Goodstein's Theorem

	Goodstein's Theorem In mathematical logic, Goodstein's theorem is a statement about the natural numbers, proved by Reuben Goodstein in 1944, which states that every Goodstein sequence (as defined below) eventually terminates at 0. Laurence Kirby and Jeff Paris showed that it is unprovable in Peano arithmetic (but it can be proven in stronger systems, such as second-order arithmetic or Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory). This was the third example of a true statement about natural numbers that is unprovable in Peano arithmetic, after the examples provided by Gödel's incompleteness theorem and Gerhard Gentzen's 1943 direct proof of the unprovability of ε0-induction in Peano arithmetic. The Paris–Harrington theorem gave another example. Kirby and Paris introduced a graph-theoretic hydra game with behavior similar to that of Goodstein sequences: the "Hydra" (named for the mythological multi-headed Hydra of Lerna) is a rooted tree, and a move consists of cutting off one of its "heads" (a branch of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Mathematical Logic Mathematical logic is the study of Logic#Formal logic, formal logic within mathematics. Major subareas include model theory, proof theory, set theory, and recursion theory (also known as computability theory). Research in mathematical logic commonly addresses the mathematical properties of formal systems of logic such as their expressive or deductive power. However, it can also include uses of logic to characterize correct mathematical reasoning or to establish foundations of mathematics. Since its inception, mathematical logic has both contributed to and been motivated by the study of foundations of mathematics. This study began in the late 19th century with the development of axiomatic frameworks for geometry, arithmetic, and Mathematical analysis, analysis. In the early 20th century it was shaped by David Hilbert's Hilbert's program, program to prove the consistency of foundational theories. Results of Kurt Gödel, Gerhard Gentzen, and others provided partial resolution to th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
picture info	Ordinal Number In set theory, an ordinal number, or ordinal, is a generalization of ordinal numerals (first, second, th, etc.) aimed to extend enumeration to infinite sets. A finite set can be enumerated by successively labeling each element with the least natural number that has not been previously used. To extend this process to various infinite sets, ordinal numbers are defined more generally using linearly ordered greek letter variables that include the natural numbers and have the property that every set of ordinals has a least or "smallest" element (this is needed for giving a meaning to "the least unused element"). This more general definition allows us to define an ordinal number \omega (omega) to be the least element that is greater than every natural number, along with ordinal numbers , , etc., which are even greater than . A linear order such that every non-empty subset has a least element is called a well-order. The axiom of choice implies that every set can be well-orde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Ackermann Function In computability theory, the Ackermann function, named after Wilhelm Ackermann, is one of the simplest and earliest-discovered examples of a total function, total computable function that is not Primitive recursive function, primitive recursive. All primitive recursive functions are total and computable, but the Ackermann function illustrates that not all total computable functions are primitive recursive. After Ackermann's publication of his function (which had three non-negative integer arguments), many authors modified it to suit various purposes, so that today "the Ackermann function" may refer to any of numerous variants of the original function. One common version is the two-argument Ackermann–Péter function developed by Rózsa Péter and Raphael Robinson. This function is defined from the recurrence relation \operatorname(m+1, n+1) = \operatorname(m, \operatorname(m+1, n)) with appropriate Base case (recursion), base cases. Its value grows very rapidly; for example, \o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Fast-growing Hierarchy In computability theory, computational complexity theory and proof theory, a fast-growing hierarchy (also called an extended Grzegorczyk hierarchy, or a Schwichtenberg-Wainer hierarchy) is an ordinal-indexed family of rapidly increasing functions ''f''α: N → N (where N is the set of natural numbers , and α ranges up to some large countable Ordinal number, ordinal). A primary example is the Wainer hierarchy, or Löb–Wainer hierarchy, which is an extension to all α < Epsilon numbers (mathematics), ε₀. Such hierarchies provide a natural way to classify computable functions according to rate-of-growth and Computational complexity theory, computational complexity. Definition Let μ be a large countable ordinal such that to every limit ordinal α < μ there is assigned a fundamental sequence (ordinals), fundamental sequence (a strictly increasing sequence of ordinals whose supremum is α). A fast-growing hierarchy of functions ''f''_α: N ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Hardy Hierarchy In computability theory, computational complexity theory and proof theory, the Hardy hierarchy, named after G. H. Hardy, is a hierarchy of sets of numerical functions generated from an ordinal-indexed family of functions ''h''α: N → N (where N is the set of natural numbers, ) called Hardy functions. It is related to the fast-growing hierarchy and slow-growing hierarchy. The Hardy hierarchy was introduced by Stanley S. Wainer in 1972, but the idea of its definition comes from Hardy's 1904 paper, in which Hardy exhibits a set of reals with cardinality \aleph_1. Definition Let ''μ'' be a large countable ordinal such that a fundamental sequence is assigned to every limit ordinal less than ''μ''. The Hardy functions ''h''''α'': N → N, for ''α'' < ''μ'', is then defined as follows: * $H_0(n) = n,$ * $H_(n) = H_\alpha(n + 1),$ * $H_(n) = H_(n)$ if ''α'' is a limit ordinal. Here ''α'' [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Total Function In mathematics, a partial function from a set to a set is a function from a subset of (possibly the whole itself) to . The subset , that is, the '' domain'' of viewed as a function, is called the domain of definition or natural domain of . If equals , that is, if is defined on every element in , then is said to be a total function. In other words, a partial function is a binary relation over two sets that associates to every element of the first set ''at most'' one element of the second set; it is thus a univalent relation. This generalizes the concept of a (total) function by not requiring ''every'' element of the first set to be associated to an element of the second set. A partial function is often used when its exact domain of definition is not known, or is difficult to specify. However, even when the exact domain of definition is known, partial functions are often used for simplicity or brevity. This is the case in calculus, where, for example, the quotient ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Grzegorczyk Hierarchy The Grzegorczyk hierarchy (, ), named after the Polish logician Andrzej Grzegorczyk, is a hierarchy of functions used in computability theory. Every function in the Grzegorczyk hierarchy is a primitive recursive function, and every primitive recursive function appears in the hierarchy at some level. The hierarchy deals with the rate at which the values of the functions grow; intuitively, functions in lower levels of the hierarchy grow slower than functions in the higher levels. Definition First we introduce an infinite set of functions, denoted ''Ei'' for some natural number ''i''. We define : \begin E_0(x,y) & = & x + y \\ E_1(x) & = & x^2 + 2 \\ E_(0) & = & 2 \\ E_(x+1) & = & E_(E_(x)) \\ \end E_0 is the addition function, and E_1 is a unary function which squares its argument and adds two. Then, for each ''n'' greater than 1, E_n(x)=E^_(2), i.e. the ''x''-th iterate of E_ evaluated at 2. From these functions we define the Grzegorczyk hierarchy. \mathcal^n, the ''n''- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Primitive Recursive In computability theory, a primitive recursive function is, roughly speaking, a function that can be computed by a computer program whose loops are all "for" loops (that is, an upper bound of the number of iterations of every loop is fixed before entering the loop). Primitive recursive functions form a strict subset of those general recursive functions that are also total functions. The importance of primitive recursive functions lies in the fact that most computable functions that are studied in number theory (and more generally in mathematics) are primitive recursive. For example, addition and division, the factorial and exponential function, and the function which returns the ''n''th prime are all primitive recursive. In fact, for showing that a computable function is primitive recursive, it suffices to show that its time complexity is bounded above by a primitive recursive function of the input size. It is hence not particularly easy to devise a computable function that is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Finitist Finitism is a philosophy of mathematics that accepts the existence only of finite mathematical objects. It is best understood in comparison to the mainstream philosophy of mathematics where infinite mathematical objects (e.g., infinite sets) are accepted as existing. Main idea The main idea of finitistic mathematics is not accepting the existence of infinite objects such as infinite sets. While all natural numbers are accepted as existing, the ''set'' of all natural numbers is not considered to exist as a mathematical object. Therefore quantification over infinite domains is not considered meaningful. The mathematical theory often associated with finitism is Thoralf Skolem's primitive recursive arithmetic. History The introduction of infinite mathematical objects occurred a few centuries ago when the use of infinite objects was already a controversial topic among mathematicians. The issue entered a new phase when Georg Cantor in 1874 introduced what is now called naive set th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Transfinite Induction Transfinite induction is an extension of mathematical induction to well-ordered sets, for example to sets of ordinal numbers or cardinal numbers. Its correctness is a theorem of ZFC. Induction by cases Let P(\alpha) be a property defined for all ordinals \alpha. Suppose that whenever P(\beta) is true for all \beta < \alpha, then $P(\alpha)$ is also true. Then transfinite induction tells us that $P$ is true for all ordinals. Usually the proof is broken down into three cases: * Zero case: Prove that $P(0)$ is true. * Successor case: Prove that for any successor ordinal $\alpha+1$ , $P(\alpha+1)$ follows from $P(\alpha)$ (and, if necessary, $P(\beta)$ for all $\beta < \alpha$ ). * Limit case: Prove that for any [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]
	Non-standard Model Of Arithmetic In mathematical logic, a non-standard model of arithmetic is a model of first-order Peano arithmetic that contains non-standard numbers. The term standard model of arithmetic refers to the standard natural numbers 0, 1, 2, …. The elements of any model of Peano arithmetic are linearly ordered and possess an initial segment isomorphic to the standard natural numbers. A non-standard model is one that has additional elements outside this initial segment. The construction of such models is due to Thoralf Skolem (1934). Non-standard models of arithmetic exist only for the first-order formulation of the Peano axioms; for the original second-order formulation, there is, up to isomorphism, only one model: the natural numbers themselves. Existence There are several methods that can be used to prove the existence of non-standard models of arithmetic. From the compactness theorem The existence of non-standard models of arithmetic can be demonstrated by an application of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu]

Definition