All Questions
Tagged with independence-results set-theory
59 questions
297
votes
34
answers
53k
views
What are some reasonable-sounding statements that are independent of ZFC?
Every now and then, somebody will tell me about a question. When I start thinking about it, they say, "actually, it's undecidable in ZFC."
For example, suppose $A$ is an abelian group such ...
- 328
5
votes
0
answers
212
views
Questions about very fat sets
If $\kappa$ is a regular uncountable cardinal, we call a set $S\subseteq\kappa$ fat if for every $\alpha<\kappa$ and every club $C\subseteq\kappa$, there is a closed subset of $S\cap C$ of ...
- 12.9k
1
vote
1
answer
121
views
CH and the existence of a Borel partition of small cardinality
Say $\kappa$ is small if any set of cardinality $\kappa$ has outer-Lebesgue measure zero. We know that, in the Cohen model of ZFC where CH is false, there is a Borel partition of the unit interval of ...
- 73.1k
8
votes
1
answer
324
views
A surjection from square onto power: Is limit Hartogs/Lindenbaum number necessary?
I am considering the construction in [Peng—Shen—Wu] in which the authors show the consistency of a set $X$ such that there is a surjection from $X^2$ onto the power set of $X$ (henceforth $\mathscr{P}(...
- 4,316
7
votes
1
answer
457
views
The existence of definable subsets of finite sets in NBG
This question is motivated by my preceding MO-question on (in)consistency of NBG theory of classes.
Let $\varphi(x,Y,C)$ be a formula of NBG with free parameters $x,Y,C$ and all quantifiers running ...
- 41.8k
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
A contradiction in the Set Theory of von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel?
Thinking on the theory NBG (of von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel) I arrived at the conclusion that it is contradictory using an argument resembling Russell's Paradox. I am sure that I made a mistake in my ...
- 1
6
votes
1
answer
603
views
A strong form of the Axiom Schema of Replacement
Let us consider the following stronger version of the Axiom Schema of Replacement (let us call it the Axiom Schema of Replacement for Definable Relations):
Let $\varphi$ be any formula in the language ...
- 236k
22
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Nice algebraic statements independent from ZF + V=L (constructibility)
Background and motivation
I've always been fascinated about algebraic statements independent from ZFC set theory. One such fascinating example comes from considering $\rm{Ext}^1_\mathbb{Z}(A,\mathbb{Z}...
- 63.9k
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is every p-point ultrafilter Ramsey?
A non-principal ultrafilter $\mathcal{U}$ on $\omega$ is a p-point (or weakly selective) iff for every partition $\omega = \bigsqcup _{n < \omega} Z_n$ into null sets, i.e each $Z_n \not \in \...
- 2,821
13
votes
0
answers
325
views
$\mathsf{AC}_\mathsf{WO}+\mathsf{AC}^\mathsf{WO}\Rightarrow \mathsf{AC}$?
Let
$\mathsf{AC}_\mathsf{WO}$: Every well-orderable family of non-empty sets has a choice function.
$\mathsf{AC}^\mathsf{WO}$: Every family of non-empty well-orderable sets has a choice function.
My ...
- 12.9k
3
votes
0
answers
157
views
The "absolute" version of the Axiom Schema of Replacement in ZFC
The well-known Axiom Schema of Replacement in ZFC says that for any formula $\varphi$ of the Set Theory with free variables among $w_1,\dots,w_n,A,x,y$ the following holds:
$$\forall w_1,\dots,w_n\;\...
- 41.8k
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Relationship between fragments of the axiom of choice and the dependent choice principles
The dependent choice principle ${\rm DC}_\kappa$ states that if $S$ is a nonempty set and $R$ is a binary relation such that for every $s\in S^{\lt\kappa}$, there is $x\in S$ with $sRx$, then there ...
- 39.7k
11
votes
3
answers
994
views
Why can we assume a ctm of ZFC exists in forcing
Following Kunen's book, it makes clear that countable transitive models (ctm) exist only for a finite list of axioms of ZFC. So, why can we assume a ctm of the whole ZFC axioms exists and use it as ...
