Robinson arithmetic
Robinson arithmetic, commonly denoted as Q, is a first-order axiomatic system for the natural numbers formulated in the language consisting of the constant symbol 0, the unary successor function S, and the binary functions for addition + and multiplication ·.[1] It comprises exactly seven axioms that axiomatize the injectivity and basic properties of the successor function, along with the recursive definitions of addition and multiplication, but deliberately omits any form of the induction schema found in stronger systems like Peano arithmetic.[1] These axioms are:- Q1: ∀x ∀y (S(x) = S(y) → x = y)
- Q2: ∀x (S(x) ≠ 0)
- Q3: ∀x (x ≠ 0 → ∃y (x = S(y)))
- Q4: ∀x (x + 0 = x)
- Q5: ∀x ∀y (x + S(y) = S(x + y))
- Q6: ∀x (x · 0 = 0)
- Q7: ∀x ∀y (x · S(y) = x · y + x)[1]
Background
Historical Development
Robinson arithmetic was introduced by Raphael M. Robinson in 1950 as a finitely axiomatized subsystem of Peano arithmetic designed to capture basic properties of natural numbers while facilitating metamathematical analysis.[3] In his abstract presented at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Robinson outlined the system using primitive symbols for zero, successor, addition, and multiplication, emphasizing its role in demonstrating essential undecidability with a minimal set of axioms.[3] The development of Robinson arithmetic emerged from early 20th-century efforts to formalize arithmetic, influenced by David Hilbert's program, which sought to establish the consistency of mathematical systems through finitary methods to secure their foundations against paradoxes and foundational crises.[4] Following Kurt Gödel's 1931 incompleteness theorems, which revealed inherent limitations in strong formal systems like Peano arithmetic, logicians began weakening the axioms to study the boundaries of provability and decidability in arithmetic.[4] Robinson's work built on these foundations, providing a simple, finite axiomatization interpretable in broader theories while retaining undecidable properties, as influenced by prior studies from Alfred Tarski and Andrzej Mostowski.[3] Post-1950, Robinson arithmetic underwent refinements by subsequent logicians, notably Joseph R. Shoenfield in the 1960s, who analyzed variants of the system in his foundational text on mathematical logic to explore representability of recursive functions and model-theoretic properties.[5] Shoenfield's presentations, including a closely related theory denoted N, emphasized the system's adequacy for metamathematical investigations while highlighting its weaknesses compared to full Peano arithmetic, solidifying its role as a benchmark in proof theory and computability studies.[5]Relation to Peano Arithmetic
Peano arithmetic (PA) serves as the canonical first-order theory formalizing the properties of the natural numbers, incorporating axioms for the successor function (including that zero is not a successor and successor is injective), recursive definitions of addition and multiplication, and an axiom schema of mathematical induction applicable to every first-order formula in the language. This induction schema, being infinite, endows PA with the expressive power to prove a wide range of arithmetic statements, including the totality and basic properties of arithmetic operations.[6] Robinson arithmetic (Q), introduced by Raphael M. Robinson in 1950, functions as a finitely axiomatized subsystem of PA that omits the induction schema entirely.[1] Instead, Q consists of a finite set of seven axioms covering the successor function, the recursive definitions of addition and multiplication, thereby interpreting all non-inductive axioms of PA while lacking the full strength of induction.[7] This finite axiomatization renders Q weaker than PA, as it fails to prove numerous theorems dependent on induction, such as the associativity of addition—namely, the statement \forall x \forall y \forall z \, (x + (y + z)) = ((x + y) + z)—which holds in the standard model but is unprovable in Q.[7] Similarly, Q does not establish commutativity of addition or multiplication without additional assumptions.[8] Despite its relative weakness, Q remains sufficiently robust to encode the syntax of first-order formal systems and represent primitive recursive functions, allowing it to serve as a minimal framework for demonstrating Gödel's incompleteness theorems without the full machinery of PA.[1] In essence, while Q interprets the core operational axioms of PA, its absence of the induction schema prevents it from capturing the complete inductive structure of arithmetic, highlighting a precise boundary in axiomatic strength between the two theories.Axiomatization
Standard Axioms
Robinson arithmetic, denoted Q, is formulated in the first-order language of arithmetic consisting of the constant symbol 0 for zero, the unary function symbol S for the successor operation, the binary function symbols + for addition and · for multiplication, the binary relation symbol = for equality, and variables ranging over natural numbers.[9] The theory Q is defined by the following seven axioms, which provide a finite axiomatization capturing the basic structure of the natural numbers and the operations of addition and multiplication:-
Q1: \forall x \forall y \, (S x = S y \to x = y)
This asserts the injectivity of the successor function, meaning distinct numbers have distinct successors.[9] -
Q2: \forall x \, (S x \neq 0)
This axiom states that the successor of any number is never zero, ensuring no cycles or loops back to zero in the successor chain.[9] -
Q3: \forall x \, (x \neq 0 \to \exists y \, (S y = x))
Every natural number except zero is the successor of some natural number, guaranteeing that the structure covers all numbers via successive applications of S starting from 0.[9] -
Q4: \forall x \, (x + 0 = x)
Addition by zero acts as the identity, so adding zero leaves any number unchanged.[9] -
Q5: \forall x \forall y \, (x + S y = S (x + y))
This recursive axiom defines addition with the successor: adding the successor of y to x yields the successor of (x + y).[9] -
Q6: \forall x \, (x \cdot 0 = 0)
Multiplication by zero always yields zero.[9] -
Q7: \forall x \forall y \, (x \cdot S y = (x \cdot y) + x)
Multiplication by the successor is defined recursively as the previous product plus x.[9]