Meanings
- mathematicsA weaker form of the axiom of choice that states that every countable collection of nonempty sets must have a choice function; equivalently, the statement that the direct product of a countable collection of nonempty sets is nonempty.
we have no way to infer ∃R∀n[P0n→∀x(R_nx→Fx)∧n=Nx:R_nx)] without an axiom of countable choice.
2012, Richard G. Heck, Jr., Reading Frege's Grundgesetze, Oxford University Press, page 271, But, once again, while we can easily prove ∀n[P0n→∃G(∀x(Gx→Fx)∧n=Nx:Gx)]2 more examples
The finite axiom of choice is not an axiom, but rather a theorem that can be proved from the other axioms. In contrast, there are weak forms of the axiom of choice that are not provable. One example is the axiom of countable choice, which states that if A#95;0,A#95;1,#92;dotsA#95;n#92;dots form a denumerable set of nonempty sets, their product is nonempty.[…]The axiom of countable choice is constantly used in analysis; it is often hidden so as not to sow confusion in the minds of the students (who are inclined to accept anything desired) or of the professors (who do not like to shake the foundations of the discipline).
2000, Bruno Poizat, translated by Moses Klein, A Course in Model Theory: An Introduction to Contemporary Mathematical Logic, Springer, page 1692013, Valentin Blot, Colin Riba, On Bar Recursion and Choice in a Classical Setting, Chung-chien Shan (editor), Programming Languages and Systems: 11th International Symposium, APLAS 2013, Proceedings, Springer, LNCS 8301, page 349, We show how Modified Bar-Recursion, a variant of Spector's Bar-Recursion due to Berger and Oliva can be used to realize the Axiom of Countable Choice in Parigot's Lambda-Mu-calculus, a direct-style language for the representation and evaluation of classical proofs.
Synonyms: axiom of denumerable choice
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA weaker form of the axiom of choice that states that every countable collection of nonempty sets must have a choice function; equivalently, the statement that the direct product of a countable collection of nonempty sets is nonempty.
Translations
Finnish numeroituva valinta-aksiooma
- numeroituva valinta-aksioomaaxiom of set theory
Polish aksjomat policzalnego wyboru
- aksjomat policzalnego wyboruaxiom of set theory
Cite this entry
axiom of countable choice. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axiom%20of%20countable%20choice
“axiom of countable choice.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axiom%20of%20countable%20choice. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “axiom of countable choice,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/axiom%20of%20countable%20choice.
Source: axiom of countable choice on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.