Definition df-iota 4867

Description: Define Russell's definition description binder, which can be read as "the unique 𝑥 such that 𝜑," where 𝜑 ordinarily contains 𝑥 as a free variable. Our definition is meaningful only when there is exactly one 𝑥 such that 𝜑 is true (see iotaval 4878); otherwise, it evaluates to the empty set (see iotanul 4882). Russell used the inverted iota symbol ℩ to represent the binder.

Sometimes proofs need to expand an iota-based definition. That is, given "X = the x for which ... x ... x ..." holds, the proof needs to get to "... X ... X ...". A general strategy to do this is to use iotacl 4890 (for unbounded iota). This can be easier than applying a version that applies an explicit substitution, because substituting an iota into its own property always has a bound variable clash which must be first renamed or else guarded with NF.

(Contributed by Andrew Salmon, 30-Jun-2011.)

Assertion

Ref	Expression
df-iota	⊢ (℩𝑥𝜑) = ∪ {𝑦 ∣ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} = {𝑦}}

Distinct variable groups:   𝑥,𝑦   𝜑,𝑦

Allowed substitution hint:   𝜑(𝑥)

Detailed syntax breakdown of Definition df-iota

Step	Hyp	Ref	Expression
1		wph	. . 3 wff 𝜑
2		vx	. . 3 setvar 𝑥
3	1, 2	cio 4865	. 2 class (℩𝑥𝜑)
4	1, 2	cab 2026	. . . . 5 class {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑}
5		vy	. . . . . . 7 setvar 𝑦
6	5	cv 1242	. . . . . 6 class 𝑦
7	6	csn 3375	. . . . 5 class {𝑦}
8	4, 7	wceq 1243	. . . 4 wff {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} = {𝑦}
9	8, 5	cab 2026	. . 3 class {𝑦 ∣ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} = {𝑦}}
10	9	cuni 3580	. 2 class ∪ {𝑦 ∣ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} = {𝑦}}
11	3, 10	wceq 1243	1 wff (℩𝑥𝜑) = ∪ {𝑦 ∣ {𝑥 ∣ 𝜑} = {𝑦}}

This definition is referenced by:  dfiota2  4868  iotaeq  4875  iotabi  4876  iotass  4884  dffv4g  5175  nfvres  5206