Some inequalities for partial orders
Inequalities connecting several parameters of a partially ordered set (poset) \(P=\langle P,\leq\rangle\) are established. The parameters are: (1) width, \(\mu (P)\), the smallest cardinal (t.s.c.) \(\mu\) such that \(| A| <1+\mu\) for any antichain \(A\subseteq P\); (2) narrowness, \(\nu(P)\), t.s.c. \(\nu\) such that \(| A| =\nu\) for some maximal antichain \(A\subseteq P\); (3) chain decomposition number, \(K(P)\), t.s.c. \(K\) such that \(P\) is a union of \(K\) chains; (4) chain end-decomposition number, \(K_ 1(P)\), t.s.c. \(K_ 1\) such that \(K(P\upharpoonright E)=K_ 1\) for some subset \(E\subseteq P\) which is both cofinal and coinitial in \(P\); (5) the local maximal chain number, \(\lambda(P)\), t.s.c. \(\lambda\) such that \(| MC([a,b])| <1+\lambda\), for all \(a,b\in P\), where \(MC([a,b])\) is the collection of maximal chains in the interval \([a,b]\) of \(P\); (6) the local chain decomposition number, \(\lambda_ 1(P)\), t.s.c. \(\lambda_ 1\) such that \(K([a,b])<1+\lambda_ 1\) for all \(a,b\) in \(P\); (7) the ideal decomposition number \(\iota (P)\), t.s.c. \(\iota\) such that \(P\) is a union of \(\iota\) ideals; (8) the strong antichain number of \(P\), \(\mu_ 1(P)\), t.s.c. \(\mu_ 1\) such that \(| A| <1+\mu_ 1\) for every strong antichain \(A\subseteq P\) [i.e., \(\{y\mid x,x'\leq y\}=\emptyset\) for \(x\neq x'\) elements of \(A\)]. Results noted are as follows: [Dilworth]: \(\mu (P)<\omega\) implies \(K(P()=\mu (P)\); [Perles]: \(\exists P\) with \(\mu (P)=\omega\) and \(K(P)>K\) (any cardinal); [Erdős and Tarski]: \(\mu_ 1(P)\neq \omega\); [Milner and Prikry]: \(\exists P\), \(\mu_ 1(P)=\omega\), \(\iota (P)>K\). Observations by the authors (delete \(P\)): \(\nu^+\leq 1+\mu \leq K^+\); \(\mu_ 1\leq \mu\); \(\lambda_ 1\leq \lambda\); \(K_ 1\leq K\); \(1+\lambda_ 1\leq K^+\); \(\iota\leq K\); \(\mu_ 1=\iota\) if \(\mu_ 1<\omega\). Established by the authors: \(K\leq K_ 1\cdot \lambda \cdot \nu\) (best possible); \(\mu \leq [K^ 2_ 1\lambda_ 1]^+\); \(\nu \leq K_ 1\) if \(\lambda <\omega\); \(K\leq \lambda\) if \(K_ 1=1\); all trees belong to a class of posets (described) for which \(K\leq \mu\), generalizing a result of F. Kurepa and F. Galvin; necessary and sufficient conditions on \(P\) such that \(\iota <1+\mu_ 1.\) In addition to those principally concerned with the study of various parameters these results should also prove interesting to those more involved in relating ``numerical parameters to other structural properties of posets. It seems that more can still be accomplished along the lines continued in this interesting paper from previous points of departure.
This page was built for publication: Some inequalities for partial orders
Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q580381)
