Proving Uniqueness of Addition in Natural Numbers

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on proving the uniqueness of addition in natural numbers as presented in E. Landau's "Foundations of Analysis." The theorem states that for any two natural numbers x and y, there exists a unique sum x+y, defined by two properties: the successor function and the preservation of addition under successors. The user successfully demonstrated the uniqueness by assuming two equal sums and applying axioms of natural numbers, ultimately confirming that the two sums must be equal. The original proof in the book employs induction, which the user acknowledges as a potential oversight in their approach.

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  • Understanding of natural numbers and their properties
  • Familiarity with the successor function in mathematical logic
  • Knowledge of axiomatic systems, particularly Peano's axioms
  • Basic proof techniques, including proof by induction
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Dansuer
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Homework Statement


Hi everybody, I'm going through the book Fondations of Analysis by E. Landau. I'm trying to prove theorems by myself and then checking if they are correct. But i proved this theorem in a different way then the book and i need a check. thank you :wink:

Theorem 4
To every pair of numbers x,y we may assign an unique number x+y such that

1) for every x x+1=x'

2) for every x and y x+y'=(x+y)'

Homework Equations


Axiom 2

for each x there exist an unique number called the successor of x, denoted by x'

Axiom 4

if x'=y' then x=y

The Attempt at a Solution


I proved existence in the same way of the book and so i know it's right.
For uniqueness i did this.

Let's take x,y to be arbitrary natural numbers.
We assume there there exist z and w such that x+y = z and x+y = w and that they satisfies properties 1) and 2).
By axiom 2

(x+y)' = z and (x+y)' = w'

Then by property 2)
x+y' = (x+y)' = z'
= w'

and by axiom 4

z = w

The book prove this by induction, so maybe i missed something.:biggrin:
 
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Nevermind i see where it's wrong
 

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