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Constructible universe - Wikipedia

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data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-toc.unpin">hide</button> </div> <ul class="vector-toc-contents" id="mw-panel-toc-list"> <li id="toc-mw-content-text" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1"> <a href="#" class="vector-toc-link"> <div class="vector-toc-text">(Top)</div> </a> </li> <li id="toc-What_L_is" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#What_L_is"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1</span> <span>What <i>L</i> is</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-What_L_is-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Additional_facts_about_the_sets_Lα" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Additional_facts_about_the_sets_Lα"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Additional facts about the sets L<sub>α</sub></span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Additional_facts_about_the_sets_Lα-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-L_is_a_standard_inner_model_of_ZFC" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#L_is_a_standard_inner_model_of_ZFC"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>L is a standard inner model of ZFC</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-L_is_a_standard_inner_model_of_ZFC-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-L_is_absolute_and_minimal" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#L_is_absolute_and_minimal"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>L is absolute and minimal</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-L_is_absolute_and_minimal-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle L is absolute and minimal subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-L_is_absolute_and_minimal-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-L_and_large_cardinals" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#L_and_large_cardinals"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4.1</span> <span>L and large cardinals</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-L_and_large_cardinals-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-L_can_be_well-ordered" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#L_can_be_well-ordered"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>L can be well-ordered</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-L_can_be_well-ordered-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-L_has_a_reflection_principle" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#L_has_a_reflection_principle"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>L has a reflection principle</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-L_has_a_reflection_principle-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-The_generalized_continuum_hypothesis_holds_in_L" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#The_generalized_continuum_hypothesis_holds_in_L"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>The generalized continuum hypothesis holds in L</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-The_generalized_continuum_hypothesis_holds_in_L-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Constructible_sets_are_definable_from_the_ordinals" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Constructible_sets_are_definable_from_the_ordinals"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Constructible sets are definable from the ordinals</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Constructible_sets_are_definable_from_the_ordinals-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Relative_constructibility" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Relative_constructibility"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Relative constructibility</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Relative_constructibility-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav 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id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Constructible universe</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. 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href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9F%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%AE%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%BF_%CE%A3%CF%8D%CE%BC%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%BD" title="Οικοδομήσιμο Σύμπαν – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Οικοδομήσιμο Σύμπαν" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universo_constructible" title="Universo constructible – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Universo constructible" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers_constructible" title="Univers constructible – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Univers constructible" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B5%AC%EC%84%B1_%EA%B0%80%EB%8A%A5_%EC%A0%84%EC%B2%B4" title="구성 가능 전체 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="구성 가능 전체" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/L_(%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA)" title="L (תורת הקבוצות) – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="L (תורת הקבוצות)" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A7%8B%E6%88%90%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E9%9B%86%E5%90%88" title="構成可能集合 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="構成可能集合" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniwersum_konstruowalne" title="Uniwersum konstruowalne – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Uniwersum konstruowalne" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universo_constru%C3%ADvel" title="Universo construível – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Universo construível" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%81%D1%83%D0%BC" title="Конструктивный универсум – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Конструктивный универсум" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B7%D1%83%D0%BC" title="Конструктибилни универзум – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Конструктибилни универзум" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a 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class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Particular class of sets which can be described entirely in terms of simpler sets</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Not to be confused with <a href="/wiki/G%C3%B6del_metric" title="Gödel metric">Gödel metric</a>.</div> <p>In <a href="/wiki/Mathematics" title="Mathematics">mathematics</a>, in <a href="/wiki/Set_theory" title="Set theory">set theory</a>, the <b>constructible universe</b> (or <b>Gödel's constructible universe</b>), denoted by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L,}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo>,</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L,}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/0efcf5b47104c2ddf893d7608183b766a281cea2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.23ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L,}" /></span> is a particular <a href="/wiki/Class_(set_theory)" title="Class (set theory)">class</a> of <a href="/wiki/Set_(mathematics)" title="Set (mathematics)">sets</a> that can be described entirely in terms of simpler sets. <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is the union of the <b>constructible hierarchy</b> <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. It was introduced by <a href="/wiki/Kurt_G%C3%B6del" title="Kurt Gödel">Kurt Gödel</a> in his 1938 paper "The Consistency of the Axiom of Choice and of the Generalized Continuum-Hypothesis".<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> In this paper, he proved that the constructible universe is an <a href="/wiki/Inner_model" title="Inner model">inner model</a> of ZF set theory (that is, of <a href="/wiki/Zermelo%E2%80%93Fraenkel_set_theory" title="Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory">Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory</a> with the <a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_choice" title="Axiom of choice">axiom of choice</a> excluded), and also that the axiom of choice and the <a href="/wiki/Continuum_hypothesis#The_generalized_continuum_hypothesis" title="Continuum hypothesis">generalized continuum hypothesis</a> are true in the constructible universe. This shows that both propositions are <a href="/wiki/Consistent" class="mw-redirect" title="Consistent">consistent</a> with the basic <a href="/wiki/Axiom" title="Axiom">axioms</a> of set theory, if ZF itself is consistent. Since many other theorems only hold in systems in which one or both of the propositions is true, their consistency is an important result. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="What_L_is">What <i>L</i> is</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1" title="Edit section: What L is"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> can be thought of as being built in "stages" resembling the construction of the <a href="/wiki/Von_Neumann_universe" title="Von Neumann universe">von Neumann universe</a>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>. The stages are indexed by <a href="/wiki/Ordinal_number" title="Ordinal number">ordinals</a>. In von Neumann's universe, at a <a href="/wiki/Successor_ordinal" title="Successor ordinal">successor</a> stage, one takes <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>V</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/bec562b169f4e5f58a7a0f3189663982fee74cd2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.74ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V_{\alpha +1}}" /></span> to be the set of <i>all</i> subsets of the previous stage, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>V</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/582d40a9ff663187250948b07bb66456162c2042" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.639ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V_{\alpha }}" /></span>. By contrast, in Gödel's constructible universe <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, one uses <i>only</i> those subsets of the previous stage that are: </p> <ul><li>definable by a <a href="/wiki/Formula_(mathematical_logic)" class="mw-redirect" title="Formula (mathematical logic)">formula</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Formal_language" title="Formal language">formal language</a> of set theory,</li> <li>with <a href="/wiki/Parameters#Logic" class="mw-redirect" title="Parameters">parameters</a> from the previous stage and,</li> <li>with the <a href="/wiki/Quantifier_(logic)" title="Quantifier (logic)">quantifiers</a> interpreted to range over the previous stage.</li></ul> <p>By limiting oneself to sets defined only in terms of what has already been constructed, one ensures that the resulting sets will be constructed in a way that is independent of the peculiarities of the surrounding model of set theory and contained in any such model. </p><p>Define the Def operator:<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> </p><p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \operatorname {Def} (X):={\Bigl \{}\{y\mid y\in X{\text{ and }}(X,\in )\models \Phi (y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\}~{\Big |}~\Phi {\text{ is a first-order formula and }}z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}\in X{\Bigr \}}.}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>Def</mi> <mo>&#x2061;<!-- ⁡ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>:=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-OPEN"> <mo maxsize="1.623em" minsize="1.623em">{</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>X</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mtext>&#xa0;and&#xa0;</mtext> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>&#x22a8;<!-- ⊨ --></mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mtext>&#xa0;</mtext> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo maxsize="1.623em" minsize="1.623em">|</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mtext>&#xa0;</mtext> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mtext>&#xa0;is a first-order formula and&#xa0;</mtext> </mrow> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>X</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-CLOSE"> <mo maxsize="1.623em" minsize="1.623em">}</mo> </mrow> </mrow> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \operatorname {Def} (X):={\Bigl \{}\{y\mid y\in X{\text{ and }}(X,\in )\models \Phi (y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\}~{\Big |}~\Phi {\text{ is a first-order formula and }}z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}\in X{\Bigr \}}.}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5bbf977310995f3d5520362496bc58bc6694eb50" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.838ex; width:101.95ex; height:4.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \operatorname {Def} (X):={\Bigl \{}\{y\mid y\in X{\text{ and }}(X,\in )\models \Phi (y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\}~{\Big |}~\Phi {\text{ is a first-order formula and }}z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}\in X{\Bigr \}}.}" /></span> </p><p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is defined by <a href="/wiki/Transfinite_recursion" class="mw-redirect" title="Transfinite recursion">transfinite recursion</a> as follows: </p> <ul><li><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle L_{0}:=\varnothing .}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>:=</mo> <mi class="MJX-variant">&#x2205;<!-- ∅ --></mi> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle L_{0}:=\varnothing .}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ae9cbd07373b7bc2e1f07ec89e926c0236fc1a3f" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:8.837ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\textstyle L_{0}:=\varnothing .}" /></span></li> <li><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle L_{\alpha +1}:=\operatorname {Def} (L_{\alpha }).}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>:=</mo> <mi>Def</mi> <mo>&#x2061;<!-- ⁡ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle L_{\alpha +1}:=\operatorname {Def} (L_{\alpha }).}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/eced9a9a60b8d363552d9a6c2a5743e34aa123aa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:17.556ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\textstyle L_{\alpha +1}:=\operatorname {Def} (L_{\alpha }).}" /></span></li> <li>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle \lambda }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle \lambda }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f801b46dadd4b4d0ba4c6592b232053bd79e080b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.355ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\textstyle \lambda }" /></span> is a <a href="/wiki/Limit_ordinal" title="Limit ordinal">limit ordinal</a>, then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle L_{\lambda }:=\bigcup _{\alpha &lt;\lambda }L_{\alpha }.}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>:=</mo> <munder> <mo>&#x22c3;<!-- ⋃ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mrow> </munder> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle L_{\lambda }:=\bigcup _{\alpha &lt;\lambda }L_{\alpha }.}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7882f4b7841452b2b50aa769e23232b892e1d4d6" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:15.877ex; height:3.009ex;" alt="{\textstyle L_{\lambda }:=\bigcup _{\alpha &lt;\lambda }L_{\alpha }.}" /></span> Here <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle \alpha &lt;\lambda }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle \alpha &lt;\lambda }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b657c70c90ca05abbd1ce8056077f386c17c9356" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:5.941ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\textstyle \alpha &lt;\lambda }" /></span> means <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/0d86dbd6183264b2f8569da1751380b173c7b185" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\textstyle \alpha }" /></span> <a href="/wiki/Ordinal_number#Successor_and_limit_ordinals" title="Ordinal number">precedes</a> <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle \lambda }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle \lambda }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f801b46dadd4b4d0ba4c6592b232053bd79e080b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.355ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\textstyle \lambda }" /></span>.</li> <li><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\textstyle L:=\bigcup _{\alpha \in \mathbf {Ord} }L_{\alpha }.}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="false" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo>:=</mo> <munder> <mo>&#x22c3;<!-- ⋃ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="bold">O</mi> <mi mathvariant="bold">r</mi> <mi mathvariant="bold">d</mi> </mrow> </mrow> </munder> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\textstyle L:=\bigcup _{\alpha \in \mathbf {Ord} }L_{\alpha }.}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/33c41e4cbb59ea6397ce5a41b6513aa5321638ca" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:16.795ex; height:3.009ex;" alt="{\textstyle L:=\bigcup _{\alpha \in \mathbf {Ord} }L_{\alpha }.}" /></span> Here <b>Ord</b> denotes the <a href="/wiki/Class_(set_theory)" title="Class (set theory)">class</a> of all ordinals.</li></ul> <p>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>z</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/bf368e72c009decd9b6686ee84a375632e11de98" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.088ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z}" /></span> is an element of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>, then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z=\{y\in L_{\alpha }\ {\text{and}}\ y\in z\}\in {\textrm {Def}}(L_{\alpha })=L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>z</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mtext>&#xa0;</mtext> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mtext>and</mtext> </mrow> <mtext>&#xa0;</mtext> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>z</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mtext>Def</mtext> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z=\{y\in L_{\alpha }\ {\text{and}}\ y\in z\}\in {\textrm {Def}}(L_{\alpha })=L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d59db62665eb74dc6c1d19afa3cf02f0bbabdb60" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:42.471ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z=\{y\in L_{\alpha }\ {\text{and}}\ y\in z\}\in {\textrm {Def}}(L_{\alpha })=L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> So <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> is a subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8fb7cf7f85cad8323115a2c1514ed073e65bb11e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.968ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>, which is a subset of the <a href="/wiki/Power_set" title="Power set">power set</a> of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. Consequently, this is a tower of nested <a href="/wiki/Transitive_set" title="Transitive set">transitive sets</a>. But <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> itself is a <a href="/wiki/Class_(set_theory)" title="Class (set theory)">proper class</a>. </p><p>The elements of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> are called "constructible" sets; and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> itself is the "constructible universe". The "<a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_constructibility" title="Axiom of constructibility">axiom of constructibility</a>", aka "<span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V=L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V=L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/696097a90fe5f4a176b4eddf4fe8dc0c1c5045c5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.469ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V=L}" /></span>", says that every set (of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>) is constructible, i.e. in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Additional_facts_about_the_sets_Lα"><span id="Additional_facts_about_the_sets_L.CE.B1"></span>Additional facts about the sets L<sub>α</sub></h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2" title="Edit section: Additional facts about the sets Lα"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>An equivalent definition for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> is: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r996643573">.mw-parser-output .block-indent{padding-left:3em;padding-right:0;overflow:hidden}</style><div class="block-indent">For any ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }=\bigcup _{\beta &lt;\alpha }\operatorname {Def} (L_{\beta })\!}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <munder> <mo>&#x22c3;<!-- ⋃ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </munder> <mi>Def</mi> <mo>&#x2061;<!-- ⁡ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mspace width="negativethinmathspace"></mspace> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }=\bigcup _{\beta &lt;\alpha }\operatorname {Def} (L_{\beta })\!}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/89107ba1b3ad51eb1a6cd770a44f5015a9d4dca7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -3.338ex; margin-right: -0.166ex; width:17.49ex; height:5.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }=\bigcup _{\beta &lt;\alpha }\operatorname {Def} (L_{\beta })\!}" /></span>.