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1.1.4-5.2-10-8.2-13.5-10-11.1-5.2-30-15.3-35-27.3-2.5-6 2.8-13.8 9.4-13.6 6.9.2 13.4 7 17.5 12C70.9 34 75 43.8 86.3 47.4z"/> </svg> </span> <span class="webName">nLab</span> variable </h1> <div class="navigation"> <span class="skipNav"><a href='#navEnd'>Skip the Navigation Links</a> | </span> <span style="display:inline-block; width: 0.3em;"></span> <a href="/nlab/show/HomePage" accesskey="H" title="Home page">Home Page</a> | <a href="/nlab/all_pages" accesskey="A" title="List of all pages">All Pages</a> | <a href="/nlab/latest_revisions" accesskey="U" title="Latest edits and page creations">Latest Revisions</a> | <a href="https://nforum.ncatlab.org/discussion/3619/#Item_19" title="Discuss this page in its dedicated thread on the nForum" style="color: black">Discuss this page</a> | <form accept-charset="utf-8" action="/nlab/search" id="navigationSearchForm" method="get"> <fieldset class="search"><input type="text" id="searchField" name="query" value="Search" 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<li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/hypothetical+judgement">hypothetical judgement</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/sequent">sequent</a></p> <ul> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/antecedents">antecedents</a><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mo>⊢</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\vdash</annotation></semantics></math> <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/consequent">consequent</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/succedents">succedents</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ol> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type+formation+rule">type formation rule</a></li> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/term+introduction+rule">term introduction rule</a></li> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/term+elimination+rule">term elimination rule</a></li> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/computation+rule">computation rule</a></li> </ol> <p><strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type+theory">type theory</a></strong> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/dependent+type+theory">dependent</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/intensional+type+theory">intensional</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/observational+type+theory">observational type theory</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/homotopy+type+theory">homotopy type theory</a>)</p> <ul> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/calculus+of+constructions">calculus of constructions</a></li> </ul> <p><strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/syntax">syntax</a></strong> <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/object+language">object language</a></p> <ul> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/theory">theory</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/axiom">axiom</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proposition">proposition</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/propositions+as+types">propositions as types</a>)</p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/definition">definition</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proof">proof</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/program">program</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proofs+as+programs">proofs as programs</a>)</p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/theorem">theorem</a></p> </li> </ul> <div> <p><strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/computational+trinitarianism">computational trinitarianism</a></strong> = <br /> <strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/propositions+as+types">propositions as types</a></strong> +<strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/programs+as+proofs">programs as proofs</a></strong> +<strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/relation+between+type+theory+and+category+theory">relation type theory/category theory</a></strong></p> <table><thead><tr><th><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/logic">logic</a></th><th><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/set+theory">set theory</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+logic+of+set+theory">internal logic</a> of)</th><th><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/category+theory">category theory</a></th><th><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type+theory">type theory</a></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proposition">proposition</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/set">set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/object">object</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/predicate">predicate</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/family+of+sets">family of sets</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/display+morphism">display morphism</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/dependent+type">dependent type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proof">proof</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/element">element</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/generalized+element">generalized element</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/term">term</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/program">program</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/cut+rule">cut rule</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/composition">composition</a> of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/classifying+morphisms">classifying morphisms</a> / <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/pullback">pullback</a> of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/display+maps">display maps</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/substitution">substitution</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/introduction+rule">introduction rule</a> for <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/implication">implication</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/counit">counit</a> for hom-tensor adjunction</td><td style="text-align: left;">lambda</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/elimination+rule">elimination rule</a> for <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/implication">implication</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/unit">unit</a> for hom-tensor adjunction</td><td style="text-align: left;">application</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/cut+elimination">cut elimination</a> for <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/implication">implication</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;">one of the <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/zigzag+identities">zigzag identities</a> for hom-tensor adjunction</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/beta+reduction">beta reduction</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">identity elimination for <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/implication">implication</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;">the other <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/zigzag+identity">zigzag identity</a> for hom-tensor adjunction</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/eta+conversion">eta