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Confusion about articles before unique objects in math

English Language & Usage Asked by dmk on May 29, 2021

I am a graduate math student, English is my second language but we have some courses taught in English.

I often see sentences like There exists *a* unique map/morphism f such that... (for example, when we define some objects by their universal property)

I am quite puzzled by this. We are talking about something unique, there is one and only one map that has desired properties. So based on what I was taught about articles, I would say that the should be used. However, it seems customary to write a and I must admit that when reading aloud, saying it with the sounds funny.

So is this a just a common mistake? And if it is correct, what is the justification for it?

2 Answers

Using a is not a mistake but the beginning of the full description.

It is common to speak of the object with a and then go into the description which identifies it as unique. Then it is described as the or this mapping to include the details of the description.

If you were to use the to describe it from very the beginning it would be assumed that the description as unique has been delayed or made elsewhere.

Correct answer by Elliot on May 29, 2021

When a mathematician says that There exists a B they know nothing else about B except that B must exist (in the appropriate mathematical sense of exist, which I won't go into here). Existence and non-existence can be proved without definiteness.

The appropriate article for something that has just entered the discourse without any information except its existence is the indefinite article. It's used for initial introductions.

  • A man dressed in black entered the room.
  • I saw a strange-looking dog this morning.
  • Every field must have an additive identity.

Once an entity has been introduced to the discourse, it can be referenced with the definite article.

  • The man in black looked around and left.
  • I'd never seen the dog before.
  • The additive identity must have certain properties.

Logically, the existential quantifier (, pronounced there exists or for some) is indefinite, while the universal quantifier (, pronounced for each, for every, or for all) is definite, though not necessarily presupposed to exist.

Answered by John Lawler on May 29, 2021

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