</div> <p>For any finite ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle n}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>n</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle n}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a601995d55609f2d9f5e233e36fbe9ea26011b3b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.395ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle n}" /></span>, the sets <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ebec334cb04f246db1139e2ca6be0b957d2ef520" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.801ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{n}}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>V</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/3ebc5a637019ce3415183f06995aeeca93547767" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.574ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V_{n}}" /></span> are the same (whether <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> equals <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> or not), and thus <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/e687bae796017bd4e6a708ad8785a6d1f8d8d65b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.837ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega }}" /></span> = <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V_{\omega }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>V</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V_{\omega }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/791f04f2b1f872ab742713c2d6c2bd55a74de8fe" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.61ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V_{\omega }}" /></span>: their elements are exactly the <a href="/wiki/Hereditarily_finite_set" title="Hereditarily finite set">hereditarily finite sets</a>. Equality beyond this point does not hold. Even in models of <a href="/wiki/Zermelo%E2%80%93Fraenkel_set_theory" title="Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory">ZFC</a> in which <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> equals <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/169469aa93beae8be7a7cd5442720df5f1089283" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.938ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}" /></span> is a proper subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V_{\omega +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>V</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V_{\omega +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c54fd99523675d281cb746cc4cda073e123e7399" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.71ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V_{\omega +1}}" /></span>, and thereafter <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8fb7cf7f85cad8323115a2c1514ed073e65bb11e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.968ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span> is a proper subset of the power set of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> for all <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha &gt;\omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>&gt;</mo> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha &gt;\omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ff188098b691d1dc2f0c3c4006afce8d640a2bc3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.032ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha &gt;\omega }" /></span>. On the other hand, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V=L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V=L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/696097a90fe5f4a176b4eddf4fe8dc0c1c5045c5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.469ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V=L}" /></span> does imply that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>V</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/582d40a9ff663187250948b07bb66456162c2042" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.639ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V_{\alpha }}" /></span> equals <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha =\omega _{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha =\omega _{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/3d8aa4892d456885c99fdda544c8999c73b3fcc5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:7.316ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha =\omega _{\alpha }}" /></span>, for example if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span> is inaccessible. More generally, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V=L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V=L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/696097a90fe5f4a176b4eddf4fe8dc0c1c5045c5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.469ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V=L}" /></span> implies <a href="/wiki/Hereditarily_countable_set" title="Hereditarily countable set"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle H_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>H</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle H_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c4ca84c2be95eec6d5c19bfc17c5bcd2ecf16724" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:3.215ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle H_{\alpha }}" /></span></a> = <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> for all infinite cardinals <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>. </p><p>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span> is an infinite ordinal then there is a <a href="/wiki/Bijection" title="Bijection">bijection</a> between <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>, and the bijection is constructible. So these sets are <a href="/wiki/Equinumerous" class="mw-redirect" title="Equinumerous">equinumerous</a> in any model of set theory that includes them. </p><p>As defined above, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle {\textrm {Def}}(X)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mtext>Def</mtext> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle {\textrm {Def}}(X)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/3c7b29f8c755edc06078ddcf6f97f0dfae8e2770" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.309ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle {\textrm {Def}}(X)}" /></span> is the set of subsets of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle X}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>X</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle X}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/68baa052181f707c662844a465bfeeb135e82bab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.98ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle X}" /></span> defined by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Delta _{0}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x394;<!-- Δ --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Delta _{0}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1e39c78475aff67b6094f56f6994ebfe65d08318" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.99ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Delta _{0}}" /></span> formulas (with respect to the <a href="/wiki/Levy_hierarchy" class="mw-redirect" title="Levy hierarchy">Levy hierarchy</a>, i.e., formulas of set theory containing only <a href="/wiki/Bounded_quantifiers" class="mw-redirect" title="Bounded quantifiers">bounded quantifiers</a>) that use as parameters only <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle X}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>X</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle X}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/68baa052181f707c662844a465bfeeb135e82bab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.98ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle X}" /></span> and its elements.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> </p><p>Another definition, due to Gödel, characterizes each <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8fb7cf7f85cad8323115a2c1514ed073e65bb11e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.968ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span> as the intersection of the power set of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> with the closure of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }\cup \{L_{\alpha }\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x222a;<!-- ∪ --></mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }\cup \{L_{\alpha }\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8c2adfbef49b57a6284b49d2a92d9b0b8b4565dc" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:10.642ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }\cup \{L_{\alpha }\}}" /></span> under a collection of nine explicit functions, similar to <a href="/wiki/G%C3%B6del_operation" title="Gödel operation">Gödel operations</a>. This definition makes no reference to definability. </p><p>All <a href="/wiki/Arithmetical_hierarchy" title="Arithmetical hierarchy">arithmetical</a> subsets of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48eff443f9de7a985bb94ca3bde20813ea737be8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.446ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega }" /></span> and relations on <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48eff443f9de7a985bb94ca3bde20813ea737be8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.446ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega }" /></span> belong to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/169469aa93beae8be7a7cd5442720df5f1089283" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.938ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}" /></span> (because the arithmetic definition gives one in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/169469aa93beae8be7a7cd5442720df5f1089283" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.938ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}" /></span>). Conversely, any subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48eff443f9de7a985bb94ca3bde20813ea737be8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.446ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega }" /></span> belonging to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/169469aa93beae8be7a7cd5442720df5f1089283" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.938ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}" /></span> is arithmetical (because elements of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/e687bae796017bd4e6a708ad8785a6d1f8d8d65b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.837ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega }}" /></span> can be coded by natural numbers in such a way that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \in }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \in }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6fe4d5b0a594c1da89b5e78e7dfbeed90bdcc32f" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.55ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \in }" /></span> is definable, i.e., arithmetic). On the other hand, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega +2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/faee299468e90f2b0fab73997f2a854ce9101549" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.938ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +2}}" /></span> already contains certain non-arithmetical subsets of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48eff443f9de7a985bb94ca3bde20813ea737be8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.446ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega }" /></span>, such as the set of (natural numbers coding) true arithmetical statements (this can be defined from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/169469aa93beae8be7a7cd5442720df5f1089283" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.938ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +1}}" /></span><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"></mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/df4dcd61276328f7c7ec5bdc399b6e11114a2c68" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.171ex; width:0; height:0.343ex;" alt="{\displaystyle }" /></span> so it is in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega +2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/faee299468e90f2b0fab73997f2a854ce9101549" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.938ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega +2}}" /></span>). </p><p>All <a href="/wiki/Hyperarithmetical_hierarchy" class="mw-redirect" title="Hyperarithmetical hierarchy">hyperarithmetical</a> subsets of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48eff443f9de7a985bb94ca3bde20813ea737be8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.446ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega }" /></span> and relations on <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48eff443f9de7a985bb94ca3bde20813ea737be8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.446ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega }" /></span> belong to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <msubsup> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">K</mi> </mrow> </mrow> </msubsup> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/97e9288d87e882bc6a08c61daa1cf09d67ec40bd" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.671ex; width:5.003ex; height:3.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}}" /></span> (where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msubsup> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">K</mi> </mrow> </mrow> </msubsup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/0287c1265a806f47a4187ef41cec17113c53f204" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:4.143ex; height:3.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}" /></span> stands for the <a href="/wiki/Church%E2%80%93Kleene_ordinal" class="mw-redirect" title="Church–Kleene ordinal">Church–Kleene ordinal</a>), and conversely any subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48eff443f9de7a985bb94ca3bde20813ea737be8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.446ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega }" /></span> that belongs to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <msubsup> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">C</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">K</mi> </mrow> </mrow> </msubsup> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/97e9288d87e882bc6a08c61daa1cf09d67ec40bd" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.671ex; width:5.003ex; height:3.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\omega _{1}^{\mathrm {CK} }}}" /></span> is hyperarithmetical.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="L_is_a_standard_inner_model_of_ZFC">L is a standard inner model of ZFC</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3" title="Edit section: L is a standard inner model of ZFC"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle (L,\in )}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>L</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle (L,\in )}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d1f753c2ee43ecf31be65441cbeec9fcaef4b372" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.976ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle (L,\in )}" /></span> is a standard model, i.e. <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is a <a href="/wiki/Transitive_class" class="mw-redirect" title="Transitive class">transitive class</a> and the interpretation uses the real element relationship, so it is <a href="/wiki/Well-founded_relation" title="Well-founded relation">well-founded</a>. <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is an inner model, i.e. it contains all the ordinal numbers of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> and it has no "extra" sets beyond those in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>. However <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> might be strictly a subclass of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>. <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is a model of <a href="/wiki/Zermelo%E2%80%93Fraenkel_set_theory" title="Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory">ZFC</a>, which means that it satisfies the following <a href="/wiki/Axiom" title="Axiom">axioms</a>: </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_regularity" title="Axiom of regularity">Axiom of regularity</a>: Every non-empty set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> contains some element <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> such that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> are disjoint sets.</li></ul> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle (L,\in )}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>L</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle (L,\in )}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d1f753c2ee43ecf31be65441cbeec9fcaef4b372" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.976ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle (L,\in )}" /></span> is a substructure of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle (V,\in )}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>V</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle (V,\in )}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/153234b99845e5e231f212ecc250e39f90981514" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:6.181ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle (V,\in )}" /></span>, which is well founded, so <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is well founded. In particular, if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in x\in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in x\in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2aed792d73c7519286899d59835c68906737e2c9" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:9.749ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in x\in L}" /></span>, then by the transitivity of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2cc54f30a0ec14db7f7f416a6f8f9ed651e6a676" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.579ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in L}" /></span>. If we use this same <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> as in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>, then it is still disjoint from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> because we are using the same element relation and no new sets were added.</dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_extensionality" title="Axiom of extensionality">Axiom of extensionality</a>: Two sets are the same if they have the same elements.</li></ul> <dl><dd>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> are in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> and they have the same elements in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, then by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>'s transitivity, they have the same elements (in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>). So they are equal (in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> and thus in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>).</dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_empty_set" title="Axiom of empty set">Axiom of empty set</a>: {} is a set.</li></ul> <dl><dd><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{\}=L_{0}=\{y\mid y\in L_{0}\land y=y\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{\}=L_{0}=\{y\mid y\in L_{0}\land y=y\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c33a8e2c426a1838cda6489772b790ac529b455a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:31.202ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{\}=L_{0}=\{y\mid y\in L_{0}\land y=y\}}" /></span>, which is in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/0e79dc1b001f8b923df475ed14de023cbc456013" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.637ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{1}}" /></span>. So <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{\}\in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{\}\in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fe02383953a14cfb6c30a4ab3ac176849c7d8172" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:6.748ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{\}\in L}" /></span>. Since the element relation is the same and no new elements were added, this is the empty set of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>.</dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_pairing" title="Axiom of pairing">Axiom of pairing</a>: If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> are sets, then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{x,y\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{x,y\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f2611cdc8fecaffa28cb0ea888dbba55f3a31077" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.844ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{x,y\}}" /></span> is a set.</li></ul> <dl><dd>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x\in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x\in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/97fca945ad424639c27ec8dccaf96c0bda408d3d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:5.753ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x\in L}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2cc54f30a0ec14db7f7f416a6f8f9ed651e6a676" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.579ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in L}" /></span>, then there is some ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span> such that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x\in L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x\in L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d6ba699aa5ee18afdc346b68f177c5cdc6480ea5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:7.037ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x\in L_{\alpha }}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aa501e5ccee90fe5766bfcd1537b0024a2e91192" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:6.863ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. Then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{x,y\}=\{s\mid s\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;(s=x\;\mathrm {or} \;s=y)\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>s</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>s</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>s</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">r</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>s</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{x,y\}=\{s\mid s\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;(s=x\;\mathrm {or} \;s=y)\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/06b81b74175834b1dbc14d97544b03ccf2ea8b77" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:49.976ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{x,y\}=\{s\mid s\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;(s=x\;\mathrm {or} \;s=y)\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. Thus <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{x,y\}\in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{x,y\}\in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8530582c3010fb8846879c0713f4f88e0c0dcd4a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:10.268ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{x,y\}\in L}" /></span> and it has the same meaning for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> as for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>.</dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_union" title="Axiom of union">Axiom of union</a>: For any set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> there is a set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> whose elements are precisely the elements of the elements of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>.</li></ul> <dl><dd>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x\in L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x\in L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d6ba699aa5ee18afdc346b68f177c5cdc6480ea5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:7.037ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x\in L_{\alpha }}" /></span>, then its elements are in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> and their elements are also in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. So <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> is a subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. Then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y=\{s\mid s\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;z\in x\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;s\in z\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>s</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>s</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">r</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>z</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>x</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">u</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">c</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>s</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>z</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y=\{s\mid s\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;z\in x\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;s\in z\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/05760ba5c30ba0c16f14e24cbee497e5229eef68" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:62.37ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y=\{s\mid s\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;z\in x\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;s\in z\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. Thus <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2cc54f30a0ec14db7f7f416a6f8f9ed651e6a676" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.579ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in L}" /></span>.</dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_infinity" title="Axiom of infinity">Axiom of infinity</a>: There exists a set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> such that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \varnothing }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi class="MJX-variant">&#x2205;<!-- ∅ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \varnothing }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/00595c5e33692e724937fdcc8870496acce1ac74" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.808ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \varnothing }" /></span> is in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> and whenever <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> is in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>, so is the union <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\cup \{y\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x222a;<!-- ∪ --></mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\cup \{y\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/35d839ac01e4e209ea93c3a7cd7480f6532dadf2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.218ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\cup \{y\}}" /></span>.