Math 2.0

Order, lattices, ordered algebraic structures Theorem

Minimal integer representation of an interval order

Builds on Interval orderUpper set

Statement

Let PP be a finite poset on a set XX that contains no 𝟐+𝟐\mathbf{2}+\mathbf{2}. Let π’Ÿ\mathcal{D} be the family of distinct strict down sets {y:y<x}\{y : y < x\} of elements x∈Xx \in X. Let 𝒰\mathcal{U} be the family of distinct strict up sets {y:y>x}\{y : y > x\} (see upper set). Both families are chains under inclusion. Order the sets of each family and use their positions to give every x∈Xx \in X an interval I(x)I(x) with integer end points. This is the standard interval order representation of PP. Then all of these hold.

  1. The two families have the same size: βˆ£π’Ÿβˆ£=βˆ£π’°βˆ£|\mathcal{D}| = |\mathcal{U}|. Call this number dd.
  2. For each x∈Xx \in X with I(x)=[i,j]I(x) = [i, j], we have i≀ji \le j.
  3. For x,y∈Xx, y \in X with I(x)=[i,j]I(x) = [i, j] and I(y)=[k,l]I(y) = [k, l], we have x<yx < y in PP if and only if j<kj < k.
  4. The number dd is the least positive integer such that PP has an interval representation with all end points in {1,…,d}\{1, \dots, d\}. This representation is unique.

Remarks

Parts 2 and 3 say that the intervals I(x)I(x) are genuine intervals and that they encode the order of PP exactly. Part 4 says that this representation uses the fewest possible integer values and that nothing else does as well.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 3 pages in order. The foundations come first.

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Each page uses the pages above it. The colour of the bar on a box shows how strong the evidence is, and the box also gives it as text. The list has the same pages.
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  1. Interval order concept
  2. Upper set concept
  3. Minimal integer representation of an interval order statement

Further reading

  1. Web https://github.com/mitchkeller/applied-combinatorics/blob/ebd95d6bd59e23c633c65cf560bcb93efa912aae/source/s_posets_intervalorder_findrep.ptx#L53, source/s_posets_intervalorder_findrep.ptx:53
About this page
TagD20HMAETQV
URIm2://D20HMAETQV
Kindstatement, theorem
WritingW1 stated
MSC06A06
StatusThis copy of the site has no build data. Run m2 status D20HMAETQV.
AboutInterval order
UsesInterval order, Upper set
Changed4 November 2026

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