Rank functions of closure spaces of finite rank (Q790123)

A closure space \((S,<>)\) consists of a set S together with a closure operator \(<>\). In such a space, the set X is closed if \(<X>=X\) while the rank \(\rho\) (A) of a closed set A is the maximum length r of a chain of closed sets \(A_ i\) such that \(A_ 0\varsubsetneq A_ 1\varsubsetneq...\varsubsetneq A_ r=A\) where, if this maximum does not exist, \(\rho\) (A) is taken to be \(\infty\). This note gives four conditions which together characterize those functions that are the rank functions of closure spaces \((S,<>)\) in which \(\rho\) (S) is finite. The author also shows that if S is finite one of these four conditions becomes redundant.