Is the Subset Conditional Implication Universally True?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the validity of the implication that if T is a subset of S, then there exist elements s' and s'' in S such that for all t in T, t is bounded by s' and s''. The participants conclude that for the implication to hold, S must be a linearly ordered set, specifically the set of real numbers, and both S and T must be intervals. The example provided illustrates that even non-interval sets can satisfy the condition, as shown with T = {-3.2, -1, 7} and S = {-4, -3.2, -1, 0, 7, 9}, which can be expressed as unions of intervals.

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Zarlucicil
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I've used the following implication (conditional...whatever you want to call it) in a few proofs and was wondering if it's actually is true. I incorporated it into my proofs because it seemed to make obvious sense, but I'm not sure if I'm overlooking something- obvious or subtle.

T \subseteq S \Rightarrow \exists s' \in S \& \exists s'' \in S \ni [s' \leq t \leq s''], \forall t \in T.

English: If T is a subset of S, then there exists an s' in S and an s'' in S such that t is greater than or equal to s' and less than or equal to s'', for all t in T.
 
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First, we are not talking about general sets. In order for the inequalities to make sense, S must be a linearly ordered set- probably the set or real numbers. And it looks to me like, in order for that statement to be true, S and T must be intervals specifically.
 
HallsofIvy said:
S must be a linearly ordered set

Yes- I'm sorry. S is a subset of the real numbers.
HallsofIvy said:
And it looks to me like, in order for that statement to be true, S and T must be intervals specifically.

I suppose that might be true, but I can't think of a counterexample involving non-interval sets nor have I found a way to disprove the implication for non-interval sets. It seems to be true for at least some non-interval sets. For example, when T = {-3.2, -1, 7} and S = {-4, -3.2, -1, 0, 7, 9}. Hmm, or are these example sets considered to be "intervals" because they can be written as the union of intervals? --> T = [-3.2, -3.2] U [-1, -1] U [7, 7]. If they are considered to be intervals, then I don't know what wouldn't be considered an interval.
 
This is true for any ordered set S. Just pick s'=s''=t
 
If there are an infinite number of natural numbers, and an infinite number of fractions in between any two natural numbers, and an infinite number of fractions in between any two of those fractions, and an infinite number of fractions in between any two of those fractions, and an infinite number of fractions in between any two of those fractions, and... then that must mean that there are not only infinite infinities, but an infinite number of those infinities. and an infinite number of those...

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