Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-logic-and-set-theory-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2009/b/4/i/solution
Past exam of the logic and set theory course of the University of Oxford 2009 B 4 i Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
The ordinal operations are defined by transfinite recursion in the right argument. Addition satisfies , , and at a nonzero limit. Multiplication satisfies , , and . Exponentiation satisfies , , and at nonzero limits. These are ordinal operations, not commutative cardinal arithmetic.
For a normal function on an ordinal, prove domination by transfinite induction. At zero, automatically. If , strict increase at successors gives . At a nonzero limit , continuity and the induction hypotheses giveTherefore . No axiom of choice is needed for this ordinal induction.
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