Monotone function: exercises

https://arbital.com/p/order_monotone_exercises

by Kevin Clancy Dec 3 2016 updated Dec 3 2016


Try these exercises and become a deity of monotonicity.

Monotone composition

Let P,Q, and R be posets and let f:PQ and g:QR be monotone functions. Prove that their composition gf is a monotone function from P to R.

Evil twin

Let P and Q be posets. A function f:PQ is called antitone if it reverses order: that is, f is antitone whenever p1Pp2 implies f(p1)Qf(p2). Prove that the composition of two antitone functions is monotone.

Partial monotonicity

A two argument function f:P×AQ is called partially monotone in the 1st argument whenever P and Q are posets and for all aA, p1Pp2 implies f(a,p1)Qf(a,p2). Likewise a 2-argument function f:A×PQ is called partially monotone in the second argument whenever P and Q are posets and for all aA, p1Pp2 implies f(p1,a)Qf(p2,a).

Let P,Q,R, and S be posets, and let f:P×QR be a function that is partially monotone in both of its arguments. Furthermore, let g1:SP and g2:SQ be monotone functions.

Prove that the function h:SR defined as h(s)f(g1(s),g2(s)) is monotone.

Brain storm

List all of the commonly used two argument functions you can think of that are partially monotone in both arguments. Also, list all of the commonly used two argument functions you can think of that are partially monotone in one argument and partially antitone in the other.