Elements of Set Theory

Daniel Gruszczynski

Axioms of Set Theory

A1 - Axiom of Extensionality. If two sets have exactly the same members, then they
are equal.
A B [x (x A x B) A = B]
A2 - Empty Set Axiom. There exists a set having no members.
B x x 6 B
A3 - Pairing Axiom. For any sets u and v, there is a set having just u and v as
members.
u v B x (x B x = u or x = v)
A4.0 - Union Axiom. For any sets a and b, there is a set whose members are the sets
belonging either to a, b, or both.
a b B x (x B x a or x b)
A5 - Power Set Axiom. For any set a, there is a set whose members are exactly the
subsets of a.
a B x (x B x a)
D1 - Definition of subset. A subset x of set A, denoted x A, is a set whose members
are also members of A.
t (t x t A)
D2 - Definition of null set. is the set having no members.
Remark. By A2, we know that such a set exists, and by A1, we know that if two sets
have no members, then they are equal. Thus, the null set refers to a unique set and is
well-defined.
D3 - Definition of pair set. For any sets u and v, the pair set {u, v} is the set whose
only members are u and v.
D4 - Definition of union set. For any sets a and b, the union a b is the set whose
members are those sets belonging either to a, b, or both.
D5 - Definition of power set. For any set a, the power set Pa is the set whose
members are exactly the subsets of a.
Remark. As with D2, A3-A5 establish the existence of the above sets (respectively) and
A1 establishes the uniqueness of them. Hence, D3-D5 are also well-defined.