Principle of Recursive Definition/General Result

Theorem
Let $\N$ be the natural numbers.

Let $T$ be a class (which may be a set).

Let $a \in T$.

Let $g: T \to T$ be a mapping. Let $p \in \N$.

Let $p^\ge$ be the upper closure of $p$ in $\N$:
 * $p^\ge := \set {x \in \N: x \ge p} = \set {p, p + 1, p + 2, \ldots}$

Then there exists exactly one mapping $f: p^\ge \to T$ such that:


 * $\forall x \in p^\ge: \map f x = \begin{cases}

a & : x = p \\ \map g {\map f n} & : x = n + 1 \end{cases}$

Proof
Consider $\N$, defined as a naturally ordered semigroup $\struct {S, \circ, \preceq}$.

For simplicity, let $S' = p^\ge$.

First an admissible mapping is defined.

Let $n \in S'$.

The mapping $h: \closedint p n \to T$ is defined as an admissible mapping for $n$ :


 * $\forall r \in \closedint p n: \map h r = \begin{cases}

a & : r = p \\ \map g {\map h y} & : r = y \circ 1 \end{cases}$

where $\closedint p n$ denotes an integer interval of $S$:
 * $\closedint p n = \set {r \in S: p \le r \le n}$

Define:
 * $A = \set {x \in S': x \text { has exactly one admissible mapping} }$

We now use the Principle of Mathematical Induction for a Naturally Ordered Semigroup to prove that $A = S'$.

Basis for the Induction
Consider the integer interval $\closedint p p = \set p$.

Let the mapping $h_p: \set p \to T$ be defined as:
 * $\map {h_p} p = a$

By definition, $h_p$ is the unique admissible mapping for $p$.

Thus $p \in A$.

This is the basis for the induction.

Induction Hypothesis
Let $n \in A$ such that $p \le n$.

That is, there exists a unique admissible mapping for $n$.

This is the induction hypothesis.

Induction Step
From the induction hypothesis:


 * Let $h$ be the unique admissible mapping for $n$.

By Sum with One is Immediate Successor in Naturally Ordered Semigroup:
 * $n \circ 1 \notin \closedint p n$

So by Closed Interval of Naturally Ordered Semigroup with Successor equals Union with Successor:
 * $\closedint p {n \circ 1} = \closedint p n \cup \set {n \circ 1}$

So we can define a mapping $\phi: \closedint p {n \circ 1} \to T$ by:


 * $\forall r \in \closedint p {n \circ 1}: \map \phi r = \begin{cases}

\map h r & : r \in \closedint p n \\ \map g {\map h n} & : r = n \circ 1 \end{cases}$

By definition, $\phi$ is an admissible mapping for $n \circ 1$.

Let $\phi'$ be an admissible mapping for $n \circ 1$.

Uniqueness of $\phi$ is then proved by showing that $\phi' = \phi$, as follows.

The restriction of $\phi'$ to $\closedint p n $ is an admissible mapping for $n$

Thus by the induction hypothesis:
 * $\phi' {\restriction_{\closedint p n} } = \phi {\restriction_{\closedint p n} }$

It follows that:

Thus as:
 * $\phi' {\restriction_{\closedint p n} } = \phi {\restriction_{\closedint p n} }$

and:
 * $\map {\phi'} {n \circ 1} = \map \phi {n \circ 1}$

it follows by Equality of Mappings that:
 * $\phi' = \phi$

Thus:
 * $n \circ 1 \in A$

Thus by the Principle of Mathematical Induction for a Naturally Ordered Semigroup it follows that:
 * $A = S'$

For all $n \in S'$, let $h_n$ be the unique admissible mapping for $n$.

Let $n \ge p$.

The restriction of $h_{n \circ 1}$ to $\closedint p n$ is an admissible mapping for $n$.

Therefore:
 * $h_{n \circ 1} {\restriction_{\closedint p n} } = h_n$

So:
 * $\forall r \in \closedint p n: \map {h_{n \circ 1} } r = \map {h_n} r$

and in particular:
 * $\map {h_{n \circ 1} } n = \map {h_n} n$

Let $f: S' \to T$ be the mapping defined as:
 * $\forall n \in S': \map f n = \map {h_n} n$

Then:
 * $\map f p = \map {h_p} p = a$

and, for all $n \in S'$:

Thus $f: S' \to T$ is a mapping with the desired properties.

Let $f'$ be any mapping satisfying the desired properties.

It remains to be proved that:
 * $f' = f$

that is, that $f$ is the only mapping with the desired properties.

By the foregoing, for all $n \in S'$, the restriction of $f'$ to $\closedint p n$ is an admissible mapping for $n$.

Therefore:
 * $f' = h_n$

So:
 * $\forall n \in S': \map {f'} n = \map {h_n} n = \map f n$

and the proof is complete.