Algebraically prime extension 2026-10-06
For a first-order theory and , an algebraically prime extension is a structure embedding such that every embedding factors as for some structure embedding . The embeddings need not be elementary or unique. A theory has algebraically prime models when every such has an extension of this kind.
Existential embedding 2026-10-14
An embedding of first-order structures is existential when every existential formula with parameters from the source has the same truth value in the source and target. Forward preservation follows from being a structure embedding; reflection is the additional requirement. Applying compactness theorem to the target's diagram of a structure and the source's elementary diagram places the target inside an elementary extension of the source.
Existential formula Created 2026-10-14 Updated 2026-10-25
An existential formula is an existential block followed by a quantifier-free formula, with remaining free variables serving as parameters. Truth is preserved by structure embeddings. Reflection of truth for every such formula defines an existential embedding.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 23 1 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Name every element by a new constant , distinct from the symbols already in . Let be its full atomic and negated atomic diagram of a structure. A model of this diagram contains an isomorphic copy of as an -substructure. We claimis satisfiable.
Otherwise compactness theorem gives a finite diagram conjunction inconsistent with . Replace these new constants by variables. Since says nothing about the new names, it then entails the universal sentenceThe conjunction uses only symbols of , so this is one of the universal -consequences assumed true in . But satisfies , a contradiction. A model of the consistent enlarged theory gives an embedding of into the -reduct of a model of . Negated atomic facts and disequalities in the diagram ensure that this is a structure embedding, not merely a homomorphism.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 23 1 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Let be all universal sentences true in . The theory is consistent. Indeed, if a finite conjunction of sentences from were inconsistent with , then . A finite conjunction of universal sentences is universal, so its negation is equivalent to an existential sentence. By the hypothesis would satisfy , whereas it satisfies .
Choose . Now expand the language by names for every element of and consider its elementary diagram . Its universal consequences in the original language are exactly : any such consequence is true in the named copy of , while any original-language sentence true in already belongs to its elementary diagram. Part (b), applied to and this expanded theory, gives a structure embedding of into a model of . The named copy of is an elementary substructure of . Identifying that copy with , we obtainThus the required target is an elementary extension of , although itself need not be a model of .
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2002 iii Paper 23 3 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
A 1-embedding, or existential embedding, is a structure embedding satisfyingfor every quantifier-free and every parameter tuple from . The forward direction is automatic for an embedding; reflection of existential formulas is the extra property. For an inclusion this says that is simply closed in . This is weaker than requiring an elementary embedding, which preserves all formulas.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 23 2 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Let denote the universal consequences of a theory: all universal first-order sentences entailed by . A first-order structure satisfies exactly when it embeds into a model of , by the compactness theorem applied to its diagram of a structure.
The theory has algebraically prime models if, for every , there are and a structure embedding such that every structure embedding , , factors as for some structure embedding . Neither nor is required to be elementary.
For , simple closure means that every existential quantifier-free formula over which has a witness in has one in :Now take two models with common substructure . Since embeds into , it satisfies . Choose its algebraically prime extension , and embed into both and over .
If holds in , the image of in is a model of . The assumed simple closure of this image transfers a witness from into . Its embedding into then transfers the quantifier-free formula and its witness into . Thus the hypothesis of QET1 is satisfied. The second test follows: has quantifier elimination.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 23 2 c Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
A torsion-free divisible Abelian group is naturally a vector space over the rational numbers: for and , define as the unique with . Divisibility supplies existence and torsion-freeness supplies uniqueness.
In the usual group first-order language , a model of the universal part of DAG is a torsion-free group which is Abelian. If the language instead uses only , a substructure can be merely a torsion-free cancellative commutative monoid. Handle this convention by first taking its Grothendieck group : its elements are formal differences , withThe cancellative commutative monoid condition makes injective. If , then , and torsion-freeness gives ; hence is a torsion-free abelian group. In the full group language simply take .
For form its rational divisible hullConcretely its elements are fractions with , where if . The canonical embedding of into is injective, and is nontrivial, divisible, Abelian and torsion-free, so it satisfies DAG.
Let be any structure embedding into a model of DAG. Extend it first to formal differences if necessary. Its unique extension to the rational divisible hull sends to the unique element with . This is a group homomorphism fixing the given copy of . It is injective: an element mapped to zero has , hence . Thus every embedding into a DAG model factors through .
The zero case must be treated separately: its rational divisible hull is zero and does not satisfy DAG. Instead choose . Given any nontrivial DAG model , choose ; the map embeds into over zero. Therefore DAG has algebraically prime models, including over the trivial base.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 23 3 a Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
A first-order theory is model-complete if every structure embedding between models of is an elementary embedding. Equivalently, whenever and both satisfy , one has :for every first-order formula and every finite tuple . This is preservation of all formulas with parameters, rather than merely all first-order sentences.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2015 iii Paper 23 3 b Solution Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-06
Assume has quantifier elimination, and let be a structure embedding between its models. For any first-order formula , choose a quantifier-free formula equivalent to it modulo . A structure embedding preserves and reflects atomic formulas; induction through the Boolean connectives therefore preserves every quantifier-free formula. ThusThe embedding is elementary. Every theory with quantifier elimination is model-complete.
Universal consequences of a theory 2026-10-06
The universal consequences of a first-order theory are all universal first-order sentences entailed by . Their model class is exactly the class of substructures of models of , up to structure embedding. This characterization follows from the diagram embedding criterion for universal theories.