</li></ul> <dl><dd><a href="/wiki/Transfinite_induction" title="Transfinite induction">Transfinite induction</a> can be used to show each ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span> is in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8fb7cf7f85cad8323115a2c1514ed073e65bb11e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.968ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. In particular, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega \in L_{\omega +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega \in L_{\omega +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fe21041bdd026ce4eae010ac48e41d9bcfc5f063" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:9.224ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega \in L_{\omega +1}}" /></span> and thus <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \omega \in L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \omega \in L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f3c0a412bbb0ac8f26696f5135075ab3ced18643" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:5.869ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \omega \in L}" /></span>.</dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_separation" class="mw-redirect" title="Axiom of separation">Axiom of separation</a>: Given any set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> and any proposition <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/95cbca73d335895980276bd1dd4113f0ddb402ad" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:15.532ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a10f21b6ce09b7a11d1a7f693d456f5d1959dea5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:31.831ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\}}" /></span> is a set.</li></ul> <dl><dd>By induction on subformulas of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b4dc73bf40314945ff376bd363916a738548d40a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.745ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P}" /></span>, one can show that there is an <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span> such that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> contains <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/399be1c816346daeabf844df4597179a1c8bbdf4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:9.613ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}" /></span> and (<span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b4dc73bf40314945ff376bd363916a738548d40a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.745ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P}" /></span> is true in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> if and only if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b4dc73bf40314945ff376bd363916a738548d40a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.745ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P}" /></span> is true in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>), the latter is called the "<a href="/wiki/Reflection_principle" title="Reflection principle">reflection principle</a>"). So <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">l</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>L</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/caccb516106a99eb2aef8b40e7a02a62101c1a79" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:42.599ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L\}}" /></span> = <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L_{\alpha }\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">l</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L_{\alpha }\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/00a8ed501ca5fec032b7f3953905755f743359c6" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:63.767ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{x\mid x\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {and} \;P(x,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L_{\alpha }\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. Thus the subset is in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">&#91;</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">&#93;</span></a></sup></dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_replacement" class="mw-redirect" title="Axiom of replacement">Axiom of replacement</a>: Given any set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> and any mapping (formally defined as a proposition <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P(x,y)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P(x,y)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d5b3d8f37f5458c22b61eaf26e5af0523acb63e2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.074ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P(x,y)}" /></span> where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P(x,y)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P(x,y)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d5b3d8f37f5458c22b61eaf26e5af0523acb63e2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.074ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P(x,y)}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P(x,z)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>z</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P(x,z)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/219e9259c6b88970cff68098726cfddbb3cf5aa8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.006ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P(x,z)}" /></span> implies <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y=z}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>z</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y=z}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/3de8f5225200d63f8f4678bbe6d07c4d384e73ac" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.342ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y=z}" /></span>), <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{y\mid \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;P(x,y)\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">r</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">u</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">c</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{y\mid \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;P(x,y)\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ff4cf3691daff6b0f5182eb9acafa9b20985c423" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:41.647ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{y\mid \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;P(x,y)\}}" /></span> is a set.</li></ul> <dl><dd>Let <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle Q(x,y)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>Q</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle Q(x,y)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/97a151e980598f776e01ae247354ba03cf8e8143" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.167ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle Q(x,y)}" /></span> be the formula that relativizes <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b4dc73bf40314945ff376bd363916a738548d40a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.745ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P}" /></span> to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, i.e. all quantifiers in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b4dc73bf40314945ff376bd363916a738548d40a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.745ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P}" /></span> are restricted to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle Q}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>Q</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle Q}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8752c7023b4b3286800fe3238271bbca681219ed" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.838ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle Q}" /></span> is a much more complex formula than <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle Q}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>Q</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle Q}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8752c7023b4b3286800fe3238271bbca681219ed" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.838ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle Q}" /></span>, but it is still a finite formula, and since <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b4dc73bf40314945ff376bd363916a738548d40a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.745ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P}" /></span> was a mapping over <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle Q}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>Q</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle Q}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8752c7023b4b3286800fe3238271bbca681219ed" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.838ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle Q}" /></span> must be a mapping over <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>; thus we can apply replacement in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle Q}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>Q</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle Q}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8752c7023b4b3286800fe3238271bbca681219ed" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.838ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle Q}" /></span>. So <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{y\mid y\in L\;\mathrm {and} \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;P(x,y)\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">r</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">u</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">c</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">l</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>L</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{y\mid y\in L\;\mathrm {and} \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;P(x,y)\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/48ea7f110c5c1f2cc6dc41c631772700b5ac8ee7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:62.387ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{y\mid y\in L\;\mathrm {and} \;\mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;x\in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;P(x,y)\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;L\}}" /></span> = <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{y\mid \mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;\mathrm {x} \in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;Q(x,y)\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">r</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi> </mrow> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">u</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">c</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>Q</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{y\mid \mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;\mathrm {x} \in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;Q(x,y)\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/bde57e327ba1be0cf2f456c7086258f55e87a5b0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:40.993ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{y\mid \mathrm {there} \;\mathrm {exists} \;\mathrm {x} \in S\;\mathrm {such} \;\mathrm {that} \;Q(x,y)\}}" /></span> is a set in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> and a subclass of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Again using the axiom of replacement in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>, we can show that there must be an <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span> such that this set is a subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }\in L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }\in L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a64e5da737de36b13f10fcceb3d765770cb77dd6" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:10.675ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }\in L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. Then one can use the axiom of separation in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> to finish showing that it is an element of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span></dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_power_set" title="Axiom of power set">Axiom of power set</a>: For any set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> there exists a set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span>, such that the elements of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> are precisely the subsets of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>.</li></ul> <dl><dd>In general, some subsets of a set in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> will not be in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> So the whole power set of a set in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> will usually not be in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. What we need here is to show that the intersection of the power set with <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> <i>is</i> in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Use replacement in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> to show that there is an α such that the intersection is a subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. Then the intersection is <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{z\mid z\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;z\;\mathrm {is} \;\mathrm {a} \;\mathrm {subset} \;\mathrm {of} \;x\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>z</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>z</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>z</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">u</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">b</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">t</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>x</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{z\mid z\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;z\;\mathrm {is} \;\mathrm {a} \;\mathrm {subset} \;\mathrm {of} \;x\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/3e558d9422549ed6ed04fa9fc96ff9bd73d8b882" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:41.743ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{z\mid z\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;z\;\mathrm {is} \;\mathrm {a} \;\mathrm {subset} \;\mathrm {of} \;x\}\in L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. Thus the required set is in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>.</dd></dl> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_choice" title="Axiom of choice">Axiom of choice</a>: Given a set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> of mutually disjoint nonempty sets, there is a set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> (a choice set for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>) containing exactly one element from each member of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>.</li></ul> <dl><dd>One can show that there is a definable well-ordering of <var style="padding-right: 1px;">L</var>, in particular based on ordering all sets in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> by their definitions and by the rank they appear at. So one chooses the least element of each member of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> to form <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> using the axioms of union and separation in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span></dd></dl> <p>Notice that the proof that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is a model of ZFC only requires that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> be a model of ZF, i.e. we do <i>not</i> assume that the axiom of choice holds in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="L_is_absolute_and_minimal">L is absolute and minimal</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4" title="Edit section: L is absolute and minimal"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span> is any standard model of ZF sharing the same ordinals as <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>, then the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> defined in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span> is the same as the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> defined in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>. In particular, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> is the same in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>, for any ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>. And the same formulas and parameters in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha })}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha })}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/07ed147a00659e26e34fad03e66902e68e1eb47f" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:8.349ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha })}" /></span> produce the same constructible sets in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8fb7cf7f85cad8323115a2c1514ed073e65bb11e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.968ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. </p><p>Furthermore, since <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is a subclass of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> and, similarly, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is a subclass of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is the smallest class containing all the ordinals that is a standard model of ZF. Indeed, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is the intersection of all such classes. </p><p>If there is a <i>set</i> <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span> in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> that is a <a href="/wiki/Inner_model" title="Inner model">standard model</a> of ZF, and the ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \kappa }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \kappa }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54ddec2e922c5caea4e47d04feef86e782dc8e6d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.339ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \kappa }" /></span> is the set of ordinals that occur in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span>, then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f55390ef6b4a2bf4c72a8ee1bfd7c7e53f0a31c4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.762ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}" /></span> is the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span>. If there is a set that is a standard model of ZF, then the smallest such set is such a <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f55390ef6b4a2bf4c72a8ee1bfd7c7e53f0a31c4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.762ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}" /></span>. This set is called the <b><a href="/wiki/Minimal_model_(set_theory)" title="Minimal model (set theory)">minimal model</a></b> of ZFC. Using the downward <a href="/wiki/L%C3%B6wenheim%E2%80%93Skolem_theorem" title="Löwenheim–Skolem theorem">Löwenheim–Skolem theorem</a>, one can show that the minimal model (if it exists) is a countable set. </p><p>Of course, any consistent theory must have a model, so even within the minimal model of set theory there are sets that are models of ZF (assuming ZF is consistent). However, those set models are non-standard. In particular, they do not use the normal element relation and they are not well founded. </p><p>Because both "<span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> constructed within <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>" and "<span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> constructed within <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>" result in the real <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, and both the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f55390ef6b4a2bf4c72a8ee1bfd7c7e53f0a31c4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.762ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}" /></span> and the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f55390ef6b4a2bf4c72a8ee1bfd7c7e53f0a31c4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.762ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}" /></span> are the real <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f55390ef6b4a2bf4c72a8ee1bfd7c7e53f0a31c4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.762ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}" /></span>, we get that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V=L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V=L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/696097a90fe5f4a176b4eddf4fe8dc0c1c5045c5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.469ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V=L}" /></span> is true in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> and in any <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f55390ef6b4a2bf4c72a8ee1bfd7c7e53f0a31c4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.762ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\kappa }}" /></span> that is a model of ZF. However, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V=L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V=L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/696097a90fe5f4a176b4eddf4fe8dc0c1c5045c5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.469ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V=L}" /></span> does not hold in any other standard model of ZF. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="L_and_large_cardinals">L and large cardinals</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5" title="Edit section: L and large cardinals"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Since <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Ord} \subset L\subseteq V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">O</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">r</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mo>&#x2282;<!-- ⊂ --></mo> <mi>L</mi> <mo>&#x2286;<!-- ⊆ --></mo> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \mathrm {Ord} \subset L\subseteq V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1c1ee5383336c86b0dcfa356be5a4282b74fc569" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.505ex; width:13.579ex; height:2.343ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Ord} \subset L\subseteq V}" /></span>, properties of ordinals that depend on the absence of a function or other structure (i.e. <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Pi _{1}^{\mathrm {ZF} }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msubsup> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a0;<!-- Π --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">Z</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">F</mi> </mrow> </mrow> </msubsup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Pi _{1}^{\mathrm {ZF} }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c7a100020407f380e2c499d278bd299d386ee0c0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:4.053ex; height:3.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Pi _{1}^{\mathrm {ZF} }}" /></span> formulas) are preserved when going down from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Hence <a href="/wiki/Initial_ordinal" class="mw-redirect" title="Initial ordinal">initial ordinals</a> of cardinals remain initial in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. <a href="/wiki/Regular_ordinal" class="mw-redirect" title="Regular ordinal">Regular ordinals</a> remain regular in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Weak <a href="/wiki/Limit_cardinal" title="Limit cardinal">limit cardinals</a> become strong limit cardinals in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> because the <a href="/wiki/Generalized_continuum_hypothesis" class="mw-redirect" title="Generalized continuum hypothesis">generalized continuum hypothesis</a> holds in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Weakly <a href="/wiki/Inaccessible_cardinal" title="Inaccessible cardinal">inaccessible cardinals</a> become strongly inaccessible. Weakly <a href="/wiki/Mahlo_cardinal" title="Mahlo cardinal">Mahlo cardinals</a> become strongly Mahlo. And more generally, any <a href="/wiki/Large_cardinal" title="Large cardinal">large cardinal</a> property weaker than <a href="/wiki/Zero_sharp" title="Zero sharp">0<sup>#</sup></a> (see the <a href="/wiki/List_of_large_cardinal_properties" title="List of large cardinal properties">list of large cardinal properties</a>) will be retained in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. </p><p>However, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msup> <mn>0</mn> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x266f;<!