# Ordering relations smallest/minimal elements definitions

In How to Prove It: A Structured Approach, 2nd Edition, page 192, the author introduces the following definitions of smallest and minimal elements of partial orders:

Definition 4.4.4. Suppose R is a partial order on a set A, B $\subseteq$ A, and b $\in$ B. Then b is called an R-smallest element of B (or just a smallest element if R is clear from the context) if $\forall$x $\in$ B(bRx). It is called an R-minimal element (or just a minimal element) if $\lnot$$\existsx \in B(xRb \land x \neq b). Then the author introduces the following example: Let L = { (x, y) \in ℝ x ℝ | x ≤ y }, as before. Let B = { x \in ℝ | x ≥ 7}. Does B have any L-smallest or L-minimal elements? What about the set C = { x ∈ ℝ | x > 7 }? Solution: Clearly 7 ≤ x for every x \in B, so ∀x \in B(7Lx) and therefore 7 is a smallest element of B. It is also a minimal element, since nothing in B is smaller than 7, so ¬∃x ∈ B(x ≤ 7 ∧ x \neq 7). There are no other smallest or minimal elements. Note that 7 is not a smallest or minimal element of C, since 7 \not\in C . According to Definition 4.4.4, a smallest or minimal element of a set must actually be an element of the set. In fact, C has no smallest or minimal elements. The part about B makes perfect sense to me, but I'm confused about: In fact, C has no smallest or minimal elements As far as my understanding goes, C does have an L-smallest element, which happens to be 8 (the example says that 7 is not a smallest/minimal element of C, which is obvious since 7 is not a member of C):$$\forall x \in C(8Lx)$$Which is obviously true since 8 ≤ 8, 8 ≤ 9, 8 ≤ 10, and so on. Also, 8 looks like an L-minimal element of C as well, since:$$\lnot \exists x \in C(xL8 \land x \neq 8)$$The only element of C which is smaller or equal to 8 is 8, but 8 = 8. Why does the author says that C has no smallest or minimal elements? • Could it be the case that the author is choosing$x \in \mathscr{R}$and not integers? – OnceUponACrinoid Jun 7 '15 at 3:07 • B is not part of L sir – Hassan Jun 7 '15 at 3:07 • @OnceUponACrinoid Not sure if it's what you're asking about, but R in the definition stands for an arbitrary partial order, while R in the other sections of the post stands for the set of real numbers. – jviotti Jun 7 '15 at 3:17 • @Hassan L is a relation on ℝ, while B$\subseteq\$ ℝ. – jviotti Jun 7 '15 at 3:18
• @jviotti My point being there is no real number which can serve as a minimal element. 8 is the smallest natural number. – OnceUponACrinoid Jun 7 '15 at 3:18