- 11
3
votes
0
answers
79
views
Is $\mathfrak q_0$ equal to the smallest cardinality of a second-countable $T_1$-space which is not a $Q$-space?
A topological space $X$ is a $Q$-space if every subset of $X$ is of type $G_\delta$.
The smallest cardinality of a metrizable separable space which is not a $Q$-space is denoted by $\mathfrak q_0$ and ...
- 41.8k
4
votes
1
answer
194
views
Is every first-countable Lindelof space of cardinality $<\mathfrak c$ a $Q$-space under MA?
Definition. A topological space $X$ is a $Q$-space if every subset of $X$ is of type $G_\delta$.
It is clear that every $Q$-space has countable pseudocharacter (= all singletons are $G_\delta$) and is ...
- 674
9
votes
1
answer
489
views
Intuition behind Pincus' "injectively bounded statements"
In
David Pincus, Zermelo-Fraenkel Consistency Results by Fraenkel-Mostowski Methods,
The Journal of Symbolic Logic, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Dec., 1972), pp. 721-743
Pincus introduces the notion of ...
- 21.1k
5
votes
1
answer
197
views
The cardinal characteristic $\mathfrak r_{(X,f)}$ of a dynamical system
I am interested in a "dynamical" modification of the cardinals $\mathfrak r$ and $\mathfrak r_\sigma$, well-known in the theory of cardinal characteristics of the continuum.
For a compact ...
- 41.8k
7
votes
3
answers
439
views
Dedekind-"finiteness" for arbitrary limit cardinals
In $\mathbf{ZF}$, it is possible for a set $A$ to be infinite but not to admit a countable set. In other words, for any $\alpha\in\omega$, there is an injection from $\alpha$ into $A$, but there is no ...
- 39.7k
4
votes
1
answer
396
views
Is there a universally meager air space?
Let $\mathcal P$ be a family of nonempty subsets of a topological space $X$. A subset $D\subset X$ is called $\mathcal P$-generic if for any $P\in\mathcal P$ the intersection $P\cap D$ is not empty.
A ...
- 41.8k
1
vote
0
answers
289
views
About Whitehead's problem
Hi I am new to proofs of consistency and independence with ZFC of some claims. I have read "The uses of set theory" by Judith Roitman, in that article it is mentioned that the Whitehead ...
- 561
11
votes
0
answers
256
views
Existence of a strong antichain
Call an antichain (set of pairwise incomparable elements) $A$ of a poset $P$ strong if for every $p,q \in P$ with $p \leq q$ there exists an $a\in A$ which is comparable with both $p$ and $q$.
...
- 111
33
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is it still an open problem whether $\mathbb{R}^\omega$ is normal in the box topology?
On page 205 of his Topology textbook, James Munkres made an interesting remark:
It is not known whether $\mathbb{R}^\omega$ is normal in the box topology. Mary-Ellen Rudin has shown that the answer ...
- 18.5k
3
votes
1
answer
975
views
Implications of the existence of a pair of surjective functions, without Axiom of Choice
The classical Cantor-Schroder-Bernstein Theorem says that there exists a bijective function $X\leftrightarrow Y$ if and only if there exist injective functions $X\hookrightarrow Y$ and $Y\...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
1
answer
325
views
Is Axiom of Choice equivalent to its version for families of sets, indexed by ordinals? [duplicate]
Is Axiom of Choice equivalent to the following statement?
Axiom of Ordinal Choice: For any ordinal $\lambda$ and any indexed family of sets $(X_\alpha)_{\alpha\in\lambda}$ there exists a function $...
CommunityBot
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
140
views
What is the smallest cardinality of a base of an ultrafilter on $\omega$ related to an almost disjoint family of cardinality $\mathfrak c$?
