Metalogic, Incompleteness, Help

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SUMMARY

This discussion centers on the challenges faced by an undergraduate philosophy student at METU regarding Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems, specifically as outlined in Taymond M. Smullyan's book. The student seeks assistance in solving complex questions related to Peano Arithmetic (PA), including representability of finite sets, the expressibility of certain sets, and the implications of Gödel sentences. Key topics include the diagonal function, representable sets, and the relationship between provability and expressibility in PA.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Peano Arithmetic (PA)
  • Familiarity with Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems
  • Knowledge of representability and definability in formal systems
  • Basic concepts of logic and proof techniques
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  • Research the properties of Peano Arithmetic (PA) and its implications for formal logic
  • Study Gödel's Incompleteness Theorems in detail, focusing on their proofs and applications
  • Explore the concept of the diagonal function and its role in formal systems
  • Investigate the criteria for a set to be representable in formal arithmetic systems
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Philosophy students, logicians, and mathematicians interested in formal logic, particularly those studying Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems and Peano Arithmetic.

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I am a undergraduate philosophy student at METU (Turkey). I took a phd course called Foundations of Logic 2. Our book is Taymond M. Smullyan : “Gödel’s incompleteness Theorems”. I have a take-home exam due to this Friday. I have to solve four questions. Yet, I am unable to solve any of them. If you help me to solve any of these questions, I will be very glad because without this exam I cannot be graduate.


Questions:
NOTE: the overlined “n” – n whith a dash over it – is symbolised as "nn" here because of lack of symbols. Thus, nn =overdashed-n. And, V1 is variable.
1.) a) Prove that all finite sets are representable in PA(Peano Arithmetic).
b) Find a formula F(v1) such that F(v1) expresses the set of even numbers but represent only the set of numbers divisible by six in PA.
c) how can part (b) generalized?
d) Is the set A={n : En[nn] is False} expressible?
e) Find a formula F(v1) which represents N (set of natural numbers) in PA but ∀v1F(v1) is not provable in PA.
2.) Find the mistake in the following “proof”.
Claim : The set P of Gödel numbers of sentences provable in PA is not representable in PA.
Proof : Assume on the contrary that there is a formula H(v1) which represents P:
n∈P ↔ PA ⊢ H(nn)
let X be a fixed point of the formula ~H(v1), that is;
PA⊢X ≡ ~H(X) --- the second X here is overdashed)
Now,
PA ⊢ X ↔ g(X) ∈ P ↔ PA ⊢ H(X) ↔ PA ⊬ X
A contradiction. Hence P is not representable.
3.) Let S be an extension of the system ( R ). Prove that every representable set A has a Gödel sentence with respect to S.
Hint: First prove that : “If the diagonal function d(x) is acceptable in S, then for every set A representable in S, there is a Gödel sentence for A”. Then show that d is acceptable in S.
4.) Prove : “If the diagonal function d(x) is strongly definable in S and S is inconsistent, then the set P is not definable in S.
 
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You are going to have to show some work yourself. At the very least what is "Peano's Arithmetic" and what properties do you need to prove that a set is representable?
 

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