Definable Definable

Definable - Definition and Overview

In mathematics, a mathematical object X of some type T is definable, if there exists some predicate P(x) which is expressible using a finite string of mathematical symbols drawn from a finite language, such that P(X) is true and P(Y) is false for all Y of type T such that X <> Y.

All computable objects are definable, but not all definable objects are computable.

Thus, we have definable numbers, definable sets, definable sequences, definable functions, etc.

Classical mathematics permits (and requires) the existence of undefinable objects. Some people find this philosophically disquietening, questioning how an object can be said to exist if no mathematical statement can be used to uniquely identify it.

As a result, a few mathematicians have developed systems of mathematics that do not involve undefinable objects.

Notably, in a system of mathematics in which everything is definable, all sets are countable.

Example Usage of Definable

paulrandal: @cfrandall Ah! That's a great one. For all of these topics I have nicely Definable, strong views, and they'll all produce good arguments.
parrotletguy: A great bird record keeping program with all Definable fields http://bit.ly/3nykgr
MattB_AD: @janaiblog A word that's not Definable has no meaning, by definition. :-P
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