Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2024 iii Paper 128 4 c i Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Assume is a Delta-one formula in set theory. Thus ZF proves it equivalent to a formula and to a formula . Only finitely many axioms of ZF occur in these two formal proofs; collect them, together with the finite fragment needed for bounded-formula absoluteness, into .
Let be a transitive class containing and satisfying . If , then , and upward absoluteness of formulas gives , hence . If , then , and downward absoluteness of formulas gives , hence . Therefore ZF proves that is absolute for every such .