Relatively complemented lattice

From Free net encyclopedia

(Difference between revisions)
Revision as of 16:46, 20 May 2005
Paul August (Talk | contribs)
add link
← Previous diff
Current revision
Paul August (Talk | contribs)
add link

Current revision

In mathematics, a relatively complemented lattice is a lattice L in which for all a, b, c in L with a ≤ b ≤ c there is some x in L such that x ∨ b = c and x ∧ b = a. An element x with this property is a complement of b relative to the interval [a,c].

Two particular cases are frequently seen:

  • If A and B are sets with
<math>A\subseteq B</math>
then the complement of A relative to B (the interval involved is from the empty set to B) is
<math>B\setminus A=\left\{\,x\in B : x\not\in A\,\right\}.</math>
  • If the lattice is a Boolean algebra, then the complement of b relative to the interval [a, c] is a ∨ (~ b) ∧ c. (In general, the expression xyz is ambiguous in Boolean algebra. But the fact that a ≤ b c removes the ambiguity in this case.) In the usual interpretation of Boolean algebra as a model of propositional logic, if a is a sufficient condition for b and c is a necessary condition for b, the complement of b relative to the interval [a, c] is the unique (up to logical equivalence) proposition d such that
  • a is sufficient for d and c is necessary for d, and
  • d becomes equivalent to [not b] if one learns that a is false and c is true.