Equivalence of Definitions of Matroid Circuit Axioms/Condition 3 Implies Condition 1

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Theorem

Let $S$ be a finite set.

Let $\mathscr C$ be a non-empty set of subsets of $S$.

Let $\mathscr C$ satisfy the circuit axioms:

\((\text C 1)\)	$:$							\(\ds \O \notin \mathscr C \)
\((\text C 2)\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall C_1, C_2 \in \mathscr C:\)				\(\ds C_1 \ne C_2 \implies C_1 \nsubseteq C_2 \)
\((\text C 3'')\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall X \subseteq S \land \forall x \in S:\)				\(\ds \paren {\forall C \in \mathscr C : C \nsubseteq X} \implies \paren {\exists \text{ at most one } C \in \mathscr C : C \subseteq X \cup \set x} \)

Then:

$\mathscr C$ satisfies the circuit axioms:

\((\text C 1)\)	$:$							\(\ds \O \notin \mathscr C \)
\((\text C 2)\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall C_1, C_2 \in \mathscr C:\)				\(\ds C_1 \ne C_2 \implies C_1 \nsubseteq C_2 \)
\((\text C 3)\)	$:$			\(\ds \forall C_1, C_2 \in \mathscr C:\)				\(\ds C_1 \ne C_2 \land z \in C_1 \cap C_2 \implies \exists C_3 \in \mathscr C : C_3 \subseteq \paren {C_1 \cup C_2} \setminus \set z \)

Proof

We need to show that $\mathscr C$ satisfies circuit axiom:

\((\text C 3)\)

$:$

\(\ds \forall C_1, C_2 \in \mathscr C:\)

\(\ds C_1 \ne C_2 \land z \in C_1 \cap C_2 \implies \exists C_3 \in \mathscr C : C_3 \subseteq \paren {C_1 \cup C_2} \setminus \set z \)

In fact we prove the contrapositive statement:

\(\ds \forall C_1, C_2 \in \mathscr C:\)

\(\ds z \in C_1 \cap C_2 \land \paren{\forall C \in \mathscr C : C \nsubseteq \paren {C_1 \cup C_2} \setminus \set z} \implies C1 = C2 \)

Let:

$C_1, C_2 \in \mathscr C$

$z \in C_1 \cap C_2$

$\forall C \in \mathscr C : C \nsubseteq \paren{C_1 \cup C_2} \setminus \set z$

From circuit axiom $(\text C 3'')$:

$\exists \text{ at most one } C \in \mathscr C : C \subseteq \paren{\paren{C_1 \cup C_2} \setminus \set z} \cup \set z = C_1 \cup C_2$

From Set is Subset of Union:

$C_1, C_2 \subseteq C_1 \cup C_2$

Hence:

$C_1 = C_2$

It follows that $\mathscr C$ satisfies circuit axiom $(\text C 3)$.

$\blacksquare$