Theorem ackm 10499

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 10202. 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 10202.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10202 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10202. (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 10498	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10202	. 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 394   ∨ wo 845  ∀wal 1532   = wceq 1534  ∃wex 1774   ∈ wcel 2099  CHOICEwac 10151

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1790  ax-4 1804  ax-5 1906  ax-6 1964  ax-7 2004  ax-8 2101  ax-9 2109  ax-10 2130  ax-11 2147  ax-12 2167  ax-ext 2697  ax-rep 5282  ax-sep 5296  ax-nul 5303  ax-pow 5361  ax-pr 5425  ax-un 7738  ax-ac2 10497

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 206  df-an 395  df-or 846  df-3an 1086  df-tru 1537  df-fal 1547  df-ex 1775  df-nf 1779  df-sb 2061  df-mo 2529  df-eu 2558  df-clab 2704  df-cleq 2718  df-clel 2803  df-nfc 2878  df-ne 2931  df-ral 3052  df-rex 3061  df-rab 3420  df-v 3464  df-sbc 3776  df-csb 3892  df-dif 3949  df-un 3951  df-in 3953  df-ss 3963  df-nul 4323  df-if 4524  df-pw 4599  df-sn 4624  df-pr 4626  df-op 4630  df-uni 4906  df-iun 4995  df-br 5146  df-opab 5208  df-mpt 5229  df-id 5572  df-xp 5680  df-rel 5681  df-cnv 5682  df-co 5683  df-dm 5684  df-rn 5685  df-res 5686  df-ima 5687  df-iota 6498  df-fun 6548  df-fn 6549  df-f 6550  df-fv 6554  df-ac 10152

This theorem is referenced by: (None)