Let $(A_\alpha)_{\alpha\in\mathfrak c}$ be an almost disjoint family of infinite subsets of $\omega$. The almost disjointness of the family means that $A_\alpha\cap A_\beta$ is finite for any ordinals ...
- 41.8k
5
votes
0
answers
175
views
Selecting an almost disjoint family in a given family of sets
A family $\mathcal A$ of infinite subsets of $\omega$ is called almost disjoint if for any distinct sets $A,B\in\mathcal A$ the intersection $A\cap B$ is finite.
Let $\mathfrak a'$ be the largest ...
- 41.8k
4
votes
1
answer
180
views
What is the smallest cardinality of a maximal ultrafamily of infinite subsets of $\omega$?
A family $\mathcal U$ of infinite subsets of $\omega$ is called an ultrafamily if for any sets $U,V\in\mathcal U$ one of the sets $U\setminus V$, $U\cap V$ or $V\setminus U$ is finite.
By the ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
1
answer
524
views
A topologically transitive dynamical system without dense orbits
By a dynamical system I understand a pair $(K,G)$ consisting a compact Hausdorff space and a subgroup $G$ of the homeomorphism group of $K$.
We say that a dynamical system $(K,G)$
$\bullet$ is ...
- 41.8k
11
votes
1
answer
704
views
Is $\mathfrak j_{2:1}=\mathfrak{j}_{2:2}$ in ZFC?
A function $f:\omega\to\omega$ is called
$\bullet$ 2-to-1 if $|f^{-1}(y)|\le 2$ for any $y\in\omega$;
$\bullet$ almost injective if the set $\{y\in \omega:|f^{-1}(y)|>1\}$ is finite.
Let us ...
CommunityBot
- 1
11
votes
1
answer
628
views
A new cardinal characteristic (related to partitions)?
In this post I will discuss some cardinal characteristic of the continuum, related to partitions of $\omega$ and would like to know if it is equal to some known cardinal characteristic.
By a partition ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
0
answers
122
views
The existence of $T$-ultrafilters in ZFC
Looking at this MO-problem, my collegue Igor Protasov suggested to ask on Mathoverflow his old question on $T$-ultrafilters hoping that somebody on MO can solve it.
First I recall the necessary ...
CommunityBot
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
140
views
Is $\mathfrak p=\omega_1$ equivalent to the existence of a Hausdorff gap without infinite pseudointersection?
Given two set $A,B$ we write $A\subset^* B$ if the complement $A\setminus B$ is infinite.
A Hausdorff gap is a transfinite family $\langle A_\alpha,B_\alpha\rangle_{\alpha\in\omega_1}$ of infinite ...
- 7,125
6
votes
1
answer
626
views
Can $H_{\omega_1}$ and $H_{\omega_2}$ be in bi-interpretation synonymy?
This question concerns the possibility of the bi-interpretation synonymy of the structure
$\langle
H_{\omega_1},\in\rangle$, consisting of the hereditarily countable sets, and the structure $\langle ...
- 8,099
5
votes
1
answer
513
views
Smallest size of a non-measurable set of reals
The question is pretty much the title. I'm wondering if anything is known about the smallest size $\kappa$ of a non-measurable subset of the real numbers (regarding the Lebesgue measure). Since we ...
- 1,799
6
votes
0
answers
375
views
How bad a proper forcing of size $\aleph_1$ can be?
This question concerns proper forcings of size $\aleph_1$. In the context of
$\rm ZFC+\neg CH$, I couldn't find any counter example to the following property. Suppose $\mathbb P$ is a proper forcing ...
- 32.1k
1
vote
1
answer
139
views
Complexity of a proper class of extendibles
If consistent, is existence of a proper class of extendible cardinals provably equivalent to a $Σ^V_5$ statement?
Recall that in ZFC, a cardinal $κ$ is extendible iff for every $λ>κ$ there is an ...
- 7,545
32
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Bidi: A new cardinal characteristic of the continuum?
This question assumes familiarity with combinatorial cardinal
characteristics of the continuum.
