Alphabeta Math
TheoremStatement: Literature-sourcedProof: AI-adaptedPipeline-generatedjudge pass (gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-09-07
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The first chip identifies the source of the statement or construction; the second identifies the source of its local proof or verification.

  • Literature-sourced: the exact statement appears in a cited source; only wording and notation differ.
  • AI-adapted: a semantically identical restatement of literature-sourced material, modulo indexing, notation, and boundary cases adopted by the library.
  • AI-generated: a genuinely novel statement formulated by AI, with no source for the claim itself.

These labels describe origin, not correctness: citations and verification chips remain separate evidence.

Multiple choice is equivalent to AC in ZF

Statement

In ZF, if P(α) is well-orderable for every ordinal α, then AC holds. In particular MCAC. Foundation is part of the ambient theory.

Facts & Assumptions

[F1]

A bounded hierarchy for the multiple-choice argument: Every set is included in an increasing bounded hierarchy stage with limit index.

[F2]

Hartogs: an ordinal that does not inject into a given set: No ordinal at least h(B) can inject into B.

[F3]

Transfinite recursion: Specified class rules recurse along set ordinals.

[F4]

Maximal antichains well-order linearly ordered sets: MC makes the power set of every ordinal well-orderable.

[F5]

The Axiom of Choice: AC selects one point from each member of a nonempty-set family.

Proof

Given: The objects and hypotheses in the statement.

1.1

Fix AVθ with θ limit and let k=h(Vθ). By the hypothesis fix a single well-order W of P(k). No sequence of arbitrary well-orders is chosen.

F1F2
2.1

Define well-orders Wβ of Vβ for β<θ recursively. At zero use the empty order. Given Wβ, its unique order isomorphism eβ:Vβηβ has ηβ<k, since VβVθ. Order Vβ+1=P(Vβ) by transporting the restriction of W along ueβ[u]P(k).

F2F3step 1.1
3.1

At a limit λθ, order elements first by their least stage of appearance below λ, then within the same stage by its already constructed order. Every nonempty subset has a least appearance index and a least element at that index, so this is a well-order. This defines the limit rule and also the final order on Vθ. Restrict it to A.

F3step 2.1
4.1

For any family of nonempty sets apply the result to its union and select the least member of each set. The empty family uses the empty function. This proves AC from the powerset hypothesis; MC supplies that hypothesis. Conversely AC supplies a point in each nonempty set, whose singleton is a multiple selection.

F4F5step 3.1

Depends on

Used by

Dependency tree · two levels

21 results within two dependency steps of this one, each drawn at its shortest distance from it. An arrow runs from a result to what uses it, so the chart reads left to right and ends at this result, which carries a heavier outline. Every node is a link to that result. Click elsewhere on the chart to enlarge it.

Sources