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It is well known that Ackermann's function is not primitive recursive. Therefore, the theories of primitive recursive arithmetic (PRA) and of $\Sigma_1$-induction ($I\Sigma_1$) cannot prove the totality of Ackermann's function.

However $\Sigma_2$-induction suffices to prove the totality of Ackermann's function. It also proves the consistency of $I\Sigma_1$.

My question: Is already the totality of Ackermann's function strong enough to prove the consistency of PRA or $I\Sigma_1$?

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The answer is apparently yes.

Recall the Grzegorczk hierarchy $\mathcal{E}^n$. This a hierarchy which classifies computable functions based on their growth rate, see Wikipedia: Grzegorczyk hierarchy.

Now on this hierarchy can be extended to ordinal level, see Wikipedia: Fast Growing Hierarchy. Then we have $\mathcal{E}^\omega:= \bigcup_{n<\omega} \mathcal{E}^n$, which is the same as the set of all primitive recursive functions. On the next level $\mathcal{E}^{\omega+1}$ one find then a variant of the Ackermann function.

Now Cleave, Rose formulate in $\mathcal{E}^n$ arithmetic an arithmetical systems $\mathcal{E}^n$ corresponding to the set of functions $\mathcal{E}^n$. Further, they show there that $\mathcal{E}^{n+1}$ proves the consistency of $\mathcal{E}^n$ for $n<\omega$. In $\mathcal{E}^\alpha$ and transfinite induction Rose claims that this result is also true for $n$ being an infinite ordinal. Thus arithmetic with a variant of the Ackermann function proves consistency of PRA (which is the same as consistency of $I\Sigma_1$).

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