Can the sum of two subsets without a maximal element have a maximal? Let A, B subset R be two bounded subsets, neither of which has a maximal element. Can their “sum”, i.e. A + B = {a + b s.t. a in A, b in B} have a maximal element?

Nyasia Flowers

Nyasia Flowers

Answered question

2022-09-04

Can the sum of two subsets without a maximal element have a maximal?
Let A, B R be two bounded subsets, neither of which has a maximal element. Can their “sum”, i.e. A + B = { a + b s . t . a A , b B } have a maximal element?

Answer & Explanation

detegerex

detegerex

Beginner2022-09-05Added 16 answers

Step 1
If m = max ( A + B ), take a m A and b m B such that m = a m + b m suppose that there is a A such that a > a m . Then a + b m > a m + b m = m, which is impossible, since a + b m A + B and m = max ( A + B ). So, a m = max A, but you are assuming that A has no maximum.
Baluttor7

Baluttor7

Beginner2022-09-06Added 17 answers

Step 1
If max(A) does not exist then
c A + B a A b B ( c = a + b )
a , a A b B ( a < a c = a + b )
Step 2
a , a A b B ( a < a c = a + b < a + b A + B )
a A b B ( c < a + b A + B )
c max ( A + B ) .

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