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Minimal and Maximal Elements

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8 views

Minimal and Maximal Elements

Uploaded by

jan375996
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Minimal and Maximal

Elements
Minimal Element
Let S be a partially ordered set. An element a ϵ S is called
a minimal element of S if no element of S strictly
precedes(is less than) a; that is, if
x ≤ a implies x = a
For example, let A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24} be
ordered by divisibility. Then we can see that A has only
one minimal element, 1.
Maximal Element
Let S be a partially ordered set. An element b ϵ S is called
a maximal element of S if no element of S strictly
succeeds(is greater than) b; that is, if
x ≥ b implies x = b
For example, let A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24} be a
set ordered by divisibility. Then we can see that A has
two maximal elements, 18 and 24.
Geometrical Meaning
Geometrically speaking, a is a minimal element of S if no
edge enters a(from below), and b is a maximal element
of S if no edge leaves b (in an upward direction).
Note: S can have more than one minimal and more
than one maximal element. Hasse diagram of
divisibility relation on set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12,
18, 24} is given below:
Minimal and Maximal Element of an
Infinite and Finite Set
If S is infinite, then S may have no minimal and maximal
element. For instance, the set Z of integers with the
usual order ≤ has no minimal and maximal element. On
the other hand, if S is finite, then S has atleast one
minimal and one maximal element.
First and Last Element
An element a ϵ S is called a first element of S if a ≤ x for
every x ϵ S, that is, if a precedes every other element in
S.
Similarly, an element b ϵ S is called a last element of S if
y ≤ b for every y ϵ S, that is, b succeeds every other
element in S.
For example, let A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24} be a
set ordered by divisibility. 1 is minimal element of A
which is also the first element of A. Set A has two
maximal element and neither is a last element.
First and Last Element
Note: We note that S can have at most one first element
which must be a minimal element of S, and S can have
at most one last element which must be a maximal
element of S. Generally speaking, S may have neither a
first nor a last element, even when S is finite.
Examples
a) Consider the set P = {1, 2, 3,…} with the usual order
≤.

b) Let A be any nonempty set and let P(A) be the power


set of A ordered by set inclusion.
Examples
c) Consider the ordered set A in the figure below:

1) Find all minimal and maximal elements of A.


2) Does A have a first element or a last element?

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