Past exam of the logic and set theory course of the University of Oxford 2008 A 3 c Solution 2026-10-31
Use the following group axioms in the given language:Commutativity supplies the other identity and inverse equations. These first-order sentences therefore specify precisely an abelian group with the named identity ; an inverse function symbol is unnecessary because inverses are asserted to exist by a quantified formula.
For each positive integer , let be the first-order term recursively defined by and . Add the torsion-free abelian group axiom schemeEvery first-order model of these first-order sentences is an abelian group with no nonidentity element of finite order. Conversely every torsion-free abelian group satisfies each of the displayed first-order sentences. This is a countably infinite first-order axiomatization of exactly the required class.
Quantified formula 2026-10-31
A quantified formula has a quantifier as its outermost formation: it is of the form or . The quantifier binds the indicated variable occurrences according to the formation rules.