Formalization of the Axiom of Choice and its Equivalent Theorems

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the formalization of the axiom of choice and several of its famous equivalent theorems in Morse-Kelley set theory. These theorems include Tukey's lemma, the Hausdorff maximal principle, the maximal principle, Zermelo's postulate, Zorn's lemma and the well-ordering theorem. We prove the above theorems by the axiom of choice in turn, and finally prove the axiom of choice by Zermelo's postulate and the well-ordering theorem, thus completing the cyclic proof of equivalence between them. The proofs are checked formally using the Coq proof assistant in which Morse-Kelley set theory is formalized. The whole process of formal proof demonstrates that the Coq-based machine proving of mathematics theorem is highly reliable and rigorous. The formal work of this paper is enough for most applications, especially in set theory, topology and algebra.