The axiom of infinity asserts that an inductive set exists: some set contains and contains whenever it contains . Inside one such , axiom of separation definesThis intersection is itself inductive and is contained in every inductive set, by intersecting that set with . It is therefore the set of natural numbers. If a property holds at and passes from to , axiom of separation forms the subset of on which it holds. That subset is inductive, so must equal . This proves mathematical induction, including properties with set parameters.
Recursion on defines the arithmetic operations byExistence and uniqueness follow from the recursion theorem on the natural numbers.
For associativity of addition fix and induct on . At both sides equal . If the equality holds at , thenThusEvery step after the induction hypothesis is a defining successor equation, so commutativity has not been used prematurely.
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