Definition:Ordered Tuple as Ordered Set
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Definition
The rigorous definition of an ordered tuple is as a sequence whose domain is $\N^*_n$.
However, it is possible to treat an ordered tuple as an extension of the concept of an ordered pair.
Ordered Triple
The ordered triple $\left({a, b, c}\right)$ of elements $a$, $b$ and $c$ is defined as the ordered pair:
- $\left({a, \left({b, c}\right)}\right)$
where $\left({b, c}\right)$ is itself an ordered pair.
Ordered Quadruple
Similarly, the ordered quadruple $\left({a, b, c, d}\right)$ of elements $a$, $b$, $c$ and $d$ is defined as the ordered pair:
- $\left({a, \left({b, c, d}\right)}\right)$
where $\left({b, c, d}\right)$ is itself an ordered triple.
Ordered Tuple
Similarly, the ordered tuple $\left({a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n}\right)$ of elements $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$ is defined as the ordered pair:
- $\left({a_1, \left({a_2, a_3, \ldots, a_n}\right)}\right)$
where $\left({a_2, a_3, \ldots, a_n}\right)$ is itself an ordered tuple.
Alternative definition
Some sources define the ordered tuple $\left({a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n}\right)$ of elements $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$ as the ordered pair:
- $\left({\left({a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{n-1}}\right), a_n}\right)$
Whichever definition is chosen does not matter much, as long as it is understood which is used. And even then, the importance is limited.
Also see
Sources
- W.E. Deskins: Abstract Algebra (1964): $\S 1.2$: Definition $1.3$
- Steven A. Gaal: Point Set Topology (1964)... (previous)... (next): Introduction to Set Theory: $1$. Elementary Operations on Sets
- Seth Warner: Modern Algebra (1965)... (previous)... (next): $\S 1$