In mathematics, especially order theory, a partially ordered set (or poset) formalizes and generalizes the intuitive concept of an ordering, sequencing, or arrangement of the elements of a set. A poset consists of a set together with a binary relation that indicates that, for certain pairs of elements in the set, one of the elements precedes the other. Such a relation is called a partial order to reflect the fact that not every pair of elements need be related: for some pairs, it may be that neither element precedes the other in the poset. Thus, partial orders generalize the more familiar total orders, in which every pair is related. A finite poset can be visualized through its Hasse diagram, which depicts the ordering relation.
A familiar real-life example of a partially ordered set is a collection of people ordered by genealogical descendancy. Some pairs of people bear the descendant-ancestor relationship, but other pairs bear no such relationship.
Read more about Partially Ordered Set: Formal Definition, Examples, Extrema, Orders On The Cartesian Product of Partially Ordered Sets, Strict and Non-strict Partial Orders, Inverse and Order Dual, Number of Partial Orders, Linear Extension, In Category Theory, Partial Orders in Topological Spaces, Interval
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