Lexicographical order, lexicographical index, and linear operators (Q923372)

Let \(E=\{e_ 1,...,e_ n\}\) be a basis of an n-dimensional real linear space. The authors define the lexicographical index of \(y=\eta_ 1e_ 1+...+\eta_ 1e_ n\neq 0\) with respect to E as the minimum \(j\in \{1,..,n\}\) such that \(\eta_ j\neq 0\). The lexicographical index of 0 is defined as \(\infty\). The paper gives an extensive study of linear operators which preserve the lexicographical index, of linear operators which preserve the lexicographical order, and of linear operators which do not increase the lexicographical index.