Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-model-theory-course-of-the-university-of-oxford/2011/1/b/iii/solution
Past exam of the model theory course of the University of Oxford 2011 1 b iii Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-31
For the additive zero singleton, is already a quantifier-free formula, so it is also an existential formula and a universal formula with an empty quantifier block. If a nonempty block is required, add a dummy or ; first-order domains are nonempty.
For the two definable multiplicative singletons, existential formulas areIn the integers, the equation restricts to zero or one. In the first line, one never satisfies the inequality, whereas zero does with . In the second, zero never satisfies it, whereas one does with . The respective universal formulas are and , as already verified.
Neither multiplicative singleton has a quantifier-free formula. In this constant-free, multiplication-only language, every term in the sole free variable is for a positive integer . Every atomic formula is true at both zero and one. Every Boolean combination consequently has the same truth value at those two points, and cannot separate their singletons. This is the fact that zero and one have the same quantifier-free type in the multiplicative integers.
Thus additive zero admits all three forms; multiplicative zero and one admit existential and universal forms, but no quantifier-free form. All remaining cases were excluded from definability itself by structure automorphisms.
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