A formula for any real number, maybe

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Hanson, James E., Watson, Connor
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Hanson, James E.
Watson, Connor
author_facet Hanson, James E.
Watson, Connor
contents We discuss how to write down three specific natural numbers $A$, $B$, $C$ such that for any real number $r$ you've probably ever thought of, it is consistent with $\mathsf{ZFC}$ set theory that $$\def\Rb{\mathbb{R}}\def\Nb{\mathbb{N}}r = \log\left(\sup_{x_0,x_1 \in \Rb} \inf_{x_2 \in \Rb} \sup_{x_3 \in \Rb}\inf_{x_4 \in \Rb}\sup_{m \in \Nb}\inf_{n_0,\dots,n_{A} \in \Nb} x^2_0 \begin{bmatrix} \phantom{+}(n_0 - 2)^2 + (n_1-m)^2 \\ + n_2 + (n_B - n_C)^2 \\ + n_3 \sum_{k=0}^4 ( x_k - \frac{n_{k+5}}{1+n_4} +n_4)^2 \\ + \sum_{i,j = 0}^B (n_{9+2^i3^j} - n_i^{n_j})^2 \end{bmatrix} \right).$$ We also discuss why it's possible, assuming the existence of certain large cardinals, for there to be a real number $s$ which cannot be the value of this formula for our particular $A$, $B$, $C$. This involves set-theoretic mice.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_02384
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A formula for any real number, maybe
Hanson, James E.
Watson, Connor
Logic
History and Overview
Primary 03E35, Secondary 03E45, 03E15, 03E55
We discuss how to write down three specific natural numbers $A$, $B$, $C$ such that for any real number $r$ you've probably ever thought of, it is consistent with $\mathsf{ZFC}$ set theory that $$\def\Rb{\mathbb{R}}\def\Nb{\mathbb{N}}r = \log\left(\sup_{x_0,x_1 \in \Rb} \inf_{x_2 \in \Rb} \sup_{x_3 \in \Rb}\inf_{x_4 \in \Rb}\sup_{m \in \Nb}\inf_{n_0,\dots,n_{A} \in \Nb} x^2_0 \begin{bmatrix} \phantom{+}(n_0 - 2)^2 + (n_1-m)^2 \\ + n_2 + (n_B - n_C)^2 \\ + n_3 \sum_{k=0}^4 ( x_k - \frac{n_{k+5}}{1+n_4} +n_4)^2 \\ + \sum_{i,j = 0}^B (n_{9+2^i3^j} - n_i^{n_j})^2 \end{bmatrix} \right).$$ We also discuss why it's possible, assuming the existence of certain large cardinals, for there to be a real number $s$ which cannot be the value of this formula for our particular $A$, $B$, $C$. This involves set-theoretic mice.
title A formula for any real number, maybe
topic Logic
History and Overview
Primary 03E35, Secondary 03E45, 03E15, 03E55
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.02384