Definition df-sb 2061

Description: Define proper substitution. For our notation, we use [𝑡 / 𝑥]𝜑 to mean "the wff that results from the proper substitution of 𝑡 for 𝑥 in the wff 𝜑". That is, 𝑡 properly replaces 𝑥. For example, [𝑡 / 𝑥]𝑧 ∈ 𝑥 is the same as 𝑧 ∈ 𝑡 (when 𝑥 and 𝑧 are distinct), as shown in elsb2 2116.

Our notation was introduced in Haskell B. Curry's Foundations of Mathematical Logic (1977), p. 316 and is frequently used in textbooks of lambda calculus and combinatory logic. This notation improves the common but ambiguous notation, "𝜑(𝑡) is the wff that results when 𝑡 is properly substituted for 𝑥 in 𝜑(𝑥)". For example, if the original 𝜑(𝑥) is 𝑥 = 𝑡, then 𝜑(𝑡) is 𝑡 = 𝑡, from which we obtain that 𝜑(𝑥) is 𝑥 = 𝑥. So what exactly does 𝜑(𝑥) mean? Curry's notation solves this problem.

A very similar notation, namely (𝑦 ∣ 𝑥)𝜑, was introduced in Bourbaki's Set Theory (Chapter 1, Description of Formal Mathematic, 1953).

In most books, proper substitution has a somewhat complicated recursive definition with multiple cases based on the occurrences of free and bound variables in the wff. Instead, we use a single formula that is exactly equivalent and gives us a direct definition. We later prove that our definition has the properties we expect of proper substitution (see Theorems sbequ 2079, sbcom2 2154 and sbid2v 2503).

Note that our definition is valid even when 𝑥 and 𝑡 are replaced with the same variable, as sbid 2240 shows. We achieve this by applying twice Tarski's definition sb6 2081 which is valid for disjoint variables, and introducing a dummy variable 𝑦 which isolates 𝑥 from 𝑡, as in dfsb7 2268 with respect to sb5 2260. We can also achieve this by having 𝑥 free in the first conjunct and bound in the second, as the alternate definition dfsb1 2475 shows. Another version that mixes free and bound variables is dfsb3 2488. When 𝑥 and 𝑡 are distinct, we can express proper substitution with the simpler expressions of sb5 2260 and sb6 2081.

Note that the occurrences of a given variable in the definiens are either all bound (𝑥, 𝑦) or all free (𝑡). Also note that the definiens uses only primitive symbols.

This double level definition will make several proofs using it appear as doubled. Alternately, one could often first prove as a lemma the same theorem with a disjoint variable condition on the substitute and the substituted variables, and then prove the original theorem by applying this lemma twice in a row. (Contributed by NM, 10-May-1993.) Revised from the original definition dfsb1 2475. (Revised by BJ, 22-Dec-2020.)

Assertion

Ref	Expression
df-sb	⊢ ([𝑡 / 𝑥]𝜑 ↔ ∀𝑦(𝑦 = 𝑡 → ∀𝑥(𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑)))

Distinct variable groups:   𝑥,𝑦   𝑦,𝑡   𝜑,𝑦

Allowed substitution hints:   𝜑(𝑥,𝑡)

Detailed syntax breakdown of Definition df-sb

Step	Hyp	Ref	Expression
1		wph	. . 3 wff 𝜑
2		vx	. . 3 setvar 𝑥
3		vt	. . 3 setvar 𝑡
4	1, 2, 3	wsb 2060	. 2 wff [𝑡 / 𝑥]𝜑
5		vy	. . . . 5 setvar 𝑦
6	5, 3	weq 1959	. . . 4 wff 𝑦 = 𝑡
7	2, 5	weq 1959	. . . . . 6 wff 𝑥 = 𝑦
8	7, 1	wi 4	. . . . 5 wff (𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑)
9	8, 2	wal 1532	. . . 4 wff ∀𝑥(𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑)
10	6, 9	wi 4	. . 3 wff (𝑦 = 𝑡 → ∀𝑥(𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑))
11	10, 5	wal 1532	. 2 wff ∀𝑦(𝑦 = 𝑡 → ∀𝑥(𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑))
12	4, 11	wb 205	1 wff ([𝑡 / 𝑥]𝜑 ↔ ∀𝑦(𝑦 = 𝑡 → ∀𝑥(𝑥 = 𝑦 → 𝜑)))

This definition is referenced by:  sbt  2062  stdpc4  2064  sbi1  2067  spsbe  2078  sbequ  2079  sb6  2081  sbal  2152  hbsbw  2162  sbequ1  2233  sbequ2  2234  dfsb7  2268  sbn  2269  sbrim  2293  nfsbvOLD  2319  cbvsbvf  2355  sb4b  2469  bj-ssbeq  36065  bj-ssbid2ALT  36075  bj-ssbid1ALT  36077