In order theory, the Szpilrajn extension theorem (also called the order-extension principle), proved by Edward Szpilrajn in 1930,^[1] states that every partial order is contained in a total order. Intuitively, the theorem says that any method of comparing elements that leaves some pairs incomparable can be extended in such a way that every pair becomes comparable. The theorem is one of many examples of the use of the axiom of choice in the form of Zorn's lemma to find a maximal set with certain properties.

Definitions and statement

A binary relation ${\displaystyle R}$ on a set ${\displaystyle X}$ is formally defined as a set of ordered pairs ${\displaystyle (x,y)}$ of elements of ${\displaystyle X,}$ and ${\displaystyle (x,y)\in R}$ is often abbreviated as ${\displaystyle xRy.}$

A relation is reflexive if ${\displaystyle xRx}$ holds for every element ${\displaystyle x\in X;}$ it is transitive if ${\displaystyle xRy{\text{ and ))yRz}$ imply ${\displaystyle xRz}$ for all ${\displaystyle x,y,z\in X;}$ it is antisymmetric if ${\displaystyle xRy{\text{ and ))yRx}$ imply ${\displaystyle x=y}$ for all ${\displaystyle x,y\in X;}$ and it is a connex relation if ${\displaystyle xRy{\text{ or ))yRx}$ holds for all ${\displaystyle x,y\in X.}$ A partial order is, by definition, a reflexive, transitive and antisymmetric relation. A total order is a partial order that is connex.

A relation ${\displaystyle R}$ is contained in another relation ${\displaystyle S}$ when all ordered pairs in ${\displaystyle R}$ also appear in ${\displaystyle S;}$ that is,${\displaystyle xRy}$ implies ${\displaystyle xSy}$ for all ${\displaystyle x,y\in X.}$ The extension theorem states that every relation ${\displaystyle R}$ that is reflexive, transitive and antisymmetric (that is, a partial order) is contained in another relation ${\displaystyle S}$ which is reflexive, transitive, antisymmetric and connex (that is, a total order).

Proof

The theorem is proved in two steps. First, one shows that, if a partial order does not compare some two elements, it can be extended to an order with a superset of comparable pairs. A maximal partial order cannot be extended, by definition, so it follows from this step that a maximal partial order must be a total order. In the second step, Zorn's lemma is applied to find a maximal partial order that extends any given partial order.

For the first step, suppose that a given partial order does not compare ${\displaystyle x}$ and ${\displaystyle y}$. Then the order is extended by first adding the pair ${\displaystyle xRy}$ to the relation, which may result in a non-transitive relation, and then restoring transitivity by adding all pairs ${\displaystyle qRp}$ such that ${\displaystyle qRx{\text{ and ))yRp.}$ This produces a relation that is still reflexive, antisymmetric and transitive and that strictly contains the original one. It follows that if the partial orders extending ${\displaystyle R}$ are themselves partially ordered by extension, then any maximal element of this extension order must be a total order.

Next it is shown that the poset of partial orders extending ${\displaystyle R}$, ordered by extension, has a maximal element. The existence of such a maximal element is proved by applying Zorn's lemma to this poset. Zorn's lemma states that a partial order in which every chain has an upper bound has a maximal element. A chain in this poset is a set of relations in which, for every two relations, one extends the other. An upper bound for a chain ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {C))}$ can be found as the union of the relations in the chain, ${\displaystyle \textstyle \bigcup {\mathcal {C))}$. This union is a relation that extends ${\displaystyle R}$, since every element of ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {C))}$ is a partial order having ${\displaystyle R}$ as a subset. Next, it is shown that ${\displaystyle \textstyle \bigcup {\mathcal {C))}$ is a transitive relation. Suppose that ${\displaystyle (x,y)}$ and ${\displaystyle (y,z)}$ are in ${\displaystyle \textstyle \bigcup {\mathcal {C)),}$ so that there exist ${\displaystyle S,T\in {\mathcal {C))}$ such that ${\displaystyle (x,y)\in S}$ and ${\displaystyle (y,z)\in T}$. Because ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {C))}$ is a chain, one of ${\displaystyle S}$ or ${\displaystyle T}$ must extend the other and contain both ${\displaystyle (x,y)}$ and ${\displaystyle (y,z)}$, and by its transitivity it also contains ${\displaystyle (x,z)}$, as does the union. Similarly, it can be shown that ${\displaystyle \textstyle \bigcup {\mathcal {C))}$ is antisymmetric. Thus, ${\displaystyle \textstyle \bigcup {\mathcal {C))}$ is an extension of ${\displaystyle R}$, so it belongs to the poset of extensions of ${\displaystyle R}$, and is an upper bound for ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {C))}$.

This argument shows that Zorn's lemma may be applied to the poset of extensions of ${\displaystyle R}$, producing a maximal element ${\displaystyle Q}$. By the first step this maximal element must be a total order, completing the proof.

Strength

Some form of the axiom of choice is necessary in proving the Szpilrajn extension theorem. The extension theorem implies the axiom of finite choice: if the union of a family of finite sets is given the empty partial order, and this is extended to a total order, the extension defines a choice from each finite set, its minimum element in the total order. Although finite choice is a weak version of the axiom of choice, it is independent of Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory without choice.^[2]

The Szpilrajn extension theorem together with another consequence of the axiom of choice, the principle that every total order has a cofinal well-order, can be combined to prove the full axiom of choice. With these assumptions, one can choose an element from any given set by extending its empty partial order, finding a cofinal well-order, and choosing the minimum element from that well-ordering.^[3]

Other extension theorems

Arrow stated that every preorder (reflexive and transitive relation) can be extended to a total preorder (transitive and connex relation).^[4] This claim was later proved by Hansson.^[5][6]

Suzumura proved that a binary relation can be extended to a total preorder if and only if it is Suzumura-consistent, which means that there is no cycle of elements such that ${\displaystyle xRy}$ for every pair of consecutive elements ${\displaystyle (x,y),}$ and there is some pair of consecutive elements ${\displaystyle (x,y)}$ in the cycle for which ${\displaystyle yRx}$ does not hold.^[6]