Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 30, 2026

Completeness of atomic initial sequents

In sequent calculus, the completeness of atomic initial sequents states that initial sequents A ⊢ A can be derived from only atomic initial sequents p ⊢ p. This theorem plays a role analogous to eta expansion in lambda calculus, and dual to cut elimination and beta reduction. Typically it can be established by induction on the structure of A, much more easily than cut elimination.

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In sequent calculus, the completeness of atomic initial sequents states that initial sequents AA (where A is an arbitrary formula) can be derived from only atomic initial sequents pp (where p is an atomic formula). This theorem plays a role analogous to eta expansion in lambda calculus, and dual to cut elimination and beta reduction. Typically it can be established by induction on the structure of A, much more easily than cut elimination.

References

References

  • Gaisi Takeuti. Proof theory. Volume 81 of Studies in Logic and the Foundation of Mathematics. North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1975.
  • Anne Sjerp Troelstra and Helmut Schwichtenberg. Basic Proof Theory. Edition: 2, illustrated, revised. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2000.