Theorem ackm 10351

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 10053. 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 10053.

The original FOM posts are: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007631.html 10053 http://www.cs.nyu.edu/pipermail/fom/2003-November/007641.html 10053. (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 10350	. 2 ⊢ CHOICE
2		dfackm 10053	. 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 1539   = wceq 1541  ∃wex 1780   ∈ wcel 2111  CHOICEwac 10001

This theorem was proved from axioms:  ax-mp 5  ax-1 6  ax-2 7  ax-3 8  ax-gen 1796  ax-4 1810  ax-5 1911  ax-6 1968  ax-7 2009  ax-8 2113  ax-9 2121  ax-10 2144  ax-11 2160  ax-12 2180  ax-ext 2703  ax-rep 5212  ax-sep 5229  ax-nul 5239  ax-pow 5298  ax-pr 5365  ax-un 7663  ax-ac2 10349

This theorem depends on definitions:  df-bi 207  df-an 396  df-or 848  df-3an 1088  df-tru 1544  df-fal 1554  df-ex 1781  df-nf 1785  df-sb 2068  df-mo 2535  df-eu 2564  df-clab 2710  df-cleq 2723  df-clel 2806  df-nfc 2881  df-ne 2929  df-ral 3048  df-rex 3057  df-rab 3396  df-v 3438  df-sbc 3737  df-csb 3846  df-dif 3900  df-un 3902  df-in 3904  df-ss 3914  df-nul 4279  df-if 4471  df-pw 4547  df-sn 4572  df-pr 4574  df-op 4578  df-uni 4855  df-iun 4938  df-br 5087  df-opab 5149  df-mpt 5168  df-id 5506  df-xp 5617  df-rel 5618  df-cnv 5619  df-co 5620  df-dm 5621  df-rn 5622  df-res 5623  df-ima 5624  df-iota 6432  df-fun 6478  df-fn 6479  df-f 6480  df-fv 6484  df-ac 10002

This theorem is referenced by: (None)