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2 Typos

To be more precise, a countable collection of sets $(S_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ is encoded as the row of some given set $S$, i.e. $S_n = S^{[n]}$. Futhermore, for any function from $\mathbb{N} \rightarrow 2$, let $\bigcup_f S$ denote the union of the $S_n$ where $f(n) = 1$.

The question is what is the strength of the following statement (over $\text{RCA}_0$) : For all $X$, if for all $m \in X$, there exists a $n$ such that $m \in S_n$ and $S_n \subset X$, then there exist a $f : \mathbb{N} \rightarrow 2$ such that $X = \bigcup_f S$.

Clearly $\text{ACA}_0$ can prove this. However, I can not reverse this, over $\text{RCA}_0$. If it helps, this property feels very much like a special collection principalprinciple. That is for any $\Pi_1^0$ formula $\varphi(m,n)$ in free variable $m$ and $n$ : $(\forall m)(\exists n)\varphi(m,n) \Rightarrow (\exists X)(\forall m)(\exists n)(n\in X \wedge \varphi(m,n) \wedge (\forall n)(n \in X \Rightarrow (\exists m)\varphi(m,n))$. So this asserts that the solution for every $m$ exists in $X$ and all the elements of $x$ are solutions for some $m$. With this and using the $\Pi_1^0$ formula asserts $S_n$ is a subset, I can prove the union property above. However, I am not sure if I can go the other way. I am not certain of the strength of this collection principal principle either.

Could someone tell me if the union property or the collection principal principle is equivalent to any well known systems over $\text{RCA}_0$ or how they relate to well-known systems. Thanks for any help.

1

# The Reverse Mathematics of writing a set as a union?

To be more precise, a countable collection of sets $(S_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ is encoded as the row of some given set $S$, i.e. $S_n = S^{[n]}$. Futhermore, for any function from $\mathbb{N} \rightarrow 2$, let $\bigcup_f S$ denote the union of the $S_n$ where $f(n) = 1$.

The question is what is the strength of the following statement (over $\text{RCA}_0$) : For all $X$, if for all $m \in X$, there exists a $n$ such that $m \in S_n$ and $S_n \subset X$, then there exist a $f : \mathbb{N} \rightarrow 2$ such that $X = \bigcup_f S$.

Clearly $\text{ACA}_0$ can prove this. However, I can not reverse this, over $\text{RCA}_0$. If it helps, this property feels very much like a special collection principal. That is for any $\Pi_1^0$ formula $\varphi(m,n)$ in free variable $m$ and $n$ : $(\forall m)(\exists n)\varphi(m,n) \Rightarrow (\exists X)(\forall m)(\exists n)(n\in X \wedge \varphi(m,n) \wedge (\forall n)(n \in X \Rightarrow (\exists m)\varphi(m,n))$. So this asserts that the solution for every $m$ exists in $X$ and all the elements of $x$ are solutions for some $m$. With this and using the $\Pi_1^0$ formula asserts $S_n$ is a subset, I can prove the union property above. However, I am not sure if I can go the other way. I am not certain of the strength of this collection principal either.

Could someone tell me if the union property or the collection principal is equivalent to any well known systems over $\text{RCA}_0$ or how they relate to well-known systems. Thanks for any help.