In mathematics, primitive recursive set functions or primitive recursive ordinal functions are analogs of primitive recursive functions, defined for sets or ordinals rather than natural numbers. They were introduced by Jensen & Karp (1971).
Definition
A primitive recursive set function is a function from sets to sets that can be obtained from the following basic functions by repeatedly applying the following rules of substitution and recursion:
The basic functions are:
- Projection: Pn,m (x1, ..., xn) = xm for 0 ≤ m ≤ n
- Zero: F(x) = 0
- Adjoining an element to a set: F(x, y) = x ∪ {y}
- Testing membership: C(x, y, u, v) = x if u ∈ v, and C(x, y, u, v) = y otherwise.
The rules for generating new functions by substitution are
- F(x, y) = G(x, H(x), y)
- F(x, y) = G(H(x), y)
where x and y are finite sequences of variables.
The rule for generating new functions by recursion is
- F(z, x) = G(∪u ∈ z F(u, x), z, x)
A primitive recursive ordinal function is defined in the same way, except that the initial function F(x, y) = x ∪ {y} is replaced by F(x) = x ∪ {x} (the successor of x). The primitive recursive ordinal functions are the same as the primitive recursive set functions that map ordinals to ordinals.
Examples of primitive recursive set functions:
- TC, the function assigning to a set its transitive closure.
- Given hereditarily finite , the constant function .
Extensions
One can also add more initial functions to obtain a larger class of functions. For example, the ordinal function is not primitive recursive, because the constant function with value ω (or any other infinite set) is not primitive recursive, so one might want to add this constant function to the initial functions.
The notion of a set function being primitive recursive in ω has the same definition as that of primitive recursion, except with ω as a parameter kept fixed, not altered by the primitive recursion schemata.
Examples of functions primitive recursive in ω:
- .
- The function assigning to the th level of Godel's constructible hierarchy.
Primitive recursive closure
Let be the function , and for all , and . Let Lα denote the αth stage of Godel's constructible universe. Lα is closed under primitive recursive set functions iff α is closed under each for all .
References
- Jensen, Ronald B.; Karp, Carol (1971), "Primitive recursive set functions", Axiomatic Set Theory, Proc. Sympos. Pure Math., vol. XIII, Part I, Providence, R.I.: Amer. Math. Soc., pp. 143–176, ISBN 9780821802458, MR 0281602
Inline
- ^ R. B. Jensen, Manuscript on fine structure, inner model theory, and the core model below one Woodin cardinal (pp. 22--31). Accessed 2022-12-07