conversion</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/true">true</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/singleton">singleton</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/terminal+object">terminal object</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/%28-2%29-truncated+object">(-2)-truncated object</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/h-level+0">h-level 0</a>-<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/unit+type">unit type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/false">false</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/empty+set">empty set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/initial+object">initial object</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/empty+type">empty type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proposition">proposition</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/truth+value">truth value</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/subsingleton">subsingleton</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/subterminal+object">subterminal object</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/%28-1%29-truncated+object">(-1)-truncated object</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/h-proposition">h-proposition</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/mere+proposition">mere proposition</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/logical+conjunction">logical conjunction</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/cartesian+product">cartesian product</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/product">product</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/product+type">product type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/disjunction">disjunction</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/disjoint+union">disjoint union</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/support">support</a> of)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/coproduct">coproduct</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/%28-1%29-truncation">(-1)-truncation</a> of)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/sum+type">sum type</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/bracket+type">bracket type</a> of)</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/implication">implication</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/function+set">function set</a> (into <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/subsingleton">subsingleton</a>)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+hom">internal hom</a> (into <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/subterminal+object">subterminal object</a>)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/function+type">function type</a> (into <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/h-proposition">h-proposition</a>)</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/negation">negation</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/function+set">function set</a> into <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/empty+set">empty set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+hom">internal hom</a> into <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/initial+object">initial object</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/function+type">function type</a> into <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/empty+type">empty type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/universal+quantification">universal quantification</a></td><td style="text-align: left;">indexed <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/cartesian+product">cartesian product</a> (of family of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/subsingletons">subsingletons</a>)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/dependent+product">dependent product</a> (of family of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/subterminal+objects">subterminal objects</a>)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/dependent+product+type">dependent product type</a> (of family of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/h-propositions">h-propositions</a>)</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/existential+quantification">existential quantification</a></td><td style="text-align: left;">indexed <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/disjoint+union">disjoint union</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/support">support</a> of)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/dependent+sum">dependent sum</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/%28-1%29-truncation">(-1)-truncation</a> of)</td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/dependent+sum+type">dependent sum type</a> (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/bracket+type">bracket type</a> of)</td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/logical+equivalence">logical equivalence</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/bijection+set">bijection set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/object+of+isomorphisms">object of isomorphisms</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/equivalence+type">equivalence type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/support+set">support set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/support+object">support object</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/%28-1%29-truncation">(-1)-truncation</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/propositional+truncation">propositional truncation</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/bracket+type">bracket type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/n-image">n-image</a> of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/morphism">morphism</a> into <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/terminal+object">terminal object</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/n-truncation">n-truncation</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/n-truncation+modality">n-truncation modality</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/equality">equality</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/diagonal+function">diagonal function</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/diagonal+subset">diagonal subset</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/diagonal+relation">diagonal relation</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/path+space+object">path space object</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/identity+type">identity type</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/path+type">path type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/completely+presented+set">completely presented set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/set">set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/discrete+object">discrete object</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/0-truncated+object">0-truncated object</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/h-level+2">h-level 2</a>-<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/set">set</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/h-set">h-set</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/set">set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/set">set</a> with <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/equivalence+relation">equivalence relation</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/groupoid+object+in+an+%28infinity%2C1%29-category">internal 