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Section 19.3 Graph for a partial order

Hasse diagram
a diagram for the graph for a partial order on a finite set \(A\text{,}\) omitting reflexive loops and transitive “composite” edges, and placing “smaller” elements lower on the diagram instead of using arrows

Example 19.3.1. Hasse diagram for division of integers.

Let \(A = \{2,4,6,8,10,12\}\text{.}\) The Hasse diagram of the partial order \(\mathord{\mid}\) (i.e. “divides”) on \(A\) appears in Figure 19.3.2. Notice that \(2\) is not joined directly to either \(8\) or \(12\text{,}\) since we can use transitivity and the facts that \(2 \mid 4\) and \(2 \mid 6\) to infer \(2 \mid 8\) and \(2 \mid 12\text{,}\) respectively, from the diagram.
Hasse diagram for the “divides” partial order.
Figure 19.3.2. The Hasse diagram for the “divides” partial order on a finite set of integers.

Remark 19.3.3.

See Example 14.4.3 for another example of a graph for the “divides” relation.

Example 19.3.4. Hasse diagram for subset order.

The graph from Example 14.4.1 has been reproduced in Figure 19.3.5 as a Hasse diagram, and represents the partial order \(\mathord{\subseteq}\) on \(\powset{\{a,b,c\}}\text{.}\)
Hasse diagram for the subset partial order.
Figure 19.3.5. The Hasse diagram for the subset partial order on the power set of a finite set.