How does one show that if $B \subset A$ (where $A$ is a directed set) is cofinal in $(A, \leq)$ then $(B, \leq)$ is a directed set

general-topologynetsorder-theory

First two axioms of directed sets readily follow for $(B,\leq)$ by the virtue of being a subset of $(A,\leq)$ but I don't see how the third one follows.

Directed set $(A,\leq)$ is a set with the order relation $\leq$, where the order relation $\leq$ is reflexive, transitive and that every pair of elements has an upper bound in $(A,\leq)$.

By "$B$ is cofinal in $A$.", I mean, that each element of $A$ is bounded above by some element of $B$.

Best Answer

Since $\leq$ is a partial order on $A$, it is a partial order, by restriction on any subset; this is a property of partial orders, directed or not.

Let $b_1,b_2\in B$. Since $A$ is directed, there exists $a\in A$ such that $b_1\leq a$ and $b_2\leq a$. Since $B$ is cofinal in $A$, there exists $b\in B$ such that $a\leq b$. Thus, there exists $b\in B$ such that $b_1\leq b$ and $b_2\leq b$. Hence, $B$ is directed.

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