0-groupoid</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/Bishop+set">Bishop set</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/setoid">setoid</a> with its <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/pseudo-equivalence+relation">pseudo-equivalence relation</a> an actual <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/equivalence+relation">equivalence relation</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/equivalence+class">equivalence class</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quotient+set">quotient set</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quotient">quotient</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quotient+type">quotient type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/induction">induction</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/colimit">colimit</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/inductive+type">inductive type</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/W-type">W-type</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/M-type">M-type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">higher <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/induction">induction</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/%28infinity%2C1%29-colimit">higher colimit</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/higher+inductive+type">higher inductive type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">-</td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/0-truncated">0-truncated</a> <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/%28infinity%2C1%29-colimit">higher colimit</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quotient+inductive+type">quotient inductive type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/coinduction">coinduction</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/limit">limit</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/coinductive+type">coinductive type</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/preset">preset</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a> without <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/identity+types">identity types</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/set">set</a> of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/truth+values">truth values</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/subobject+classifier">subobject classifier</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type+of+propositions">type of propositions</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/domain+of+discourse">domain of discourse</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/universe">universe</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/object+classifier">object classifier</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type+universe">type universe</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/modality">modality</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/closure+operator">closure operator</a>, (<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/idempotent+monad">idempotent</a>) <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/monad">monad</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/modal+type+theory">modal type theory</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/monad+%28in+computer+science%29">monad (in computer science)</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/linear+logic">linear logic</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;">(<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/symmetric+monoidal+category">symmetric</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/closed+monoidal+category">closed</a>) <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/monoidal+category">monoidal category</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/linear+type+theory">linear type theory</a>/<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quantum+computation">quantum computation</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proof+net">proof net</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/string+diagram">string diagram</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quantum+circuit">quantum circuit</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;">(absence of) <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/contraction+rule">contraction rule</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;">(absence of) <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/diagonal">diagonal</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/no-cloning+theorem">no-cloning theorem</a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/synthetic+mathematics">synthetic mathematics</a></td><td style="text-align: left;"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/domain+specific+embedded+programming+language">domain specific embedded programming language</a></td></tr> </tbody></table> </div> <p><strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/homotopy+levels">homotopy levels</a></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type+theory">type theory</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/2-type+theory">2-type theory</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/michaelshulman/show/2-categorical+logic">2-categorical logic</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/homotopy+type+theory">homotopy type theory</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/homotopy+type+theory+-+contents">homotopy type theory - contents</a></p> <ul> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/homotopy+type">homotopy type</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/univalence">univalence</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/function+extensionality">function extensionality</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+logic+of+an+%28%E2%88%9E%2C1%29-topos">internal logic of an (∞,1)-topos</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/cohesive+homotopy+type+theory">cohesive homotopy type theory</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/directed+homotopy+type+theory">directed homotopy type theory</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/HoTT+methods+for+homotopy+theorists">HoTT methods for homotopy theorists</a></p> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/semantics">semantics</a></strong></p> <ul> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+logic">internal logic</a>, <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/categorical+semantics">categorical semantics</a></p> <ul> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/display+map">display map</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+logic+of+a+topos">internal logic of a topos</a></p> <ul> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/Mitchell-Benabou+language">Mitchell-Benabou language</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/Kripke-Joyal+semantics">Kripke-Joyal semantics</a></p> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+logic+of+an+%28%E2%88%9E%2C1%29-topos">internal logic of an (∞,1)-topos</a></p> <ul> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type-theoretic+model+category">type-theoretic model category</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <div> <p> <a href="/nlab/edit/type+theory+-+contents">Edit this sidebar</a> </p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> <h1 id="contents">Contents</h1> <div class='maruku_toc'> <ul> <li><a href='#idea'>Idea</a></li> <li><a href='#free_and_bound_variables'>Free and bound variables</a></li> <li><a href='#in_categorical_semantics'>In categorical semantics</a></li> <li><a href='#related_concepts'>Related concepts</a></li> <li><a href='#References'>References</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="idea">Idea</h2> <p>In <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/logic">logic</a> and <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type+theory">type theory</a>, a variable is a symbol that stands for an arbitrary instantiation of some given <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a> (although in single-typed theories the type is trivial). Thus, every variable of type <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">T</annotation></semantics></math> is a <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/term">term</a> of type <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">T</annotation></semantics></math> (although typically there are other terms).