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A strict total order on a set is a strict partial order on in which any two distinct elements are comparable. That is, a strict total order is a binary relation < {\displaystyle <} on some set X {\displaystyle X} , which satisfies the following for all a , b {\displaystyle a,b} and c {\displaystyle c} in X {\displaystyle X} :
A strict weak order that is trichotomous is called a strict total order. [14] The total preorder which is the inverse of its complement is in this case a total order . For a strict weak order < {\displaystyle \,<\,} another associated reflexive relation is its reflexive closure , a (non-strict) partial order ≤ . {\displaystyle \,\leq .}
Several types of orders can be defined from numerical data on the items of the order: a total order results from attaching distinct real numbers to each item and using the numerical comparisons to order the items; instead, if distinct items are allowed to have equal numerical scores, one obtains a strict weak ordering.
Similarly, a strict partial order that is connected is a strict total order. A relation is a total order if and only if it is both a partial order and strongly connected. A relation is a strict total order if, and only if, it is a strict partial order and just connected. A strict total order can never be strongly connected (except on an empty ...
A total preorder, also called linear preorder or weak order, is a relation that is reflexive, transitive, and connected. A partial order, also called order, [citation needed] is a relation that is reflexive, antisymmetric, and transitive. A strict partial order, also called strict order, [citation needed] is
A set X is well-ordered by a strict total order if every non-empty subset of X has a least element under the ordering. The well-ordering theorem together with Zorn's lemma are the most important mathematical statements that are equivalent to the axiom of choice (often called AC, see also Axiom of choice § Equivalents).
For the sorting to be unique, these two are restricted to a total order and a strict total order, respectively. Sorting n-tuples (depending on context also called e.g. records consisting of fields) can be done based on one or more of its components. More generally objects can be sorted based on a property.
A law of trichotomy on some set X of numbers usually expresses that some tacitly given ordering relation on X is a trichotomous one. An example is the law "For arbitrary real numbers x and y, exactly one of x < y, y < x, or x = y applies"; some authors even fix y to be zero, [1] relying on the real number's additive linearly ordered group structure.