In
mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
, especially
order theory
Order theory is a branch of mathematics that investigates the intuitive notion of order using binary relations. It provides a formal framework for describing statements such as "this is less than that" or "this precedes that". This article intr ...
, the covering relation of a
partially ordered set
In mathematics, especially order theory, a partially ordered set (also 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 ...
is the
binary relation
In mathematics, a binary relation associates elements of one set, called the ''domain'', with elements of another set, called the ''codomain''. A binary relation over sets and is a new set of ordered pairs consisting of elements in and in ...
which holds between
comparable
Comparable may refer to:
* Comparability
In mathematics, two elements ''x'' and ''y'' of a set ''P'' are said to be comparable with respect to a binary relation ≤ if at least one of ''x'' ≤ ''y'' or ''y'' ≤ ''x'' is true. They are ca ...
elements that are immediate neighbours. The covering relation is commonly used to graphically express the partial order by means of the
Hasse diagram
In order theory, a Hasse diagram (; ) is a type of mathematical diagram used to represent a finite partially ordered set, in the form of a drawing of its transitive reduction. Concretely, for a partially ordered set ''(S, ≤)'' one represents ...
.
Definition
Let
be a set with a partial order
.
As usual, let
be the relation on
such that