Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2014/iii/paper-19/4/ii/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2014 iii Paper 19 4 ii Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Use the standard normal set-theoretic tree convention: a unique root, extensions at every higher level, splitting into at least two successors, and tree with unique limits. The small-level and height assumptions already give an -tree, while the given tree antichain condition gives the countable chain condition for forcing. We only need to exclude an uncountable branch.
If such a branch existed, its heights would be unbounded, since each initial segment contains only countably many nodes. Fill in predecessors to obtain its node at every level. At each successor step choose a successor of different from . For , the node extends the branch successor , and so is incompatible with . Thus is an uncountable tree antichain, a contradiction.
Therefore the set-theoretic tree is -Suslin. The splitting part of normality matters: a single chain in a partial order of height would satisfy the tree antichain condition but not the conclusion if one used a weakened definition of normality allowing no splitting.
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