Finite extensions and the number of countable models

An Ehrenfeucht theory is a complete first order theory with exactly n countable models up to isomorphism, 1 < n < ω. Numerous results have emerged regarding these theories ([1]–[15]). A general question in model theory is whether or not the number of countable models of a complete theory can be different than the number of countable models of a complete consistent extension of the theory by finitely many constant symbols. Examples are known of Ehrenfeucht theories that have complete extensions by finitely many constant symbols such that the extensions fail to be Ehrenfeucht ([4], [8], [13]). These examples are easily modified to allow finite increases in the number of countable models.This paper contains examples in the other direction—complete theories that have consistent extensions by finitely many constant symbols such that the extensions have fewer countable models. This answers affirmatively a question raised by, among others, Peretyat'kin [8]. The first example will be an Ehrenfeucht theory with exactly four countable models with an extension by a constant symbol that has only three countable models. The second example will be a complete theory that is not Ehrenfeucht, but which has an extension by a constant symbol that is Ehrenfeucht. The notational conventions for this paper are standard.Peretyat'kin introduced the theory of a dense binary branching tree with a meet operator [7]. Dense ω-branching trees have also proven useful [5], [11]. Both of the Theories that will be constructed make use of dense ω-branching trees.