Identify an infinite set $a\subseteq\mathbb{N}$ with its increasing
enumeration. Thus, for each natural ...
- 4,713
2
votes
0
answers
120
views
Two small uncountable cardinals related to Q-sets
A subset $A$ of the real line is called a Q-set if any subset of of $A$ is of type $F_\sigma$ in $A$.
Let $\mathfrak q_0$ be the smallest cardinality of a subset $X\subset\mathbb R$ which is not a Q-...
CommunityBot
- 1
9
votes
1
answer
483
views
Relationship between AC, WO, and Zorn's lemma in ZF-Powerset
In regular ZF, AC, WO, and Zorn's Lemma are equivalent, but every proof I know (of the implication AC -> WO and AC -> Zorn) uses the axiom of choice on the powerset of X (where X is the Set which is ...
CommunityBot
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
223
views
K-analytic spaces whose any compact subset is countable
A regular topological space $X$ is called
$\bullet$ analytic if $X$ is a continuous image of a Polish space;
$\bullet$ $K$-analytic if $X$ is the image of a Polish space $P$ under an upper ...
- 41.8k
7
votes
0
answers
177
views
Asymptotically discrete ultrafilters
Definition 1. A ultrafilter $\mathcal U$ on $\omega$ is called discrete (resp. nowhere dense) if for any injective map $f:\omega\to \mathbb R$ there is a set $U\in\mathcal U$ whose image $f(U)$ is a ...
- 41.8k
8
votes
0
answers
238
views
Metrically Ramsey ultrafilters
On Thuesday I was in Kyiv and discussed with Igor Protasov the system of MathOverflow and its power in answering mathematical problems. After this discussion Igor Protasov suggested to ask on MO the ...
- 1,336
18
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Spectra of elements of a Banach algebra and the role played by the Hahn-Banach Theorem.
This problem was posed on Math StackExchange some time ago, but it did not garner any solutions there. I think that it is interesting enough to be posed here on Math Overflow, so here it goes.
Let $ \...
- 109k
5
votes
1
answer
402
views
Variants of reflection principle
This question concerns two definitions of the reflection principle. One of them known to be a consequence of the other one. I would like to understand if the reverse is true.
Let us state the first ...
- 2,381
4
votes
2
answers
799
views
What things does ZFC not know if it knows?
The statement "ZFC $\vdash 0=1$" is independent of ZFC due to Goedel's second incompleteness theorem. That got me wondering, for what other statements $\phi$ is "ZFC $\vdash \phi$" independent of ZFC?
...
- 21
4
votes
2
answers
477
views
Experiments physically performable in a finite amount of time whose results are independent of ZFC [closed]
In On independence and large cardinal strength of physical statements we see that their are physical statements which are independent of ZFC, and even strong cardinal axioms. There were many answers, ...
- 11
6
votes
1
answer
273
views
$\omega_2$-sequence of Suslin trees
Is it possible to have an $\omega_2$-length sequence of ($\omega_1$-)Suslin trees such that if one builds the product of finitely many trees in that sequence, one ends up with a Suslin tree again?
...
- 2,381
10
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Reference Request: Independence of the ultrafilter lemma from ZF
I'm looking for references for the following facts concerning the ultrafilter lemma (~ "there exist non-principal ultrafilters"):
The ultrafilter lemma is independent of ZF.
ZF + the ultrafilter ...
- 4,713
1
vote
1
answer
219
views
Wondering if the following set-theoretic assertion is known to be consistent w/ ZFC
I'm wondering about the following (I've written a couple set theory papers but don't consider myself a set theorist, so please keep this in mind when answering):
Is it consistent w/ ZFC that there ...
- 21.1k
32
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Should axiomatic set theory be translated into graph theory?
Recently I saw the abstract of a paper by Nash-Williams: ``Should axiomatic set theory be translated into graph theory?''. The abstract, taken from Mathscinet says the following:
The author ...
CommunityBot
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