axiom of choice

E87367

The axiom of choice is a fundamental principle in set theory asserting that one can select an element from each set in any collection of nonempty sets, with far-reaching consequences across mathematics.

All labels observed (5)

Label Occurrences
axiom of choice canonical 5
well-ordering theorem 4
Zorn's lemma 2

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (50)

Predicate Object
instanceOf mathematical principle
set-theoretic axiom
abbreviationInZFC the C in ZFC
acceptedIn most mainstream mathematics
alsoKnownAs AC
appliesTo arbitrary collections of nonempty sets
centralTo development of modern set theory
consistencyRelativeTo Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory if ZF is consistent
controversialBecause implies counterintuitive results like Banach–Tarski paradox
leads to non-constructive existence proofs
domainOfDiscourse collections of nonempty sets
equivalentTo Tychonoff theorem for products of compact spaces
Zorn's lemma
linked to: axiom of choice

every set can be written as a disjoint union of choice sets for a partition
every surjective function has a right inverse
every vector space has a basis
well-ordering theorem
linked to: axiom of choice
expressedAs every family of nonempty sets admits a choice function
field set theory
formalizes ability to choose an element from each set in a family of nonempty sets
hasStrongerForm global axiom of choice
hasWeakerForm countable axiom of choice
dependent choice
implies Banach–Tarski paradox
Hausdorff maximal principle
linked to: axiom of choice

every field has an algebraic closure
every infinite set has a countable subset
every product of nonempty sets is nonempty
every set can be well-ordered
every vector space has a Hamel basis
existence of non-measurable sets of real numbers
well-ordering of every set
independenceProvedBy Kurt Gödel
Paul Cohen
independentOf Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory without choice
influences foundations of mathematics
introducedBy Ernst Zermelo
logicalType existential axiom
motivatedBy well-ordering theorem
quantifierForm for every family F of nonempty sets there exists a function f with domain F such that f(X) is in X for all X in F
rejectedIn constructive mathematics
some schools of intuitionism
relatedTo continuum hypothesis
statusInZFC axiom of Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory with choice
usedIn algebra
category theory
functional analysis
measure theory
topology
yearIntroduced 1904

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (13)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ernst Zermelo knownFor well-ordering theorem
linked to: axiom of choice
Ernst Zermelo knownFor axiom of choice
Ernst Zermelo proved well-ordering theorem
linked to: axiom of choice
set theory includesConcept Zorn's lemma
linked to: axiom of choice
axiom of choice equivalentTo well-ordering theorem
linked to: axiom of choice
axiom of choice equivalentTo Zorn's lemma
linked to: axiom of choice
axiom of choice implies Hausdorff maximal principle
linked to: axiom of choice
Cantor–Bernstein–Schröder theorem relatedTo well-ordering theorem
linked to: axiom of choice
Tychonoff theorem for products of compact spaces equivalentTo axiom of choice (over ZF)
linked to: axiom of choice
Banach–Tarski paradox assumes axiom of choice