-- ♯ --></mi> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/684d8b29e4477751ce34a5eca39892ba5bf3a96a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.034ex; height:2.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}" /></span> is false in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> even if true in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>. So all the large cardinals whose existence implies <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msup> <mn>0</mn> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x266f;<!-- ♯ --></mi> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/684d8b29e4477751ce34a5eca39892ba5bf3a96a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.034ex; height:2.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}" /></span> cease to have those large cardinal properties, but retain the properties weaker than <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msup> <mn>0</mn> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x266f;<!-- ♯ --></mi> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/684d8b29e4477751ce34a5eca39892ba5bf3a96a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.034ex; height:2.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}" /></span> which they also possess. For example, <a href="/wiki/Measurable_cardinal" title="Measurable cardinal">measurable cardinals</a> cease to be measurable but remain Mahlo in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. </p><p>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msup> <mn>0</mn> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x266f;<!-- ♯ --></mi> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/684d8b29e4477751ce34a5eca39892ba5bf3a96a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.034ex; height:2.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}" /></span> holds in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>, then there is a <a href="/wiki/Club_set" title="Club set">closed unbounded class</a> of ordinals that are <a href="/wiki/Indiscernible" class="mw-redirect" title="Indiscernible">indiscernible</a> in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. While some of these are not even initial ordinals in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>, they have all the large cardinal properties weaker than <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msup> <mn>0</mn> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x266f;<!-- ♯ --></mi> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/684d8b29e4477751ce34a5eca39892ba5bf3a96a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.034ex; height:2.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle 0^{\sharp }}" /></span> in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Furthermore, any strictly increasing class function from the class of <a href="/wiki/Indiscernibles" title="Indiscernibles">indiscernibles</a> to itself can be extended in a unique way to an <a href="/wiki/Elementary_embedding" class="mw-redirect" title="Elementary embedding">elementary embedding</a> of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> into <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">&#91;<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2023)">citation needed</span></a></i>&#93;</sup> This gives <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> a nice structure of repeating segments. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="L_can_be_well-ordered">L can be well-ordered</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6" title="Edit section: L can be well-ordered"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There are various ways of well-ordering <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Some of these involve the <a href="/wiki/G%C3%B6del_operation" title="Gödel operation">"fine structure" of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span></a>, which was first described by <a href="/wiki/Ronald_Jensen" title="Ronald Jensen">Ronald Bjorn Jensen</a> in his 1972 paper entitled "The fine structure of the constructible hierarchy". Instead of explaining the fine structure, we will give an outline of how <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> could be well-ordered using only the definition given above. </p><p>Suppose <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> are two different sets in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> and we wish to determine whether <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x&lt;y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x&lt;y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aeb239de6fee56ea8b6a65f7858d95b87632069f" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.584ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x&lt;y}" /></span> or <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x&gt;y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&gt;</mo> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x&gt;y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6e8432c5c4451b66818abae111d41f27d6de8623" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.584ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x&gt;y}" /></span>. If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> first appears in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8fb7cf7f85cad8323115a2c1514ed073e65bb11e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.968ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> first appears in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/78d97000f712c35dbad8e5199f9e6ea82ef1be66" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:4.857ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta +1}}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \beta }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \beta }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7ed48a5e36207156fb792fa79d29925d2f7901e8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.332ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \beta }" /></span> is different from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>, then let <span class="texhtml"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> &lt; <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span></span> if and only if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha &lt;\beta }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha &lt;\beta }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/bc4250c976810fd3abc5916c47ee4984a7e5882b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.918ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha &lt;\beta }" /></span>. Henceforth, we suppose that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \beta =\alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \beta =\alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a0073401eb05f5ca3046eb129a9be06f0759c018" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.918ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \beta =\alpha }" /></span>. </p><p>The stage <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}=\mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha })}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}=\mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha })}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7157ee7d7ffd2c6044c77551cb8224390cb5b4ea" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:16.415ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}=\mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha })}" /></span> uses formulas with parameters from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> to define the sets <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span>. If one discounts (for the moment) the parameters, the formulas can be given a standard <a href="/wiki/G%C3%B6del_numbering" title="Gödel numbering">Gödel numbering</a> by the natural numbers. If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aed80a2011a3912b028ba32a52dfa57165455f24" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.678ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi }" /></span> is the formula with the smallest Gödel number that can be used to define <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>, and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a8;<!-- Ψ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f5471531a3fe80741a839bc98d49fae862a6439a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.808ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi }" /></span> is the formula with the smallest Gödel number that can be used to define <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span>, and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a8;<!-- Ψ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f5471531a3fe80741a839bc98d49fae862a6439a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.808ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi }" /></span> is different from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aed80a2011a3912b028ba32a52dfa57165455f24" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.678ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi }" /></span>, then let <span class="texhtml"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> &lt; <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span></span> if and only if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi &lt;\Psi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a8;<!-- Ψ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi &lt;\Psi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b2744deb63507753dc672f5cde27ee0d9c8d2934" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.585ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi &lt;\Psi }" /></span> in the Gödel numbering. Henceforth, we suppose that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi =\Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a8;<!-- Ψ --></mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi =\Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b02a1bf0f395ac5d69d1c45328f1476b868f7954" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.585ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi =\Phi }" /></span>. </p><p>Suppose that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aed80a2011a3912b028ba32a52dfa57165455f24" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.678ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi }" /></span> uses <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle n}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>n</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle n}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a601995d55609f2d9f5e233e36fbe9ea26011b3b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.395ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle n}" /></span> parameters from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. Suppose <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/399be1c816346daeabf844df4597179a1c8bbdf4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:9.613ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}" /></span> is the sequence of parameters that can be used with <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aed80a2011a3912b028ba32a52dfa57165455f24" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.678ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi }" /></span> to define <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span>, and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle w_{1},\ldots ,w_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle w_{1},\ldots ,w_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/310b5a2dbdeba24941e639a6f70bf066878e6093" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:10.779ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle w_{1},\ldots ,w_{n}}" /></span> does the same for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span>. Then let <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x&lt;y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x&lt;y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aeb239de6fee56ea8b6a65f7858d95b87632069f" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.584ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x&lt;y}" /></span> if and only if either <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{n}&lt;w_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&lt;</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{n}&lt;w_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/30f0502027b3660a03f2eb158e07e05f10ccead0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:8.281ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{n}&lt;w_{n}}" /></span> or (<span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{n}=w_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{n}=w_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1bc348c3bb3fcc62dd2da3ad5aa7be677dd1e74e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:8.281ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{n}=w_{n}}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{n-1}&lt;w_{n-1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>&#x2212;<!-- − --></mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&lt;</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>&#x2212;<!-- − --></mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{n-1}&lt;w_{n-1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/0b72b99183ddef8b684faec5724a8a1ae414d002" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:12.482ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{n-1}&lt;w_{n-1}}" /></span>) or (<span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{n}=w_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{n}=w_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/1bc348c3bb3fcc62dd2da3ad5aa7be677dd1e74e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:8.281ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{n}=w_{n}}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{n-1}=w_{n-1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>&#x2212;<!-- − --></mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>&#x2212;<!-- − --></mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{n-1}=w_{n-1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/291dfd576ac54277e9aca08719ca393d61805ed0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:12.482ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{n-1}=w_{n-1}}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{n-2}&lt;w_{n-2}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>&#x2212;<!-- − --></mo> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&lt;</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>&#x2212;<!-- − --></mo> <mn>2</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{n-2}&lt;w_{n-2}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/45e03cc38cc62f343cfd13ba8586ae8ad173ce26" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:12.482ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{n-2}&lt;w_{n-2}}" /></span>), etc. This is called the reverse <a href="/wiki/Lexicographic_ordering" class="mw-redirect" title="Lexicographic ordering">lexicographic ordering</a>; if there are multiple sequences of parameters that define one of the sets, we choose the least one under this ordering. It being understood that each parameter's possible values are ordered according to the restriction of the ordering of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>, so this definition involves transfinite recursion on <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>. </p><p>The well-ordering of the values of single parameters is provided by the inductive hypothesis of the transfinite induction. The values of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle n}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>n</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle n}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a601995d55609f2d9f5e233e36fbe9ea26011b3b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.395ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle n}" /></span>-tuples of parameters are well-ordered by the product ordering. The formulas with parameters are well-ordered by the ordered sum (by Gödel numbers) of well-orderings. And <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> is well-ordered by the ordered sum (indexed by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>) of the orderings on <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8fb7cf7f85cad8323115a2c1514ed073e65bb11e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.968ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>. </p><p>Notice that this well-ordering can be defined within <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> itself by a formula of set theory with no parameters, only the free-variables <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span>. And this formula gives the same <a href="/wiki/Truth_value" title="Truth value">truth value</a> regardless of whether it is evaluated in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span>, or <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle W}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>W</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle W}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54a9c4c547f4d6111f81946cad242b18298d70b7" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.435ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle W}" /></span> (some other standard model of ZF with the same ordinals) and we will suppose that the formula is false if either <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/87f9e315fd7e2ba406057a97300593c4802b53e4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.33ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x}" /></span> or <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span> is not in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. </p><p>It is well known that the axiom of choice is equivalent to the ability to well-order every set. Being able to well-order the proper class <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> (as we have done here with <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>) is equivalent to the <a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_global_choice" title="Axiom of global choice">axiom of global choice</a>, which is more powerful than the ordinary <a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_choice" title="Axiom of choice">axiom of choice</a> because it also covers proper classes of non-empty sets. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="L_has_a_reflection_principle"><var style="padding-right: 1px;">L</var> has a reflection principle</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7" title="Edit section: L has a reflection principle"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Proving that the <a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_separation" class="mw-redirect" title="Axiom of separation">axiom of separation</a>, <a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_replacement" class="mw-redirect" title="Axiom of replacement">axiom of replacement</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_choice" title="Axiom of choice">axiom of choice</a> hold in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> requires (at least as shown above) the use of a <a href="/wiki/Reflection_principle" title="Reflection principle">reflection principle</a> for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. Here we describe such a principle. </p><p>By induction on <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle n&lt;\omega }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>n</mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle n&lt;\omega }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4d449b5187ade54e76099c8fff438b0a6d2ca135" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:5.939ex; height:1.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle n&lt;\omega }" /></span>, we can use ZF in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/af0f6064540e84211d0ffe4dac72098adfa52845" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.787ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V}" /></span> to prove that for any ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>, there is an ordinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \beta &gt;\alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> <mo>&gt;</mo> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \beta &gt;\alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/9be80b2f14eb907de4a35121bb7a20bb99998ea3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.918ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \beta &gt;\alpha }" /></span> such that for any sentence <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P(z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k})}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>k</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P(z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k})}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5b1fb1d94e98048b76c1926bea933c5c76d1d6ce" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:13.038ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P(z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k})}" /></span> with <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>k</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/35630ecd9e4e570f8f21a173928d4de250fef777" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:9.484ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k}}" /></span> in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8bc65b88ae934e7869644b195ef0e5996956570" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.757ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}" /></span> and containing fewer than <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle n}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>n</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle n}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a601995d55609f2d9f5e233e36fbe9ea26011b3b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.395ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle n}" /></span> symbols (counting a constant symbol for an element of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8bc65b88ae934e7869644b195ef0e5996956570" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.757ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}" /></span> as one symbol) we get that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle P(z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k})}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>P</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>k</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle P(z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k})}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5b1fb1d94e98048b76c1926bea933c5c76d1d6ce" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:13.038ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle P(z_{1},\ldots ,z_{k})}" /></span> holds in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8bc65b88ae934e7869644b195ef0e5996956570" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.757ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}" /></span> if and only if it holds in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_generalized_continuum_hypothesis_holds_in_L">The generalized continuum hypothesis holds in L</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8" title="Edit section: The generalized continuum hypothesis holds in L"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Let <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S\in L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S\in L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/eb2b2fb870dd385bd6dba6e3f2b28109ecfa83f6" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:7.207ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S\in L_{\alpha }}" /></span>, and let <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle T}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>T</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle T}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ec7200acd984a1d3a3d7dc455e262fbe54f7f6e0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.636ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle T}" /></span> be any constructible subset of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span>. Then there is some <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \beta }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \beta }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7ed48a5e36207156fb792fa79d29925d2f7901e8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.332ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \beta }" /></span> with <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle T\in L_{\beta +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>T</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle T\in L_{\beta +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/787f24cdab53cf14b2c15fc3e08fe3be827dbaaa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:9.334ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle T\in L_{\beta +1}}" /></span>, so <span class="nowrap"><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in S:\Phi (x,z_{i})\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>T</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>:</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mo>:</mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in S:\Phi (x,z_{i})\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/35fc3c2d39e26c9775c0eab435dbf73c6ceb2539" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:52.67ex; height:3.