</p> <p>Logicians have developed several ways to precisely specify what variables are and how to keep track of them, and the only thing more annoyingly pedantic than learning one of these is translating between different ones.</p> <h2 id="free_and_bound_variables">Free and bound variables</h2> <p>If we keep track of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/context">context</a>, every <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/context+extension">introduction of a variable</a> changes the context. Thus, whatever <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/terms">terms</a> of <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a> <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">T</annotation></semantics></math> there may (or may not) be in a given context <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\Gamma</annotation></semantics></math>, in the context <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>Γ</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>x</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>T</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">(\Gamma, x\colon T)</annotation></semantics></math> —which is <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\Gamma</annotation></semantics></math> extended by a <strong>free variable</strong> <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> of type <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">T</annotation></semantics></math>— there is (at least) one more term of type <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>T</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">T</annotation></semantics></math>, and that term is <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> itself.</p> <p>Conversely, we may be able to take a term <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a</annotation></semantics></math> in the context <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>Γ</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>x</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>T</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">(\Gamma, x\colon T)</annotation></semantics></math> and apply some operation <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f</annotation></semantics></math> to it to create a term <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>a</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(a)</annotation></semantics></math> (possibly of a different type) in the context <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>Γ</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\Gamma</annotation></semantics></math>; then any appearances of the variable <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> in the term <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>a</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">a</annotation></semantics></math> have become <strong>bound variables</strong> in the term <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>a</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(a)</annotation></semantics></math>. That is, the appearances of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> are bound by the operator <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f</annotation></semantics></math>, and <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> has no meaning outside of its scope.</p> <p>So for example, if (say in something simple like <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/Peano+arithmetic">Peano arithmetic</a>, supplemented with the abbreviations used in practice) I write <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>2</mn><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2x</annotation></semantics></math>, this is a term (for a natural number) in a context with a free variable <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math>, whereas if I write <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>3</mn><msubsup><mo lspace="thinmathspace" rspace="thinmathspace">∑</mo> <mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow> <mn>4</mn></msubsup><mn>2</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>5</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">3 \sum_{x=0}^4 2x + 5</annotation></semantics></math>, this is a term (also for a natural number) in a context with no free variables; here, <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> is bound. The variable <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> has a meaning after the operator <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mo lspace="thinmathspace" rspace="thinmathspace">∑</mo> <mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow> <mn>4</mn></msubsup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\sum_{x=0}^4</annotation></semantics></math> (whose notation also specifies the variable that will have a meaning inside it) and before the plus sign (which, following the standard order of operations, marks the end of the scope of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><msubsup><mo lspace="thinmathspace" rspace="thinmathspace">∑</mo> <mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow> <mn>4</mn></msubsup></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\sum_{x=0}^4</annotation></semantics></math>) but has no meaning outside of that (where the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">3</annotation></semantics></math> and <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>5</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">5</annotation></semantics></math> are, or even where the <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">0</annotation></semantics></math> and <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>4</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">4</annotation></semantics></math> are). And indeed, the ultimate meaning of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>2</mn><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">2x</annotation></semantics></math> depends on what <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> is, but the ultimate meaning of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>3</mn><msubsup><mo lspace="thinmathspace" rspace="thinmathspace">∑</mo> <mrow><mi>x</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>0</mn></mrow> <mn>4</mn></msubsup><mn>2</mn><mi>x</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>5</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">3 \sum_{x=0}^4 2x + 5</annotation></semantics></math> is simply <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mn>65</mn></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">65</annotation></semantics></math>.