Questions tagged [axiom-of-choice]

An important and fundamental axiom in set theory sometimes called Zermelo's axiom of choice. It was formulated by Zermelo in 1904 and states that, given any set of mutually disjoint nonempty sets, there exists at least one set that contains exactly one element in common with each of the nonempty sets. The axiom of choice is related to the first of Hilbert's problems.

An important and fundamental axiom in set theory sometimes called Zermelo's axiom of choice. It was formulated by Zermelo in 1904 and states that, given any set of mutually disjoint nonempty sets, there exists at least one set that contains exactly one element in common with each of the nonempty sets. The axiom of choice is related to the first of Hilbert's problems.

See also:

560 questions
9
votes
0 answers

Does every group of order bigger than 2 have a non-trivial automorphism?

If $G$ is a non-abelian group, then it has a non-trivial inner automorphism (conjugation by any non-central element). If $G$ is abelian of exponent bigger than 2, then the inversion map is an automorphism. If $G$ is of exponent 2, then it is a…
cameroncounts
  • 409
  • 3
  • 7
8
votes
1 answer

Axiom of choice and vector spaces over a given field

It is my impression that the following question is open: Does the existence of a basis for every vector space over the field K = the reals having a basis imply the axiom of choice? I saw an answer from several years ago that indicated it was open.…
John
  • 83
4
votes
1 answer

A combinatorial property implied by the Axiom of Choice

Let us say that a family $R$ of sets has the Finite Subcovering Property --- FSP --- if any subfamily of $R$ which covers the union $\cup B: B \in R$ has itself a finite subfamily which also covers. For example, take for $R$ the family of open…
3
votes
1 answer

Nets and the Axiom of Choice

Suppose that $f : X \rightarrow Y$ is mapping between topological spaces that is not continuous at $x_0$. Then there is an open set $V$ in $Y$ containing $f(x_0)$ such that for any open set $U$ containing $x_0$, there is some $x_U \in U$ with…
mathahada
  • 636
3
votes
2 answers

Global or Relativised Dependent Choices

I am talking about the principle that is to DC what the global choice is to the usual axiom of choice. Global choice involves existential quantification over classes, but global DC can be stated as a schema in first-order set theory. $(\forall x…
2
votes
0 answers

algebraic dual and axiom of choice

If $K$ is a field, the dual of $K^{({\mathbb N})}$ is $K^{\mathbb N}$, and axiom of choice implies that the natural map from $K^{({\mathbb N})}$ to the dual of $K^{\mathbb N}$ is far from being surjective. Is there any field for which one can prove…
-1
votes
2 answers

An equivalent of the axiom of choice?

There is such a thing as a math course for relatively non-mathematically inclined people that is intended to challenge students' intelligence more than to teach them some mathematics. (It is true that the first-year calculus course is used for that…
Michael Hardy
  • 11,922
  • 11
  • 81
  • 119