Definition:Lower Closure/Element/Class Theory

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Definition

Let $A$ be a class under an ordering $\preccurlyeq$.

Let $a \in A$.


The lower closure of $a$ (in $A$) is defined as:

$a^\preccurlyeq := \set {b \in A: b \preccurlyeq a}$


Also known as

The lower closure of an element $a$ is also known as:

  • the down-set of $a$
  • the down set of $a$
  • the lower set of $a$
  • the lower section of $a$
  • the set of preceding elements to $a$

The terms weak lower closure and weak down-set are also encountered, so as explicitly to distinguish this from the strict lower closure of $a$.


When $\preccurlyeq$ is a well-ordering, the term weak initial segment is often used, and defined as a separate concept in its own right.

The notations $S_a$ or $\bar S_a$ are frequently then seen.

Some authors use the term (weak) initial segment to refer to the lower closure with respect to a general ordering.


Notation

On $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ we employ the following notational conventions for the upper closures and lower closures on $\struct {S, \preccurlyeq}$ of an element $a$ of $S$.

$a^\preccurlyeq := \set {b \in S: b \preccurlyeq a}$: the lower closure of $a \in S$: everything in $S$ that precedes $a$
$a^\succcurlyeq := \set {b \in S: a \preccurlyeq b}$: the upper closure of $a \in S$: everything in $S$ that succeeds $a$
$a^\prec := \set {b \in S: b \preccurlyeq a \land a \ne b}$: the strict lower closure of $a \in S$: everything in $S$ that strictly precedes $a$
$a^\succ := \set {b \in S: a \preccurlyeq b \land a \ne b}$: the strict upper closure of $a \in S$: everything in $S$ that strictly succeeds $a$.


Similarly for the closure operators on $\struct {S, \preccurlyeq}$ of a subset $T$ of $S$:

$T^\preccurlyeq := \bigcup \set {t^\preccurlyeq: t \in T}$: the lower closure of $T \in S$: everything in $S$ that precedes some element of $T$
$T^\succcurlyeq := \bigcup \set {t^\succcurlyeq: t \in T}$: the upper closure of $T \in S$: everything in $S$ that succeeds some element of $T$
$T^\prec := \bigcup \set {t^\prec: t \in T}$: the strict lower closure of $T \in S$: everything in $S$ that strictly precedes some element of $T$
$T^\succ := \bigcup \set {t^\succ: t \in T}$: the strict upper closure of $T \in S$: everything in $S$ that strictly succeeds some element of $T$.


The astute reader may point out that, for example, $a^\preccurlyeq$ is ambiguous as to whether it means:

The lower closure of $a$ with respect to $\preccurlyeq$
The upper closure of $a$ with respect to the dual ordering $\succcurlyeq$

By Lower Closure is Dual to Upper Closure and Strict Lower Closure is Dual to Strict Upper Closure, the two are seen to be equal.


The $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ style can be found in 2014: Nik Weaver: Forcing for Mathematicians.

It is a relatively recent innovation whose elegance and simplicity are compelling.


Also denoted as

Other notations for closure operators include:

${\downarrow} a, {\bar \downarrow} a$ for lower closure of $a \in S$
${\uparrow} a, {\bar \uparrow} a$ for upper closure of $a \in S$
${\downarrow} a, {\dot \downarrow} a$ for strict lower closure of $a \in S$
${\uparrow} a, {\dot \uparrow} a$ for strict upper closure of $a \in S$

and similar for upper closure, lower closure, strict upper closure and strict lower closure of a subset.

However, as there is considerable inconsistency in the literature as to exactly which of these arrow notations is being used at any one time, its use is not endorsed on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$.


Yet other notations can be seen, for example:

$\map {L_\prec} a$ for $a^\prec$
$\map {L_\preccurlyeq} a$ for $a^\preccurlyeq$


Also see

  • Results about lower closures can be found here.


Sources