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in S:\Phi (x,z_{i})\}}" /></span>,</span> for some formula <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aed80a2011a3912b028ba32a52dfa57165455f24" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.678ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi }" /></span> and some <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5c6e920bac39ad09fff4efef16254595091a1025" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.881ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{i}}" /></span> drawn from <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8bc65b88ae934e7869644b195ef0e5996956570" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.757ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}" /></span>. By the downward <a href="/wiki/L%C3%B6wenheim%E2%80%93Skolem_theorem" title="Löwenheim–Skolem theorem">Löwenheim–Skolem theorem</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mostowski_collapse_lemma" title="Mostowski collapse lemma">Mostowski collapse</a>, there must be some transitive set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle K}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>K</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle K}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2b76fce82a62ed5461908f0dc8f037de4e3686b0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.066ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle K}" /></span> containing <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span> and some <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle w_{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle w_{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fe22f0329d3ecb2e1880d44d191aba0e5475db68" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.464ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle w_{i}}" /></span>, and having the same first-order theory as <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8bc65b88ae934e7869644b195ef0e5996956570" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.757ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}" /></span> with the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle w_{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle w_{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fe22f0329d3ecb2e1880d44d191aba0e5475db68" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.464ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle w_{i}}" /></span> substituted for the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{i}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{i}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5c6e920bac39ad09fff4efef16254595091a1025" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.881ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{i}}" /></span>; and this <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle K}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>K</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle K}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2b76fce82a62ed5461908f0dc8f037de4e3686b0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.066ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle K}" /></span> will have the same cardinal as <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. Since <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle V=L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>V</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle V=L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/696097a90fe5f4a176b4eddf4fe8dc0c1c5045c5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:6.469ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle V=L}" /></span> is true in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8bc65b88ae934e7869644b195ef0e5996956570" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.757ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}" /></span>, it is also true in <var style="padding-right: 1px;">K</var>, so <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle K=L_{\gamma }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>K</mi> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b3;<!-- γ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle K=L_{\gamma }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/2e07c8f0ed265e1349bc029b8a6914f5fdf7c658" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:7.872ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle K=L_{\gamma }}" /></span> for some <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \gamma }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b3;<!-- γ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \gamma }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/a223c880b0ce3da8f64ee33c4f0010beee400b1a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:1.262ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \gamma }" /></span> having the same cardinal as <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>. And <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in L_{\gamma }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,w_{i})\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>T</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>:</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b3;<!-- γ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>:</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>x</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>w</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>i</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in L_{\gamma }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,w_{i})\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/de33623c45808771ca2bfa1b699e7b49e649102a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:62.714ex; height:3.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle T=\{x\in L_{\beta }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,z_{i})\}=\{x\in L_{\gamma }:x\in S\wedge \Phi (x,w_{i})\}}" /></span> because <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8bc65b88ae934e7869644b195ef0e5996956570" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.757ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\beta }}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\gamma }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b3;<!-- γ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\gamma }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8e6c9e6ce0f776771bcc7710dab5890c1b928cbe" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:2.708ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\gamma }}" /></span> have the same theory. So <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle T}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>T</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle T}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/ec7200acd984a1d3a3d7dc455e262fbe54f7f6e0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.636ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle T}" /></span> is in fact in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\gamma +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b3;<!-- γ --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\gamma +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/da933289e1ec17cce62c5088edf5eec70c0f8bf5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:4.808ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\gamma +1}}" /></span>. </p><p>So all the constructible subsets of an infinite set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> have ranks with (at most) the same cardinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \kappa }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \kappa }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54ddec2e922c5caea4e47d04feef86e782dc8e6d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.339ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \kappa }" /></span> as the rank of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span>; it follows that if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \delta }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b4;<!-- δ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \delta }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c5321cfa797202b3e1f8620663ff43c4660ea03a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.049ex; height:2.343ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \delta }" /></span> is the initial ordinal for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \kappa ^{+}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msup> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \kappa ^{+}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5d7d17d0b32a3c5e666cc418d83ef1e0eae79b5c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.85ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \kappa ^{+}}" /></span>, then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\subseteq L_{\delta }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo>&#x2229;<!-- ∩ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi class="MJX-tex-caligraphic" mathvariant="script">P</mi> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>S</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>&#x2286;<!-- ⊆ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b4;<!-- δ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\subseteq L_{\delta }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d35f9928c46c69dbd7b78383e9726c9064f95f5c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:14.833ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\subseteq L_{\delta }}" /></span> serves as the "power set" of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> within <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> Thus this "power set" <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\in L_{\delta +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo>&#x2229;<!-- ∩ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi class="MJX-tex-caligraphic" mathvariant="script">P</mi> </mrow> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>S</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b4;<!-- δ --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\in L_{\delta +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/24df58004ebdb8fa6989768cdfc87f667646b91e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:16.675ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L\cap {\mathcal {P}}(S)\in L_{\delta +1}}" /></span>. And this in turn means that the "power set" of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> has cardinal at most <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \vert \delta \vert }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">|</mo> <mi>&#x3b4;<!-- δ --></mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">|</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \vert \delta \vert }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/89c27be784c88de8ea8805aa07aa42428443ac3d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:2.342ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \vert \delta \vert }" /></span>. Assuming <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> itself has cardinal <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \kappa }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \kappa }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/54ddec2e922c5caea4e47d04feef86e782dc8e6d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.339ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \kappa }" /></span>, the "power set" must then have cardinal exactly <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \kappa ^{+}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msup> <mi>&#x3ba;<!-- κ --></mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mo>+</mo> </mrow> </msup> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \kappa ^{+}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5d7d17d0b32a3c5e666cc418d83ef1e0eae79b5c" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:2.85ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \kappa ^{+}}" /></span>. But this is precisely the <a href="/wiki/Generalized_continuum_hypothesis" class="mw-redirect" title="Generalized continuum hypothesis">generalized continuum hypothesis</a> relativized to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Constructible_sets_are_definable_from_the_ordinals">Constructible sets are definable from the ordinals</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9" title="Edit section: Constructible sets are definable from the ordinals"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>There is a formula of set theory that expresses the idea that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle X=L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>X</mi> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle X=L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5426c2fb141ca1bf234152796d17259eac916e13" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:7.945ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle X=L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. It has only free variables for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle X}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>X</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle X}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/68baa052181f707c662844a465bfeeb135e82bab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.98ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle X}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span>. Using this we can expand the definition of each constructible set. If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S\in L_{\alpha +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S\in L_{\alpha +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c6f73e2aefdedbb09490dbb5be717749441b9669" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:9.307ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S\in L_{\alpha +1}}" /></span>, then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S=\{y\mid y\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;\Phi (y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;(L_{\alpha },\in )\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> <mo>=</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2223;<!-- ∣ --></mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">a</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">h</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">o</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">l</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">d</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">s</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">i</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">n</mi> </mrow> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S=\{y\mid y\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;\Phi (y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;(L_{\alpha },\in )\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/91ec0abbeb636880f3caa9120a2bd959e8f92002" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:53.652ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S=\{y\mid y\in L_{\alpha }\;\mathrm {and} \;\Phi (y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})\;\mathrm {holds} \;\mathrm {in} \;(L_{\alpha },\in )\}}" /></span> for some formula <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aed80a2011a3912b028ba32a52dfa57165455f24" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.678ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi }" /></span> and some <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/399be1c816346daeabf844df4597179a1c8bbdf4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:9.613ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n}}" /></span> in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c43c3b10b17b9ec5db3bd140e0ed2d152b044efa" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:2.867ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha }}" /></span>. This is equivalent to saying that: for all <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b8a6208ec717213d4317e666f1ae872e00620a0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:1.155ex; height:2.009ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y}" /></span>, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/9d26e188ccec145558c09a23bb1d25149ea67973" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.495ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in S}" /></span> if and only if [there exists <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle X}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>X</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle X}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/68baa052181f707c662844a465bfeeb135e82bab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.98ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle X}" /></span> such that <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle X=L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>X</mi> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle X=L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5426c2fb141ca1bf234152796d17259eac916e13" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:7.945ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle X=L_{\alpha }}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in X}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>X</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in X}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6015f751d0278b3aa3b5e4c33740456f08e888b9" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.976ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in X}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi (X,y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a8;<!-- Ψ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>n</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi (X,y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7194b70093e92b5569b4640705540896cb1d868e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:18.434ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi (X,y,z_{1},\ldots ,z_{n})}" /></span>] where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Psi (X,\ldots )}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a8;<!-- Ψ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Psi (X,\ldots )}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/97464f69564a082f24cb852ec2a911a679a8aa2b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:9.355ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Psi (X,\ldots )}" /></span> is the result of restricting each quantifier in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi (\ldots )}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mo>&#x2026;<!-- … --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi (\ldots )}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/f11a66c81dd714d22eed49023bca2ff99ba4a9cf" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:6.211ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi (\ldots )}" /></span> to <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle X}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>X</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle X}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/68baa052181f707c662844a465bfeeb135e82bab" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.98ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle X}" /></span>. Notice that each <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z_{k}\in L_{\beta +1}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>z</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>k</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z_{k}\in L_{\beta +1}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/47550cbe81275813eed89b067fd409d595287f67" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -1.005ex; width:9.868ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z_{k}\in L_{\beta +1}}" /></span> for some <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \beta &lt;\alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b2;<!-- β --></mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \beta &lt;\alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/75a2847a928d4dc604cb25f967a3911fa4cc3f22" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.918ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \beta &lt;\alpha }" /></span>. Combine formulas for the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>z</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/bf368e72c009decd9b6686ee84a375632e11de98" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.088ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z}" /></span>'s with the formula for <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> and apply existential quantifiers over the <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle z}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>z</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle z}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/bf368e72c009decd9b6686ee84a375632e11de98" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.088ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle z}" /></span>'s outside and one gets a formula that defines the constructible set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> using only the ordinals <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \alpha }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \alpha }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b79333175c8b3f0840bfb4ec41b8072c83ea88d3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.488ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \alpha }" /></span> that appear in expressions like <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle x=L_{\alpha }}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>x</mi> <mo>=</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle x=L_{\alpha }}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b6f4f3ab39609d7db774333b40ad892bd444e3d0" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:7.295ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle x=L_{\alpha }}" /></span> as parameters. </p><p>Example: The set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{5,\omega \}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mn>5</mn> <mo>,</mo> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{5,\omega \}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/5efe37c9afb694dfdad6e9947ed5435ec3941cd1" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.967ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{5,\omega \}}" /></span> is constructible. It is the unique set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle s}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>s</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle s}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/01d131dfd7673938b947072a13a9744fe997e632" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.09ex; height:1.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle s}" /></span> that satisfies the formula: </p><p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \forall y(y\in s\iff (y\in L_{\omega +1}\land (\forall a(a\in y\iff a\in L_{5}\land Ord(a))\lor \forall b(b\in y\iff b\in L_{\omega }\land Ord(b)))))}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x2200;<!-- ∀ --></mi> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>s</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mo stretchy="false">&#x27fa;<!