Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/ii/paper-3/16h/b/solution

The Axiom of foundation says that every nonempty set contains an with . The principle of epsilon induction says that if a formula is progressive,
then holds for every set.
Assume foundation and let be progressive. If failed for some , use separation to form the nonempty set of failures inside . Foundation supplies an -minimal failure . Every member of lies in the transitive closure and is not a failure, so progressiveness gives , a contradiction. Hence epsilon induction holds.
Conversely, assume epsilon induction and suppose a nonempty set has no -minimal member. Let
If every member of satisfies but , then , making an -minimal member of , contrary to the assumption. Thus is progressive. Epsilon induction says every set lies outside , contradicting that is nonempty. Foundation follows.

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