Exercise 6.2.8

If X is a nonempty set of ordinals, then X is an ordinal. Moreover X is the least element of X .

Answers

Proof. Suppose that X is a set of ordinals. Then by Theorem 6.2.6d X has a least element α . We shall show that α = X , which simultaneously shows that X is an ordinal and the least element of X .

Consider any β X . Since α is the least element α β so that α = β or α < β . Clearly α α = β in the former case. In the latter case we have α β so that α β as well since β is transitive (since it is an ordinal). Since β was arbitrary any x α is also in every β X so that x X so that α X since x was arbitrary.

Now consider any x X . Then clearly x α since α X so that X α since x was arbitrary.

Thus we have shown that α = X as desired. □

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2024-07-15 11:42
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