# Proving the existence of $\emptyset$ using the Axiom of Infinity?

In my Set Theory notes, one exercise is

Prove the existence of $\emptyset$ using the Axiom of Infinity.

I'm not even sure where to begin here. The Axiom of Infinity is presented to us in the form $$\exists x \, (\exists y \quad y \in x \, \land \, \forall z \, (z \in x \to \{z\} \in x)).$$ To me this is saying there exists a non-empty set where the singleton of every element in the set is also in the set.

Now since the Axiom of Infinity only guarantees the existence of a non-empty set, how can I use it to prove the existence of an empty set?

The only thing I can think of is to fix the $x$ the Axiom guarantees exists and use Separation to obtain $\{z \in x \, | \, \{z\} \not \in x \}$. But this is using Separation, and if I were to use Separation I would just say $\emptyset= \{x \in X \, | \, x \neq x \}$ where $X$ is any old set.

If anyone could point me in the right direction, that would be very helpful! Cheers.

• Once you know there is some set, then separation (as you show) lets you say that the empty set exists. But without some existence axiom, you do not know that there are any sets at all. – GEdgar Sep 19 '17 at 0:35
• I think the Existence axiom ($\exists x \, (x = x)$) is assumed for every proof in my course. But I think the point of the exercise is to show $\emptyset$ exists using some clever argument about Infinity. – Tristan Batchler Sep 19 '17 at 0:36
• Of course you did not tell us the axioms you are working from, so we can only guess at how to answer your question. – GEdgar Sep 19 '17 at 0:38
• The axiom of infinity usually specified that $y$ is in fact the empty set. – Asaf Karagila Sep 20 '17 at 5:35

But this is using Separation, and if I were to use Separation I would just say $\emptyset= \{x \in X \, | \, x \neq x \}$ where $X$ is any old set.
This is the key. It works, but where are you going to get $X$? How do you know that there exists a set? That's where the exercise gives you a hint in the right direction.
• Oh, I see. I think this is a little underwhelming. For example, throughout the course so far we have assumed the most basic Existence axiom ($\exists x \, (x = x)$). I'm not sure why my lecturer would give us the exercise with this particular argument in mind considering we've always had that argument under out belts (there exists a set). – Tristan Batchler Sep 19 '17 at 0:41