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Definitions: Let $\Lambda$ be a set of logical axioms and $\Gamma$ be a sets of well-formed formulas (in propositional logic). We say that $\Gamma\cup\Lambda$ tautologically implies $\varphi$ if for every truth assignment satisfying every member of $\Gamma\cup\Lambda$ also satisfies $\varphi.$

We say that $\Gamma\vdash \varphi$ if there exists a finite sequence $\langle a_0,\dots,a_n\rangle$ in $\Gamma$ such that $a_n=\varphi$ and for each $k\leq n,$ either

$(1)$ $a_k$ is in $\Gamma\cup\Lambda,$ or

$(2)$ $a_k$ is obtained by modus ponens from two earlier formulas in the sequence, that is, for some $i$ and $j$ less than $k,$ $a_j$ is $a_i\to a_k.$

I'm reading Enderton's logic book. In page $115,$ he stated the following theorem.

Theorem $24$B: $\Gamma\vdash \varphi$ iff $\Gamma\cup \Lambda$ tautologically implies $\varphi$.

The author provided the following proof to $(\Rightarrow)$ direction:

This depends on the obvious fact that $\{\alpha,\alpha\to\beta\}$ tautologically implies $\beta.$ Suppose that we have a truth assignment $v$ satisfies every member of $\Gamma\cup \Lambda.$ By induction we can see that $v$ satisfies any theorem of $\Gamma.$ The inductive step uses exactly the above-mentioned fact obvious fact.

Question: I fail to prove the bolded sentence. In particular, I do not see how to use induction.

My attempt: Let $v$ be a truth assignment that satisfies all members of $\Gamma\cup\Lambda.$ By assumption, let $\langle a_0,...,a_n\rangle$ be a finite sequence in $\Gamma$ such that $a_n=\varphi.$

For each $k\leq n,$ if $a_k$ is in $\Gamma\cup\Lambda,$ then $v$ will satisfy $a_k.$

We use induction to show that if $a_k$ is obtained by modus ponens from two earlier formulas, say $a_i$ and $a_j$ for $i$ and $j$ less than $k,$ then $v$ will satisfy $a_k.$

Let $a_k$ be the first formula that is obtained by modus ponens from $a_i$ and $a_j$ where $i$ and $j$ are less than $k.$ Then $a_i$ and $a_j$ are elements of $\Gamma\cup\Lambda.$ Therefore, $v$ will satisfy $a_i$ and $a_j.$ By modus ponen, $v$ will satisfy $a_k.$

Our inductive hypothesis is that if $a_k$ is obtained by modus ponens from two earlier formulas, then $v$ will satisfy $a_k.$

Suppose that $a_{k+1}$ is the next formula obtained by modus ponens from two earlier formulas, say $a_i$ and $a_j$, where $i$ and $j$ are less than $k+1.$ By inductive hypothesis, $v$ will satisfy both $a_i$ and $a_j.$ Therefore, $v$ will satisfy $a_{k+1}.$

Is my proof correct?

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  • $\begingroup$ I can't read the last paragraph, there is a typo in some LaTeX command. Please, fix it. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 13:48
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    $\begingroup$ Not exaclty; consider $v$ that satisfies $\Gamma \cup \Lambda$, and assume that it also satisfies $a_k$, for $k <n$. Thus, you have to prove that $v$ satisfies also $a_n$. Three cases: (i) $a_n \in \Gamma$: obvious; (ii) $a_n \in \Lambda$: obvious; (iii) $a_n$ is obtained by modus ponens from $a_i$ and $a_j$ ($i,j < n$) and $a_j$ is $a_i \to a_n$. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 14:01
  • $\begingroup$ Your proof in the OP is not completely clear, but there are good ideas. Your induction is on what? What is your hypothesis? An your thesis? See my answer for a rigorous proof (actually, my proof is just an expansion of Mauro ALLEGRANZA's comment, we wrote in the same time) $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 14:38

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You want to prove that, given a sequence $\langle a_0, \dots, a_n \rangle$ obtained as you have described (let us call it a derivation) and a truth assignment $v$ that satisfies every member of $\Gamma \cup \Lambda$, then $v$ satisfies $a_n$. The proof is by (strong) induction on $n \in \mathbb{N}$.

So, $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and by induction hypothesis we suppose that $v$ satisfies $a_k$ for all $0 \leq k < n$. There are two cases, according to the definition of derivation:

  1. either $a_n \in \Gamma$ and then $v$ satisfies $a_n$ by hypothesis;
  2. or $a_n \in \Lambda$ and then $a_n$ is a logical axiom, that is a tautology, hence every truth assignment satisfies $a_n$, in particular $v$ does it;
  3. or $a_n$ is obtained by modus ponens from two earlier formulas in the sequence, that is, for some $0 \leq i, j < n$, we have $a_j = a_i \to a_n$; by induction hypothesis, $v$ satisfies $a_i$ and $a_j$. According to the truth table of $\to$, when $a_i$ and $a_i \to a_n$ are both true, by necessity $a_n$ is true. Therefore, $v$ satisfies $a_n$.
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  • $\begingroup$ For second case when $a_n\in\Lambda,$ can't we say that since $v$ satisfies every member of $\Lambda$ and $a_n\in \Lambda,$ therefore $v$ satisfies $a_n$? $\endgroup$
    – Idonknow
    Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 14:31
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, this is correct and this is what I wrote. Actually, I gave a little bit more information: I also explained why $v$ satisfies any member of $\Lambda$. Note that your hypothesis does not say that $v$ satisfies $\Lambda$, so you should explain in the proof why $v$ satisfies $\Lambda$. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 14:43
  • $\begingroup$ I thought my hypothesis is $v$ satisfies every member of $\Gamma\cup\Lambda?$ Since $\Lambda\subseteq \Gamma\cup\Lambda,$ wouldn't this imply that $v$ satisfies every member of $\lambda?$ $\endgroup$
    – Idonknow
    Commented Feb 1, 2018 at 14:51
  • $\begingroup$ @Idonknow - Since $\Lambda$ is a set of tautologies, it is useless (but not wrong) to suppose that the assignment $v$ satisfies every member of $\Lambda$, because by definition of tautology all the assignments (in particular, $v$) satisfy every member of $\Lambda$. You are supposing something that is true by definition: there is no in doing that, it is correct and it will work but there won't be any benefit from it. Anyway, it is just a detail in the proof. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 2, 2018 at 15:26

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