-or 845  df-3an 1086  df-tru 1536  df-fal 1546  df-ex 1774  df-nf 1778  df-sb 2060  df-mo 2526  df-eu 2555  df-clab 2702  df-cleq 2716  df-clel 2802  df-nfc 2877  df-ne 2933  df-ral 3054  df-rex 3063  df-rab 3425  df-v 3468  df-sbc 3771  df-csb 3887  df-dif 3944  df-un 3946  df-in 3948  df-ss 3958  df-nul 4316  df-if 4522  df-pw 4597  df-sn 4622  df-pr 4624  df-op 4628  df-uni 4901  df-iun 4990  df-br 5140  df-opab 5202  df-mpt 5223  df-id 5565  df-xp 5673  df-rel 5674  df-cnv 5675  df-co 5676  df-dm 5677  df-rn 5678  df-res 5679  df-ima 5680  df-iota 6486  df-fun 6536  df-fn 6537  df-f 6538  df-fv 6542  df-ac 10108

This theorem is referenced by: (None)