Order theory

In mathematics, a total order or linear order is a partial order in which any two elements are comparable. That is, a total order is a binary relation ≤ {\\displaystyle \\leq } on some set X {\\displaystyle X} , which satisfies the following for all a , b {\\displaystyle a,b} and c {\\displaystyle c} in X {\\displaystyle X} :

In mathematics, especially order theory, a partial order on a set is an arrangement such that, for certain pairs of elements, one precedes the other. The word partial is used to indicate that not every pair of elements needs to be comparable; that is, there may be pairs for which neither element precedes the other. Partial orders thus generalize total orders, in which every pair is comparable.

Order (subtitled A Journal on the Theory of Ordered Sets and its Applications) is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal on order theory and its applications, published by Springer Science+Business Media. It was established in 1984 by Ivan Rival (University of Calgary). From 2010 to 2018, its editor-in-chief was Dwight Duffus (Emory University). He was succeeded in 2019 by Ryan R. Martin (Iowa State University).

Order theory is a branch of mathematics that investigates the intuitive notion of order using binary relations. It provides a formal framework for describing statements such as "this is less than that" or "this precedes that". This article introduces the field and provides basic definitions. A list of order-theoretic terms can be found in the order theory glossary.

In mathematics, an embedding (or imbedding) is one instance of some mathematical structure contained within another instance, such as a group that is a subgroup.

In mathematics, especially in order theory, a complete Heyting algebra is a Heyting algebra that is complete as a lattice. Complete Heyting algebras are the objects of three different categories; the category CHey, the category Loc of locales, and its opposite, the category Frm of frames. Although these three categories contain the same objects, they differ in their morphisms, and thus get distinct names. Only the morphisms of CHey are homomorphisms of complete Heyting algebras.

In abstract algebra, a partially ordered group is a group (G, +) equipped with a partial order "≤" that is translation-invariant; in other words, "≤" has the property that, for all a, b, and g in G, if a ≤ b then a + g ≤ b + g and g + a ≤ g + b.

In mathematics, especially order theory, a prefix ordered set generalizes the intuitive concept of a tree by introducing the possibility of continuous progress and continuous branching. Natural prefix orders often occur when considering dynamical systems as a set of functions from time (a totally-ordered set) to some phase space. In this case, the elements of the set are usually referred to as executions of the system.