CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

An Arithmetical Theorem for Partially Ordered Sets

Citation

Doyle, Worthie Lefler (1950) An Arithmetical Theorem for Partially Ordered Sets. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/TP0K-A379. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:09162013-151810143

Abstract

The simplest multiplicative systems in which arithmetical ideas can be defined are semigroups. For such systems irreducible (prime) elements can be introduced and conditions under which the fundamental theorem of arithmetic holds have been investigated (Clifford (3)). After identifying associates, the elements of the semigroup form a partially ordered set with respect to the ordinary division relation. This suggests the possibility of an analogous arithmetical result for abstract partially ordered sets. Although nothing corresponding to product exists in a partially ordered set, there is a notion similar to g.c.d. This is the meet operation, defined as greatest lower bound. Thus irreducible elements, namely those elements not expressible as meets of proper divisors can be introduced. The assumption of the ascending chain condition then implies that each element is representable as a reduced meet of irreducibles. The central problem of this thesis is to determine conditions on the structure of the partially ordered set in order that each element have a unique such representation.

Part I contains preliminary results and introduces the principal tools of the investigation. In the second part, basic properties of the lattice of ideals and the connection between its structure and the irreducible decompositions of elements are developed. The proofs of these results are identical with the corresponding ones for the lattice case (Dilworth (2)). The last part contains those results whose proofs are peculiar to partially ordered sets and also contains the proof of the main theorem.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:(Mathematics and Physics)
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Major Option:Mathematics
Minor Option:Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Dilworth, Robert P.
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:1 January 1950
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:09162013-151810143
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:09162013-151810143
DOI:10.7907/TP0K-A379
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:7957
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Benjamin Perez
Deposited On:16 Sep 2013 22:53
Last Modified:11 Apr 2023 01:07

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

5MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page