-- ⟺ --></mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x2200;<!-- ∀ --></mi> <mi>a</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>a</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>y</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mo stretchy="false">&#x27fa;<!-- ⟺ --></mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>a</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>5</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mi>O</mi> <mi>r</mi> <mi>d</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>a</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>&#x2228;<!-- ∨ --></mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x2200;<!-- ∀ --></mi> <mi>b</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>b</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>y</mi> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mo stretchy="false">&#x27fa;<!-- ⟺ --></mo> <mspace width="thickmathspace"></mspace> <mi>b</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3c9;<!-- ω --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mi>O</mi> <mi>r</mi> <mi>d</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>b</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \forall y(y\in s\iff (y\in L_{\omega +1}\land (\forall a(a\in y\iff a\in L_{5}\land Ord(a))\lor \forall b(b\in y\iff b\in L_{\omega }\land Ord(b)))))}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/132b8d61f689e557789b0106c2e33bff6e07af1e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:98.874ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \forall y(y\in s\iff (y\in L_{\omega +1}\land (\forall a(a\in y\iff a\in L_{5}\land Ord(a))\lor \forall b(b\in y\iff b\in L_{\omega }\land Ord(b)))))}" /></span> </p><p>where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle Ord(a)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>O</mi> <mi>r</mi> <mi>d</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>a</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle Ord(a)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/07a1932e10b6b3002aac01fae1de683feb6c38cb" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.077ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle Ord(a)}" /></span> is short for: </p><p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-display mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math display="block" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \forall c\in a(\forall d\in c(d\in a\land \forall e\in d(e\in c))).}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x2200;<!-- ∀ --></mi> <mi>c</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>a</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x2200;<!-- ∀ --></mi> <mi>d</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>c</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>d</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>a</mi> <mo>&#x2227;<!-- ∧ --></mo> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x2200;<!-- ∀ --></mi> <mi>e</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>d</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>e</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>c</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>.</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \forall c\in a(\forall d\in c(d\in a\land \forall e\in d(e\in c))).}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/67f9b9ebdc37df93e30a37a48d61c652391c806d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-display mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:38.033ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \forall c\in a(\forall d\in c(d\in a\land \forall e\in d(e\in c))).}" /></span> </p><p>Actually, even this complex formula has been simplified from what the instructions given in the first paragraph would yield. But the point remains, there is a formula of set theory that is true only for the desired constructible set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle S}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>S</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle S}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/4611d85173cd3b508e67077d4a1252c9c05abca2" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.499ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle S}" /></span> and that contains parameters only for ordinals. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Relative_constructibility">Relative constructibility</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10" title="Edit section: Relative constructibility"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Sometimes it is desirable to find a model of set theory that is narrow like <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span>, but that includes or is influenced by a set that is not constructible. This gives rise to the concept of relative constructibility, of which there are two flavors, denoted by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa03f64e6707e82a5a1d3e5f40176d2692e6c938" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.135ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)}" /></span> and <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L[A]}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">[</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">]</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L[A]}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6627515825e94c876ee6b7d225ed4ed9120d945d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.62ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L[A]}" /></span>. </p><p>The class <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa03f64e6707e82a5a1d3e5f40176d2692e6c938" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.135ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)}" /></span> for a non-constructible set <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> is the intersection of all classes that are standard models of set theory and contain <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> and all the ordinals. </p><p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa03f64e6707e82a5a1d3e5f40176d2692e6c938" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.135ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)}" /></span> is defined by <a href="/wiki/Transfinite_recursion" class="mw-redirect" title="Transfinite recursion">transfinite recursion</a> as follows: </p> <ul><li><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{0}(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mn>0</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{0}(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6858048a57b9ffc30db174ab9eca0fed02c4522b" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:6.189ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{0}(A)}" /></span> = the smallest transitive set containing <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> as an element, i.e. the <a href="/wiki/Transitive_closure_(set)" class="mw-redirect" title="Transitive closure (set)">transitive closure</a> of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{A\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{A\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c72ff6b32e6b20b370a6da3d6918a463012e8377" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.068ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{A\}}" /></span>.</li> <li><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>+</mo> <mn>1</mn> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/9036eefe6701987656c5ef55320de6a231f3c91d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:8.52ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\alpha +1}(A)}" /></span> = <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha }(A))}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha }(A))}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/55532b96f794bb96067ec396397cc6f5f3216f17" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:11.902ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (L_{\alpha }(A))}" /></span></li> <li>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \lambda }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \lambda }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/b43d0ea3c9c025af1be9128e62a18fa74bedda2a" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.355ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \lambda }" /></span> is a limit ordinal, then <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L_{\lambda }(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha &lt;\lambda }L_{\alpha }(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>=</mo> <munder> <mo>&#x22c3;<!-- ⋃ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> <mo>&lt;</mo> <mi>&#x3bb;<!-- λ --></mi> </mrow> </munder> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L_{\lambda }(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha &lt;\lambda }L_{\alpha }(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/be8bf03151f8500babbed327f70aaf62a53bc648" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -3.171ex; width:19.52ex; height:5.676ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L_{\lambda }(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha &lt;\lambda }L_{\alpha }(A)}" /></span>.</li> <li><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha }L_{\alpha }(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> <mo>=</mo> <munder> <mo>&#x22c3;<!-- ⋃ --></mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </munder> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>&#x3b1;<!-- α --></mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha }L_{\alpha }(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/8e21f5e78ced218190f962231b978ea18dee7ea4" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -3.005ex; width:17.622ex; height:5.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)=\bigcup _{\alpha }L_{\alpha }(A)}" /></span>.</li></ul> <p>If <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa03f64e6707e82a5a1d3e5f40176d2692e6c938" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.135ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)}" /></span> contains a well-ordering of the transitive closure of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \{A\}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">{</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo fence="false" stretchy="false">}</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \{A\}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/c72ff6b32e6b20b370a6da3d6918a463012e8377" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.068ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \{A\}}" /></span>, then this can be extended to a well-ordering of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa03f64e6707e82a5a1d3e5f40176d2692e6c938" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.135ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)}" /></span>. Otherwise, the axiom of choice will fail in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa03f64e6707e82a5a1d3e5f40176d2692e6c938" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.135ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)}" /></span>. </p><p>A common example is <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(\mathbb {R} )}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="double-struck">R</mi> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(\mathbb {R} )}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/75eff725808d342173c5a183940a1980abc23e8e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.07ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(\mathbb {R} )}" /></span>, the smallest model that contains all the real numbers, which is used extensively in modern <a href="/wiki/Descriptive_set_theory" title="Descriptive set theory">descriptive set theory</a>. </p><p>The class <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L[A]}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">[</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">]</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L[A]}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6627515825e94c876ee6b7d225ed4ed9120d945d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.62ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L[A]}" /></span> is the class of sets whose construction is influenced by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span>, where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> may be a (presumably non-constructible) set or a proper class. The definition of this class uses <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} _{A}(X)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </msub> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} _{A}(X)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6502458adbef5568fe2f898f1e8fd78b7f3bd781" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:8.774ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} _{A}(X)}" /></span>, which is the same as <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (X)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (X)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/d0948b75f65893fab94dfa7cd80f397281c54e1e" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:7.462ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} (X)}" /></span> except instead of evaluating the truth of formulas <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \Phi }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi mathvariant="normal">&#x3a6;<!-- Φ --></mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \Phi }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/aed80a2011a3912b028ba32a52dfa57165455f24" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.678ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \Phi }" /></span> in the model <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle (X,\in )}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle (X,\in )}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7f11c91d9aae7c323fcc5dc794bab1ee9318ac0d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:6.374ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle (X,\in )}" /></span>, one uses the model <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle (X,\in ,A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>X</mi> <mo>,</mo> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mo>,</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle (X,\in ,A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/43831abd85190202c9bd7941c7a6ea8613442463" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:9.151ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle (X,\in ,A)}" /></span> where <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> is a unary predicate. The intended interpretation of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A(y)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>y</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A(y)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/def9f9d8e3ab72e445fe55858014fa8e880954b5" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.708ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A(y)}" /></span> is <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle y\in A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>y</mi> <mo>&#x2208;<!-- ∈ --></mo> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle y\in A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7967ddfa570a9b0cc13b4785f57407d2526cf292" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:5.739ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle y\in A}" /></span>. Then the definition of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L[A]}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">[</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">]</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L[A]}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6627515825e94c876ee6b7d225ed4ed9120d945d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.62ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L[A]}" /></span> is exactly that of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> only with <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} }"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} }</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/782451226d7445a5083cb9aeb647028b05e7c793" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:3.673ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} }" /></span> replaced by <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} _{A}}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <msub> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi mathvariant="normal">D</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">e</mi> <mi mathvariant="normal">f</mi> </mrow> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mi>A</mi> </mrow> </msub> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} _{A}}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/9f4aec3a133da8099502a26558a5a47e4c9bba86" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.671ex; width:4.985ex; height:2.509ex;" alt="{\displaystyle \mathrm {Def} _{A}}" /></span>. </p><p><span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L[A]}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">[</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">]</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L[A]}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6627515825e94c876ee6b7d225ed4ed9120d945d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.62ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L[A]}" /></span> is always a model of the axiom of choice. Even if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> is a set, <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> is not necessarily itself a member of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L[A]}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">[</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">]</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L[A]}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6627515825e94c876ee6b7d225ed4ed9120d945d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.62ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L[A]}" /></span>, although it always is if <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle A}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>A</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle A}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/7daff47fa58cdfd29dc333def748ff5fa4c923e3" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.743ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle A}" /></span> is a set of ordinals. </p><p>The sets in <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L(A)}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">(</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">)</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L(A)}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/fa03f64e6707e82a5a1d3e5f40176d2692e6c938" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:5.135ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L(A)}" /></span> or <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L[A]}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> <mo stretchy="false">[</mo> <mi>A</mi> <mo stretchy="false">]</mo> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L[A]}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/6627515825e94c876ee6b7d225ed4ed9120d945d" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.838ex; width:4.62ex; height:2.843ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L[A]}" /></span> are usually not actually constructible, and the properties of these models may be quite different from the properties of <span class="mwe-math-element"><span class="mwe-math-mathml-inline mwe-math-mathml-a11y" style="display: none;"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="{\displaystyle L}"> <semantics> <mrow class="MJX-TeXAtom-ORD"> <mstyle displaystyle="true" scriptlevel="0"> <mi>L</mi> </mstyle> </mrow> <annotation encoding="application/x-tex">{\displaystyle L}</annotation> </semantics> </math></span><img src="https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/media/math/render/svg/103168b86f781fe6e9a4a87b8ea1cebe0ad4ede8" class="mwe-math-fallback-image-inline mw-invert skin-invert" aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: -0.338ex; width:1.583ex; height:2.176ex;" alt="{\displaystyle L}" /></span> itself. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_constructibility" title="Axiom of constructibility">Axiom of constructibility</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Statements_true_in_L" class="mw-redirect" title="Statements true in L">Statements true in L</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reflection_principle" title="Reflection principle">Reflection principle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiomatic_set_theory" class="mw-redirect" title="Axiomatic set theory">Axiomatic set theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transitive_set" title="Transitive set">Transitive set</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/L(R)" title="L(R)">L(R)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ordinal_definable" class="mw-redirect" title="Ordinal definable">Ordinal definable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Condensation_lemma" title="Condensation lemma">Condensation lemma</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Gödel 1938.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">K. J. Devlin, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/30905237.pdf">An introduction to the fine structure of the constructible hierarchy</a>" (1974). Accessed 20 February 2023.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">K. J. Devlin, <i>Constructibility</i> (1984), ch. 2, "The Constructible Universe, p.58. Perspectives in Mathematical Logic, Springer-Verlag.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">K. Devlin 1975, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/30905237.pdf">An Introduction to the Fine Structure of the Constructible Hierarchy</a> (p.2). Accessed 2021-05-12.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Barwise 1975, page 60 (comment following proof of theorem 5.9)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">P. Odifreddi, <i>Classical Recursion Theory</i>, pp.427. Studies in Logic and the Foundations of Mathematics</span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Constructible_universe&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFBarwise1975" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Jon_Barwise" title="Jon Barwise">Barwise, Jon</a> (1975). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/admissiblesetsst00barw_0"><i>Admissible Sets and Structures</i></a></span>. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-387-07451-1" title="Special:BookSources/0-387-07451-1"><bdi>0-387-07451-1</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Admissible+Sets+and+Structures&amp;rft.place=Berlin&amp;rft.pub=Springer-Verlag&amp;rft.date=1975&amp;rft.isbn=0-387-07451-1&amp;rft.aulast=Barwise&amp;rft.aufirst=Jon&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fadmissiblesetsst00barw_0&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AConstructible+universe" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFDevlin1984" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Keith_Devlin" title="Keith Devlin">Devlin, Keith J.</a> (1984). <i>Constructibility</i>. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-387-13258-9" title="Special:BookSources/0-387-13258-9"><bdi>0-387-13258-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Constructibility&amp;rft.place=Berlin&amp;rft.pub=Springer-Verlag&amp;rft.date=1984&amp;rft.isbn=0-387-13258-9&amp;rft.aulast=Devlin&amp;rft.aufirst=Keith+J.&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AConstructible+universe" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFelgner1971" class="citation book cs1">Felgner, Ulrich (1971). <i>Models of ZF-Set Theory</i>. Lecture Notes in Mathematics. Springer-Verlag. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-540-05591-6" title="Special:BookSources/3-540-05591-6"><bdi>3-540-05591-6</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Models+of+ZF-Set+Theory&amp;rft.series=Lecture+Notes+in+Mathematics&amp;rft.pub=Springer-Verlag&amp;rft.date=1971&amp;rft.isbn=3-540-05591-6&amp;rft.aulast=Felgner&amp;rft.aufirst=Ulrich&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AConstructible+universe" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFGödel1938" class="citation journal cs1">Gödel, Kurt (1938). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1077160">"The Consistency of the Axiom of Choice and of the Generalized Continuum-Hypothesis"</a>. <i>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America</i>. <b>24</b> (12). National Academy of Sciences: <span class="nowrap">556–</span>557. <a href="/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bibcode (identifier)">Bibcode</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1938PNAS...24..556G">1938PNAS...24..556G</a>. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.24.12.556">10.1073/pnas.24.12.556</a></span>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a>&#160;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/87239">87239</a>. <a href="/wiki/PMC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMC (identifier)">PMC</a>&#160;<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1077160">1077160</a></span>. <a href="/wiki/PMID_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="PMID (identifier)">PMID</a>&#160;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16577857">16577857</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.jtitle=Proceedings+of+the+National+Academy+of+Sciences+of+the+United+States+of+America&amp;rft.atitle=The+Consistency+of+the+Axiom+of+Choice+and+of+the+Generalized+Continuum-Hypothesis&amp;rft.volume=24&amp;rft.issue=12&amp;rft.pages=%3Cspan+class%3D%22nowrap%22%3E556-%3C%2Fspan%3E557&amp;rft.date=1938&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC1077160%23id-name%3DPMC&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F87239%23id-name%3DJSTOR&amp;rft_id=info%3Abibcode%2F1938PNAS...24..556G&amp;rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F16577857&amp;rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1073%2Fpnas.24.12.556&amp;rft.aulast=G%C3%B6del&amp;rft.aufirst=Kurt&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC1077160&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AConstructible+universe" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFGödel1940" class="citation book cs1">Gödel, Kurt (1940). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/1034.html"><i>The Consistency of the Continuum Hypothesis</i></a>. Annals of Mathematics Studies. Vol.&#160;3. Princeton, N. J.: Princeton University Press. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-07927-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-691-07927-1"><bdi>978-0-691-07927-1</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/MR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="MR (identifier)">MR</a>&#160;<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://mathscinet.ams.org/mathscinet-getitem?mr=0002514">0002514</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=The+Consistency+of+the+Continuum+Hypothesis&amp;rft.place=Princeton%2C+N.+J.&amp;rft.series=Annals+of+Mathematics+Studies&amp;rft.pub=Princeton+University+Press&amp;rft.date=1940&amp;rft.isbn=978-0-691-07927-1&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fmathscinet.ams.org%2Fmathscinet-getitem%3Fmr%3D0002514%23id-name%3DMR&amp;rft.aulast=G%C3%B6del&amp;rft.aufirst=Kurt&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fpress.princeton.edu%2Ftitles%2F1034.html&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AConstructible+universe" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFJech2002" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Thomas_Jech" title="Thomas Jech">Jech, Thomas</a> (2002). <i>Set Theory</i>. Springer Monographs in Mathematics (3rd millennium&#160;ed.). Springer. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-540-44085-2" title="Special:BookSources/3-540-44085-2"><bdi>3-540-44085-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Set+Theory&amp;rft.series=Springer+Monographs+in+Mathematics&amp;rft.edition=3rd+millennium&amp;rft.pub=Springer&amp;rft.date=2002&amp;rft.isbn=3-540-44085-2&amp;rft.aulast=Jech&amp;rft.aufirst=Thomas&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AConstructible+universe" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output 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.navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Set_theory" title="Template:Set theory"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Set_theory" title="Template talk:Set theory"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Set_theory" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Set theory"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Set_theory409" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Set_theory" title="Set theory">Set theory</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Overview</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Set_(mathematics)" title="Set (mathematics)">Set (mathematics)</a></li></ul> </div></td><td class="noviewer navbox-image" rowspan="8" style="width:1px;padding:0 0 0 2px"><div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/Venn_diagram" title="Venn diagram"><img alt="Venn diagram of set intersection" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Venn_A_intersect_B.svg/100px-Venn_A_intersect_B.svg.png" decoding="async" width="100" height="71" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Venn_A_intersect_B.svg/150px-Venn_A_intersect_B.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Venn_A_intersect_B.svg/200px-Venn_A_intersect_B.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="350" data-file-height="250" /></a></span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Axiom" title="Axiom">Axioms</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_adjunction" title="Axiom of adjunction">Adjunction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_choice" title="Axiom of choice">Choice</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_countable_choice" title="Axiom of countable choice">countable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_dependent_choice" title="Axiom of dependent choice">dependent</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_global_choice" title="Axiom of global choice">global</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_constructibility" title="Axiom of constructibility">Constructibility (V=L)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_determinacy" title="Axiom of determinacy">Determinacy</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_projective_determinacy" title="Axiom of projective determinacy">projective</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_extensionality" title="Axiom of extensionality">Extensionality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_infinity" title="Axiom of infinity">Infinity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_limitation_of_size" title="Axiom of limitation of size">Limitation of size</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_pairing" title="Axiom of pairing">Pairing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_power_set" title="Axiom of power set">Power set</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_regularity" title="Axiom of regularity">Regularity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_union" title="Axiom of union">Union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Martin%27s_axiom" title="Martin&#39;s axiom">Martin's axiom</a></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_schema" title="Axiom schema">Axiom schema</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_schema_of_replacement" title="Axiom schema of replacement">replacement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_schema_of_specification" title="Axiom schema of specification">specification</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Set_(mathematics)#Basic_operations" title="Set (mathematics)">Operations</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cartesian_product" title="Cartesian product">Cartesian product</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Complement_(set_theory)" title="Complement (set theory)">Complement</a> (i.e. set difference)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/De_Morgan%27s_laws" title="De Morgan&#39;s laws">De Morgan's laws</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Disjoint_union" title="Disjoint union">Disjoint union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_set_identities_and_relations" title="List of set identities and relations">Identities</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intersection_(set_theory)" title="Intersection (set theory)">Intersection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_set" title="Power set">Power set</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Symmetric_difference" title="Symmetric difference">Symmetric difference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_(set_theory)" title="Union (set theory)">Union</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><div class="hlist"><ul><li>Concepts</li><li>Methods</li></ul></div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Almost" title="Almost">Almost</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cardinality" title="Cardinality">Cardinality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cardinal_number" title="Cardinal number">Cardinal number</a>&#160;(<a href="/wiki/Large_cardinal" title="Large cardinal">large</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Class_(set_theory)" title="Class (set theory)">Class</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Constructible universe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Continuum_hypothesis" title="Continuum hypothesis">Continuum hypothesis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cantor%27s_diagonal_argument" title="Cantor&#39;s diagonal argument">Diagonal argument</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Element_(mathematics)" title="Element (mathematics)">Element</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ordered_pair" title="Ordered pair">ordered pair</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tuple" title="Tuple">tuple</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Family_of_sets" title="Family of sets">Family</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Forcing_(mathematics)" title="Forcing (mathematics)">Forcing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bijection" title="Bijection">One-to-one correspondence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ordinal_number" title="Ordinal number">Ordinal number</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Set-builder_notation" title="Set-builder notation">Set-builder notation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transfinite_induction" title="Transfinite induction">Transfinite induction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venn_diagram" title="Venn diagram">Venn diagram</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Set_(mathematics)" title="Set (mathematics)">Set</a> types</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Amorphous_set" title="Amorphous set">Amorphous</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Countable_set" title="Countable set">Countable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Empty_set" title="Empty set">Empty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Finite_set" title="Finite set">Finite</a>&#160;(<a href="/wiki/Hereditarily_finite_set" title="Hereditarily finite set">hereditarily</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Filter_(set_theory)" title="Filter (set theory)">Filter</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Filter_(set_theory)" title="Filter (set theory)">base</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Filter_(set_theory)#Filters_and_prefilters" title="Filter (set theory)">subbase</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ultrafilter_on_a_set" title="Ultrafilter on a set">Ultrafilter</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fuzzy_set" title="Fuzzy set">Fuzzy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infinite_set" title="Infinite set">Infinite</a> (<a href="/wiki/Dedekind-infinite_set" title="Dedekind-infinite set">Dedekind-infinite</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Computable_set" title="Computable set">Recursive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Singleton_(mathematics)" title="Singleton (mathematics)">Singleton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subset" title="Subset">Subset&#160;<b>·</b> Superset</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transitive_set" title="Transitive set">Transitive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uncountable_set" title="Uncountable set">Uncountable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Universal_set" title="Universal set">Universal</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Theories</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alternative_set_theory" class="mw-redirect" title="Alternative set theory">Alternative</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Set_theory#Formalized_set_theory" title="Set theory">Axiomatic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naive_set_theory" title="Naive set theory">Naive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cantor%27s_theorem" title="Cantor&#39;s theorem">Cantor's theorem</a></li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Zermelo_set_theory" title="Zermelo set theory">Zermelo</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/General_set_theory" title="General set theory">General</a></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/Principia_Mathematica" title="Principia Mathematica">Principia Mathematica</a></i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/New_Foundations" title="New Foundations">New Foundations</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zermelo%E2%80%93Fraenkel_set_theory" title="Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory">Zermelo–Fraenkel </a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Bernays%E2%80%93G%C3%B6del_set_theory" title="Von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory">von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel </a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Morse%E2%80%93Kelley_set_theory" title="Morse–Kelley set theory">Morse–Kelley</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kripke%E2%80%93Platek_set_theory" title="Kripke–Platek set theory">Kripke–Platek</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tarski%E2%80%93Grothendieck_set_theory" title="Tarski–Grothendieck set theory">Tarski–Grothendieck</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><div class="hlist"><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Paradoxes_of_set_theory" title="Paradoxes of set theory">Paradoxes</a></li><li>Problems</li></ul></div></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Russell%27s_paradox" title="Russell&#39;s paradox">Russell's paradox</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Suslin%27s_problem" title="Suslin&#39;s problem">Suslin's problem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Burali-Forti_paradox" title="Burali-Forti paradox">Burali-Forti paradox</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Category:Set_theorists" title="Category:Set theorists">Set theorists</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Bernays" title="Paul Bernays">Paul Bernays</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Georg_Cantor" title="Georg Cantor">Georg Cantor</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Paul_Cohen" title="Paul Cohen">Paul Cohen</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Richard_Dedekind" title="Richard Dedekind">Richard Dedekind</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Abraham_Fraenkel" title="Abraham Fraenkel">Abraham Fraenkel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kurt_G%C3%B6del" title="Kurt Gödel">Kurt Gödel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thomas_Jech" title="Thomas Jech">Thomas Jech</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_von_Neumann" title="John von Neumann">John von Neumann</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Willard_Van_Orman_Quine" title="Willard Van Orman Quine">Willard Quine</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bertrand_Russell" title="Bertrand Russell">Bertrand Russell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thoralf_Skolem" title="Thoralf Skolem">Thoralf Skolem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ernst_Zermelo" title="Ernst Zermelo">Ernst Zermelo</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235" /></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Mathematical_logic326" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible mw-collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374" /><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231" /><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Mathematical_logic" title="Template:Mathematical logic"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Mathematical_logic" title="Template talk:Mathematical logic"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Mathematical_logic" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Mathematical logic"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Mathematical_logic326" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Mathematical_logic" title="Mathematical logic">Mathematical logic</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">General</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom" title="Axiom">Axiom</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_axioms" title="List of axioms">list</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cardinality" title="Cardinality">Cardinality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/First-order_logic" title="First-order logic">First-order logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formal_proof" title="Formal proof">Formal proof</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formal_semantics_(logic)" class="mw-redirect" title="Formal semantics (logic)">Formal semantics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foundations_of_mathematics" title="Foundations of mathematics">Foundations of mathematics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Information_theory" title="Information theory">Information theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lemma_(mathematics)" title="Lemma (mathematics)">Lemma</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_consequence" title="Logical consequence">Logical consequence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Structure_(mathematical_logic)" title="Structure (mathematical logic)">Model</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theorem" title="Theorem">Theorem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theory_(mathematical_logic)" title="Theory (mathematical logic)">Theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Type_theory" title="Type theory">Type theory</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Theorems&#160;(<a href="/wiki/Category:Theorems_in_the_foundations_of_mathematics" title="Category:Theorems in the foundations of mathematics">list</a>)<br />&#160;and&#160;<a href="/wiki/Paradoxes_of_set_theory" title="Paradoxes of set theory">paradoxes</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/G%C3%B6del%27s_completeness_theorem" title="Gödel&#39;s completeness theorem">Gödel's completeness</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="/wiki/G%C3%B6del%27s_incompleteness_theorems" title="Gödel&#39;s incompleteness theorems">incompleteness theorems</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tarski%27s_undefinability_theorem" title="Tarski&#39;s undefinability theorem">Tarski's undefinability</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Banach%E2%80%93Tarski_paradox" title="Banach–Tarski paradox">Banach–Tarski paradox</a></li> <li>Cantor's&#160;<a href="/wiki/Cantor%27s_theorem" title="Cantor&#39;s theorem">theorem,</a>&#160;<a href="/wiki/Cantor%27s_paradox" title="Cantor&#39;s paradox">paradox</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="/wiki/Cantor%27s_diagonal_argument" title="Cantor&#39;s diagonal argument">diagonal argument</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Compactness_theorem" title="Compactness theorem">Compactness</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Halting_problem" title="Halting problem">Halting problem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lindstr%C3%B6m%27s_theorem" title="Lindström&#39;s theorem">Lindström's</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/L%C3%B6wenheim%E2%80%93Skolem_theorem" title="Löwenheim–Skolem theorem">Löwenheim–Skolem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russell%27s_paradox" title="Russell&#39;s paradox">Russell's paradox</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Logic" title="Logic">Logics</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th id="Traditional95" scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Term_logic" title="Term logic">Traditional</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Classical_logic" title="Classical logic">Classical logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_truth" title="Logical truth">Logical truth</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tautology_(logic)" title="Tautology (logic)">Tautology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proposition" title="Proposition">Proposition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inference" title="Inference">Inference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_equivalence" title="Logical equivalence">Logical equivalence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Consistency" title="Consistency">Consistency</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Equiconsistency" title="Equiconsistency">Equiconsistency</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Argument" title="Argument">Argument</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Soundness" title="Soundness">Soundness</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Validity_(logic)" title="Validity (logic)">Validity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Syllogism" title="Syllogism">Syllogism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Square_of_opposition" title="Square of opposition">Square of opposition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venn_diagram" title="Venn diagram">Venn diagram</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Propositional_calculus" title="Propositional calculus">Propositional</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Boolean_algebra" title="Boolean algebra">Boolean algebra</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Boolean_function" title="Boolean function">Boolean functions</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_connective" title="Logical connective">Logical connectives</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Propositional_calculus" title="Propositional calculus">Propositional calculus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Propositional_formula" title="Propositional formula">Propositional formula</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Truth_table" title="Truth table">Truth tables</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Many-valued_logic" title="Many-valued logic">Many-valued logic</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Three-valued_logic" title="Three-valued logic">3</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Finite-valued_logic" title="Finite-valued logic">finite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infinite-valued_logic" title="Infinite-valued logic">∞</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Predicate_logic" class="mw-redirect" title="Predicate logic">Predicate</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/First-order_logic" title="First-order logic">First-order</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_first-order_theories" title="List of first-order theories"><span style="font-size:85%;">list</span></a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Second-order_logic" title="Second-order logic">Second-order</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Monadic_second-order_logic" title="Monadic second-order logic">Monadic</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Higher-order_logic" title="Higher-order logic">Higher-order</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fixed-point_logic" title="Fixed-point logic">Fixed-point</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Free_logic" title="Free logic">Free</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantifier_(logic)" title="Quantifier (logic)">Quantifiers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Predicate_(mathematical_logic)" title="Predicate (mathematical logic)">Predicate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Monadic_predicate_calculus" title="Monadic predicate calculus">Monadic predicate calculus</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Set_theory" title="Set