2.II.16F

Logic and Set Theory
Part II, 2005

Give the inductive and the synthetic definitions of ordinal addition, and prove that they are equivalent. Give an example to show that ordinal addition is not commutative.

Which of the following assertions about ordinals α,β\alpha, \beta and γ\gamma are always true, and which can be false? Give proofs or counterexamples as appropriate.

(i) α+(β+γ)=(α+β)+γ\alpha+(\beta+\gamma)=(\alpha+\beta)+\gamma.

(ii) If α\alpha and β\beta are limit ordinals then α+β=β+α\alpha+\beta=\beta+\alpha.

(iii) If α+β=ω1\alpha+\beta=\omega_{1} then α=0\alpha=0 or α=ω1\alpha=\omega_{1}.

(iv) If α+β=ω1\alpha+\beta=\omega_{1} then β=0\beta=0 or β=ω1\beta=\omega_{1}.