</p> <h2 id="in_categorical_semantics">In categorical semantics</h2> <p>In the <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/internal+language">internal language</a> of a <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/category">category</a> <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>𝒞</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\mathcal{C}</annotation></semantics></math> a <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/morphism">morphism</a></p> <div class="maruku-equation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>B</mi><mo>→</mo><mi>A</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> f\colon B \to A </annotation></semantics></math></div> <p>is a <em><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/term">term</a></em> <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f(x)</annotation></semantics></math> of <em><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a></em> <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">A</annotation></semantics></math> where <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> is a <strong>free variable</strong> of <em>type</em> <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">B</annotation></semantics></math>, which in symbols is given by</p> <div class="maruku-equation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>B</mi><mo>⊢</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>A</mi><mspace width="thinmathspace"></mspace><mo>.</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> x\colon B \vdash f(x)\colon A \,. </annotation></semantics></math></div> <p>We may think of the <em>free variables</em> here as being placeholders for all the <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/generalized+elements">generalized elements</a> <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>U</mi><mover><mo>→</mo><mi>x</mi></mover><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">U \stackrel{x}{\to} B</annotation></semantics></math> of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">B</annotation></semantics></math>.</p> <p>Then the assertion</p> <div class="maruku-equation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>B</mi><mo>⊢</mo><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>A</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> x\colon B \vdash f(x)\colon A </annotation></semantics></math></div> <p>indicates that with <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>B</mi><mover><mo>→</mo><mi>f</mi></mover><mi>A</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">B \stackrel{f}{\to} A</annotation></semantics></math> given we may send <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>U</mi><mover><mo>→</mo><mi>x</mi></mover><mi>B</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">U \stackrel{x}{\to} B</annotation></semantics></math> to the <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/composition">composition</a></p> <div class="maruku-equation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>U</mi><mover><mo>→</mo><mi>x</mi></mover><mi>B</mi><mover><mo>→</mo><mi>f</mi></mover><mi>A</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mo>=</mo><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>U</mi><mover><mo>→</mo><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow></mover><mi>A</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo><mspace width="thinmathspace"></mspace><mo>.</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> (U \stackrel{x}{\to} B \stackrel{f}{\to}A ) = (U \stackrel{f(x)}{\to} A) \,. </annotation></semantics></math></div> <p>A free variable becomes a <strong>bound variable</strong> after application of a <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quantifier">quantifier</a>: for instance the image of <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>f</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>P</mi><mo>→</mo><mi>X</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">f\colon P \to X</annotation></semantics></math> under <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/base+change">base change</a></p> <div class="maruku-equation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>𝒞</mi> <mrow><mo stretchy="false">/</mo><mi>X</mi></mrow></msub><mover><mover><mo>→</mo><mo>←</mo></mover><mo>→</mo></mover><mi>𝒞</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> \mathcal{C}_{/X} \stackrel{\to}{\stackrel{\leftarrow}{\to}} \mathcal{C} </annotation></semantics></math></div> <p>represents, for the <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/left+adjoint">left adjoint</a> the <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/type">type</a></p> <div class="maruku-equation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mo>∃</mo><mi>x</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> \exists x\colon X , P(x) </annotation></semantics></math></div> <p>(<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/existential+quantifier">existential quantifier</a>), and the the <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/right+adjoint">right adjoint</a> the type</p> <div class="maruku-equation"><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="block" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mo>∀</mo><mi>x</mi><mo lspace="verythinmathspace">:</mo><mi>X</mi><mo>,</mo><mi>P</mi><mo stretchy="false">(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo stretchy="false">)</mo></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex"> \forall x\colon X , P(x) </annotation></semantics></math></div> <p>(<a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/universal+quantifier">universal quantifier</a>) in which now <math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline" class="maruku-mathml"><semantics><mrow><mi>x</mi></mrow><annotation encoding="application/x-tex">x</annotation></semantics></math> is a <em>bound variable</em>.</p> <h2 id="related_concepts">Related concepts</h2> <ul> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/quantification">quantification</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/variable+rule">variable rule</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/context+extension">context extension</a></p> </li> <li> <p><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/proposition">proposition</a></p> </li> </ul> <h2 id="References">References</h2> <p>A textbook account with an eye towards applications in <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/computer+science">computer science</a> is in section 1.2 of</p> <ul> <li id="Harper"><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/Robert+Harper">Robert Harper</a>, <em>Practical Foundations for Programming Languages</em> (<a href="http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rwh/plbook/book.pdf">web</a>)</li> </ul> <p>An exposition on the relation between free variables and <a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/universal+quantification">universal quantification</a> is in</p> <ul> <li><a class="existingWikiWord" href="/nlab/show/Andrej+Bauer">Andrej Bauer</a>, <em>Free variables are not “implicitly universally quantified”!</em> (<a href="http://math.andrej.com/2012/12/25/free-variables-are-not-implicitly-universally-quantified/">web</a>)</li> </ul> </body></html> </div> <div class="revisedby"> <p> Last revised on March 26, 2023 at 13:27:47. 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