Natural Number Addition is Cancellable

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Theorem

Let $\N$ be the natural numbers.

Let $+$ be addition on $\N$.


Then:

$\forall a, b, c \in \N: a + c = b + c \implies a = b$
$\forall a, b, c \in \N: a + b = a + c \implies b = c$


That is, $+$ is cancellable on $\N$.


Proof 1

Consider the natural numbers $\N$ defined as a naturally ordered semigroup $\struct {\N, +, \le}$.

By Naturally Ordered Semigroup Axiom $\text {NO} 2$: Cancellability, every element of $\struct {\N, +}$ is cancellable.

$\blacksquare$


Proof 2

By Natural Number Addition is Commutative, we only need to prove the first statement.


Proof by induction.

Consider the natural numbers $\N$ defined in terms of Peano's Axioms.


From the definition of addition in Peano structureā€ˇ, we have that:

\(\ds \forall m, n \in \N: \, \) \(\ds m + 0\) \(=\) \(\ds m\)
\(\ds m + \map s n\) \(=\) \(\ds \map s {m + n}\)


For all $n \in \N$, let $\map P n$ be the proposition:

$\forall a, b \in \N: a + n = b + n \implies a = b$


Basis for the Induction

$\map P 0$ is the proposition:

$\forall a, b \in \N: a + 0 = b + 0 \implies a = b$

which holds because of the definition of $+$.


This is our basis for the induction.


Induction Hypothesis

Now we need to show that, if $\map P k$ is true, where $k \in \N$, then it logically follows that $\map P {\map s k}$ is true.


So this is our induction hypothesis $\map P k$:

$\forall a, b \in \N: a + k = b + k \implies a = b$


Then we need to show that $\map P {\map s k}$ follows directly from $\map P k$:

$\forall a, b \in \N: a + \map s k = b + \map s k \implies a = b$


Induction Step

This is our induction step:


\(\ds a + \map s k\) \(=\) \(\ds b + \map s k\)
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds \map s {a + k}\) \(=\) \(\ds \map s {b + k}\) Definition of $+$
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds a + k\) \(=\) \(\ds b + k\) Peano's Axiom $\text P 3$: $s$ is injective
\(\ds \leadsto \ \ \) \(\ds a\) \(=\) \(\ds b\) Induction Hypothesis

So $\map P k \implies \map P {\map s k}$ and the result follows by the Principle of Mathematical Induction for Peano Structure.


Therefore:

$\forall a, b \in \N: a + n = b + n \implies a = b$

$\blacksquare$