theory">Set theory</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Zermelo%E2%80%93Fraenkel_set_theory" title="Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory">Set</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Hereditary_set" title="Hereditary set">hereditary</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Class_(set_theory)" title="Class (set theory)">Class</a></li> <li>(<a href="/wiki/Urelement" title="Urelement">Ur-</a>)<a href="/wiki/Element_(mathematics)" title="Element (mathematics)">Element</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ordinal_number" title="Ordinal number">Ordinal number</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Extensionality" title="Extensionality">Extensionality</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Forcing_(mathematics)" title="Forcing (mathematics)">Forcing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Relation_(mathematics)" title="Relation (mathematics)">Relation</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Equivalence_relation" title="Equivalence relation">equivalence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Partition_of_a_set" title="Partition of a set">partition</a></li></ul></li> <li>Set operations: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Intersection_(set_theory)" title="Intersection (set theory)">intersection</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Union_(set_theory)" title="Union (set theory)">union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Complement_(set_theory)" title="Complement (set theory)">complement</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cartesian_product" title="Cartesian product">Cartesian product</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Power_set" title="Power set">power set</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_set_identities_and_relations" title="List of set identities and relations">identities</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Types of <a href="/wiki/Set_(mathematics)" title="Set (mathematics)">sets</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Countable_set" title="Countable set">Countable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uncountable_set" title="Uncountable set">Uncountable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Empty_set" title="Empty set">Empty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inhabited_set" title="Inhabited set">Inhabited</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Singleton_(mathematics)" title="Singleton (mathematics)">Singleton</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Finite_set" title="Finite set">Finite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Infinite_set" title="Infinite set">Infinite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transitive_set" title="Transitive set">Transitive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ultrafilter_(set_theory)" class="mw-redirect" title="Ultrafilter (set theory)">Ultrafilter</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Recursive_set" class="mw-redirect" title="Recursive set">Recursive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fuzzy_set" title="Fuzzy set">Fuzzy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Universal_set" title="Universal set">Universal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Universe_(mathematics)" title="Universe (mathematics)">Universe</a> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">constructible</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Grothendieck_universe" title="Grothendieck universe">Grothendieck</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Von_Neumann_universe" title="Von Neumann universe">Von Neumann</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Map_(mathematics)" title="Map (mathematics)">Maps</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="/wiki/Cardinality" title="Cardinality">cardinality</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Function_(mathematics)" title="Function (mathematics)">Function</a>/<a href="/wiki/Map_(mathematics)" title="Map (mathematics)">Map</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Domain_of_a_function" title="Domain of a function">domain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Codomain" title="Codomain">codomain</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Image_(mathematics)" title="Image (mathematics)">image</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Injective_function" title="Injective function">In</a>/<a href="/wiki/Surjective_function" title="Surjective function">Sur</a>/<a href="/wiki/Bijection" title="Bijection">Bi</a>-jection</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Schr%C3%B6der%E2%80%93Bernstein_theorem" title="Schröder–Bernstein theorem">Schröder–Bernstein theorem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Isomorphism" title="Isomorphism">Isomorphism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/G%C3%B6del_numbering" title="Gödel numbering">Gödel numbering</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Enumeration" title="Enumeration">Enumeration</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Large_cardinal" title="Large cardinal">Large cardinal</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Inaccessible_cardinal" title="Inaccessible cardinal">inaccessible</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Aleph_number" title="Aleph number">Aleph number</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Operation_(mathematics)" title="Operation (mathematics)">Operation</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Binary_operation" title="Binary operation">binary</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Set theories</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Zermelo%E2%80%93Fraenkel_set_theory" title="Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory">Zermelo–Fraenkel</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_of_choice" title="Axiom of choice">axiom of choice</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Continuum_hypothesis" title="Continuum hypothesis">continuum hypothesis</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/General_set_theory" title="General set theory">General</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kripke%E2%80%93Platek_set_theory" title="Kripke–Platek set theory">Kripke–Platek</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Morse%E2%80%93Kelley_set_theory" title="Morse–Kelley set theory">Morse–Kelley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Naive_set_theory" title="Naive set theory">Naive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Foundations" title="New Foundations">New Foundations</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tarski%E2%80%93Grothendieck_set_theory" title="Tarski–Grothendieck set theory">Tarski–Grothendieck</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Bernays%E2%80%93G%C3%B6del_set_theory" title="Von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory">Von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ackermann_set_theory" title="Ackermann set theory">Ackermann</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Constructive_set_theory" title="Constructive set theory">Constructive</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Formal_system" title="Formal system">Formal systems</a>&#160;(<a href="/wiki/List_of_formal_systems" title="List of formal systems"><span style="font-size:85%;">list</span></a>),<br /><a href="/wiki/Formal_language" title="Formal language">language</a>&#160;and&#160;<a href="/wiki/Syntax_(logic)" title="Syntax (logic)">syntax</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Alphabet_(formal_languages)" title="Alphabet (formal languages)">Alphabet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arity" title="Arity">Arity</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Automata_theory" title="Automata theory">Automata</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Axiom_schema" title="Axiom schema">Axiom schema</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Expression_(mathematics)" title="Expression (mathematics)">Expression</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Ground_expression" title="Ground expression">ground</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Extension_by_new_constant_and_function_names" title="Extension by new constant and function names">Extension</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Extension_by_definitions" title="Extension by definitions">by definition</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Conservative_extension" title="Conservative extension">conservative</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Finitary_relation" title="Finitary relation">Relation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formation_rule" title="Formation rule">Formation rule</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formal_grammar" title="Formal grammar">Grammar</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Well-formed_formula" title="Well-formed formula">Formula</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Atomic_formula" title="Atomic formula">atomic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sentence_(mathematical_logic)" title="Sentence (mathematical logic)">closed</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ground_formula" class="mw-redirect" title="Ground formula">ground</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Open_formula" title="Open formula">open</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Free_variables_and_bound_variables" title="Free variables and bound variables">Free/bound variable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formal_language" title="Formal language">Language</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Metalanguage" title="Metalanguage">Metalanguage</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_connective" title="Logical connective">Logical connective</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Negation" title="Negation">¬</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_disjunction" title="Logical disjunction">∨</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_conjunction" title="Logical conjunction">∧</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Material_conditional" title="Material conditional">→</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_biconditional" title="Logical biconditional">↔</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_equality" title="Logical equality">=</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Predicate_(mathematical_logic)" title="Predicate (mathematical logic)">Predicate</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Functional_predicate" title="Functional predicate">functional</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Predicate_variable" title="Predicate variable">variable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Propositional_variable" title="Propositional variable">propositional variable</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formal_proof" title="Formal proof">Proof</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantifier_(logic)" title="Quantifier (logic)">Quantifier</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Existential_quantification" title="Existential quantification">∃</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Uniqueness_quantification" title="Uniqueness quantification">!</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Universal_quantification" title="Universal quantification">∀</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Quantifier_rank" title="Quantifier rank">rank</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sentence_(mathematical_logic)" title="Sentence (mathematical logic)">Sentence</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Atomic_sentence" title="Atomic sentence">atomic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spectrum_of_a_sentence" title="Spectrum of a sentence">spectrum</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Signature_(logic)" title="Signature (logic)">Signature</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/String_(formal_languages)" class="mw-redirect" title="String (formal languages)">String</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Substitution_(logic)" title="Substitution (logic)">Substitution</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Symbol_(formal)" title="Symbol (formal)">Symbol</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Uninterpreted_function" title="Uninterpreted function">function</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_constant" title="Logical constant">logical/constant</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Non-logical_symbol" title="Non-logical symbol">non-logical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Variable_(mathematics)" title="Variable (mathematics)">variable</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Term_(logic)" title="Term (logic)">Term</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theory_(mathematical_logic)" title="Theory (mathematical logic)">Theory</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_mathematical_theories" title="List of mathematical theories"><span style="font-size:85%;">list</span></a></li></ul></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><span class="nowrap">Example&#160;<a href="/wiki/Axiomatic_system" title="Axiomatic system">axiomatic<br />systems</a>&#160;<span style="font-size:85%;">(<a href="/wiki/List_of_first-order_theories" title="List of first-order theories">list</a>)</span></span></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>of <a href="/wiki/True_arithmetic" title="True arithmetic">arithmetic</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Peano_axioms" title="Peano axioms">Peano</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Second-order_arithmetic" title="Second-order arithmetic">second-order</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Elementary_function_arithmetic" title="Elementary function arithmetic">elementary function</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Primitive_recursive_arithmetic" title="Primitive recursive arithmetic">primitive recursive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robinson_arithmetic" title="Robinson arithmetic">Robinson</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Skolem_arithmetic" title="Skolem arithmetic">Skolem</a></li></ul></li> <li>of the <a href="/wiki/Construction_of_the_real_numbers" title="Construction of the real numbers">real numbers</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tarski%27s_axiomatization_of_the_reals" title="Tarski&#39;s axiomatization of the reals">Tarski's axiomatization</a></li></ul></li> <li>of <a href="/wiki/Axiomatization_of_Boolean_algebras" class="mw-redirect" title="Axiomatization of Boolean algebras">Boolean algebras</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Boolean_algebras_canonically_defined" title="Boolean algebras canonically defined">canonical</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Minimal_axioms_for_Boolean_algebra" title="Minimal axioms for Boolean algebra">minimal axioms</a></li></ul></li> <li>of <a href="/wiki/Foundations_of_geometry" title="Foundations of geometry">geometry</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Euclidean_geometry" title="Euclidean geometry">Euclidean</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Euclid%27s_Elements" title="Euclid&#39;s Elements"><i>Elements</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hilbert%27s_axioms" title="Hilbert&#39;s axioms">Hilbert's</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tarski%27s_axioms" title="Tarski&#39;s axioms">Tarski's</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Non-Euclidean_geometry" title="Non-Euclidean geometry">non-Euclidean</a></li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li><i><a href="/wiki/Principia_Mathematica" title="Principia Mathematica">Principia Mathematica</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Proof_theory" title="Proof theory">Proof theory</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Formal_proof" title="Formal proof">Formal proof</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Natural_deduction" title="Natural deduction">Natural deduction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logical_consequence" title="Logical consequence">Logical consequence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rule_of_inference" title="Rule of inference">Rule of inference</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sequent_calculus" title="Sequent calculus">Sequent calculus</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theorem" title="Theorem">Theorem</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Formal_system" title="Formal system">Systems</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axiomatic_system" title="Axiomatic system">axiomatic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deductive_system" class="mw-redirect" title="Deductive system">deductive</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hilbert_system" title="Hilbert system">Hilbert</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Hilbert_systems" class="mw-redirect" title="List of Hilbert systems">list</a></li></ul></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Complete_theory" title="Complete theory">Complete theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Independence_(mathematical_logic)" title="Independence (mathematical logic)">Independence</a>&#160;(<a href="/wiki/List_of_statements_independent_of_ZFC" title="List of statements independent of ZFC">from&#160;ZFC</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Proof_of_impossibility" title="Proof of impossibility">Proof of impossibility</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ordinal_analysis" title="Ordinal analysis">Ordinal analysis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reverse_mathematics" title="Reverse mathematics">Reverse mathematics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Self-verifying_theories" title="Self-verifying theories">Self-verifying theories</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Model_theory" title="Model theory">Model theory</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Interpretation_(logic)" title="Interpretation (logic)">Interpretation</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Interpretation_function" class="mw-redirect" title="Interpretation function">function</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Interpretation_(model_theory)" title="Interpretation (model theory)">of models</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Structure_(mathematical_logic)" title="Structure (mathematical logic)">Model</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Elementary_equivalence" title="Elementary equivalence">equivalence</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Finite_model_theory" title="Finite model theory">finite</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saturated_model" title="Saturated model">saturated</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spectrum_of_a_theory" title="Spectrum of a theory">spectrum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Substructure_(mathematics)" title="Substructure (mathematics)">submodel</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Non-standard_model" title="Non-standard model">Non-standard model</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Non-standard_model_of_arithmetic" title="Non-standard model of arithmetic">of arithmetic</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Diagram_(mathematical_logic)" title="Diagram (mathematical logic)">Diagram</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Elementary_diagram" title="Elementary diagram">elementary</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Categorical_theory" title="Categorical theory">Categorical theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Model_complete_theory" title="Model complete theory">Model complete theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Satisfiability" title="Satisfiability">Satisfiability</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Semantics_of_logic" title="Semantics of logic">Semantics of logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strength_(mathematical_logic)" title="Strength (mathematical logic)">Strength</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theories_of_truth" class="mw-redirect" title="Theories of truth">Theories of truth</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Semantic_theory_of_truth" title="Semantic theory of truth">semantic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tarski%27s_theory_of_truth" class="mw-redirect" title="Tarski&#39;s theory of truth">Tarski's</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kripke%27s_theory_of_truth" class="mw-redirect" title="Kripke&#39;s theory of truth">Kripke's</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/T-schema" title="T-schema">T-schema</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Transfer_principle" title="Transfer principle">Transfer principle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Truth_predicate" title="Truth predicate">Truth predicate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Truth_value" title="Truth value">Truth value</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Type_(model_theory)" title="Type (model theory)">Type</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ultraproduct" title="Ultraproduct">Ultraproduct</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Validity_(logic)" title="Validity (logic)">Validity</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Computability_theory" title="Computability theory">Computability theory</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Church_encoding" title="Church encoding">Church encoding</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Church%E2%80%93Turing_thesis" title="Church–Turing thesis">Church–Turing thesis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Computably_enumerable_set" title="Computably enumerable set">Computably enumerable</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Computable_function" title="Computable function">Computable function</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Computable_set" title="Computable set">Computable set</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Decision_problem" title="Decision problem">Decision problem</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Decidability_(logic)" title="Decidability (logic)">decidable</a></li> <li><a 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scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Related</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Abstract_logic" title="Abstract logic">Abstract logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Algebraic_logic" title="Algebraic logic">Algebraic logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Automated_theorem_proving" title="Automated theorem proving">Automated theorem proving</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category_theory" title="Category theory">Category theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Concrete_category" title="Concrete category">Concrete</a>/<a href="/wiki/Category_(mathematics)" title="Category (mathematics)">Abstract category</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category_of_sets" title="Category of sets">Category of sets</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_logic" title="History of logic">History of logic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_mathematical_logic" class="mw-redirect" title="History of mathematical logic">History of mathematical logic</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Timeline_of_mathematical_logic" title="Timeline of mathematical logic">timeline</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Logicism" title="Logicism">Logicism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mathematical_object" title="Mathematical object">Mathematical object</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Philosophy_of_mathematics" title="Philosophy of mathematics">Philosophy of mathematics</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Supertask" title="Supertask">Supertask</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><b><span class="nowrap"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Nuvola_apps_edu_mathematics_blue-p.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="icon" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Nuvola_apps_edu_mathematics_blue-p.svg/16px-Nuvola_apps_edu_mathematics_blue-p.svg.png" decoding="async" width="16" height="16" class="mw-file-element" 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