Can the empty set be used to satisfy inf(B) ≥ sup(B)?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RJLiberator
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Set
RJLiberator
Gold Member
Messages
1,094
Reaction score
63

Homework Statement


Find an example set, B where inf B ≥ sup B.

Homework Equations


For reference, the definitions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infimum_and_supremum :
"In mathematics, the infimum (abbreviated inf; plural infima) of a subset S of a partially ordered set T is the greatest element in T that is less than or equal to all elements of S, if such an element exists. Consequently, the term greatest lower bound (abbreviated as GLB) is also commonly used.

The supremum (abbreviated sup; plural suprema) of a subset S of a partially ordered set T is the least element in T that is greater than or equal to all elements of S, if such an element exists. Consequently, the supremum is also referred to as the least upper bound (or LUB)."

The Attempt at a Solution



I have been reading that if we take the empty set we find that inf(empty set) = ∞ and suprema(empty set) = -∞.

While this is not intuitive, it makes sense after some observations.

If I define my set as the empty set, I have suceeded in finding a set where inf B ≥ sup B.

Correct?

Outside of this, I would think if I had the set B = {4} that the inf(B) = 4 and sup(B) = 4. Thus, inf B ≥ sup B. Correct?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, this is correct. The reason is that every statement about the elements of the empty set is true. In this case all numbers are upper and lower bounds for them, or as I like to say: the elements of the empty set have purple eyes. Your statement about ##\{4\}## is trivially true as well.
 
  • Like
Likes RJLiberator
Excellent, I thank you.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top