Definition:Unique

Definition
Suppose $A$ and $B$ are two objects whose definition is in terms of a given set of properties.

If it can be demonstrated that, in order for both $A$ and $B$ to fulfil those properties, it is necessary for $A$ to be equal to $B$, then $A$ (and indeed $B$) is unique.

Equivalently, there is one and only one, or exactly one, such object.

Thus, intuitively, an object is unique if there is precisely one such object.

Unique Existential Quantifier
In the language of predicate logic, uniqueness can be defined as follows:

Let $\map P x$ be a propositional function and let $x$ and $y$ be objects.

Also known as
Uniqueness can also be defined as:


 * An object $x$ is unique (in a given context) :
 * there exists at most one $x$
 * and:
 * there exists at least one $x$.

Thus the phrase at most and at least one can occasionally be seen to mean unique.

Such a definition can be a useful technique for proving uniqueness.

Also see

 * Definition:Singleton