Consider the structure $(\mathbb{R},+,*,0,1,<)$. We adjoin to it a subset $S$ of $\mathbb{R}$. Is it possible to give a single formula $F$ in the expanded language such that $F$ is true precisely when $S$ is an infinite subset of the reals? I know it is certainly possible by replacing $\mathbb{R}$ with $\mathbb{N}$ or by $\mathbb{Z}$. We can just say that $S$ has no upper bound, in the case of $\mathbb{N}$, or that $S$ has either no upper bound or no lower bound, in the case of $\mathbb{Z}$.
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To clarify, you're adding a unary predicate symbol to the language? – Reveillark Jun 01 '20 at 22:20
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Yes. $S$ is infinite if and only if either $S$ is unbounded or $S$ contains pairs of elements arbitrarily close together: $\forall {\epsilon>0}\,\exists x\in S\,\exists y\in S(0< (x-y)^2<\epsilon)$.
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David C. Ullrich
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1You should make clear that your formula only corresponds to the second half of your written condition. – Stig Hemmer Jun 02 '20 at 08:35
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