xy or VectorLess [{x,y}]
yields True for vectors of length n if xi<yi for all components .
xκy or VectorLess [{x,y},κ]
yields True for x and y if , where κ is a proper convex cone.
VectorLess
xy or VectorLess [{x,y}]
yields True for vectors of length n if xi<yi for all components .
xκy or VectorLess [{x,y},κ]
yields True for x and y if , where κ is a proper convex cone.
Details
- VectorLess gives a partial ordering of vectors, matrices and arrays that is compatible with vector space operations, so that and imply for all .
- VectorLess is typically used to specify vector inequalities for constrained optimization, inequality solving and integration.
- When x and y are -vectors, xy is equivalent to . That is, each part of x is less than the corresponding part of y for the relation to be true.
- When x and y are dimension arrays, xy is equivalent to . That is, each part of x is less than the corresponding part of y for the relation to be true.
- xy remains unevaluated if x or y has non-numeric elements, typically gives True or False otherwise.
- When x is an n-vector and y is a scalar, xy yields True if xi<y for all components .
- By using the character , entered as v< or \[VectorLess] , with subscripts vector inequalities can be entered as follows:
-
xy VectorLess[{x,y}] the standard vector inequalityx_(kappa)y VectorLess[{x,y},κ] vector inequality defined by a cone κ
- In general, one can use a proper convex cone κ to specify a vector inequality. The set is the same as κ.
- Possible cone specifications κ in for vectors x include:
-
{"NonNegativeCone", n} TemplateBox[{n}, NonNegativeConeList] such that"ExponentialCone" TemplateBox[{}, ExponentialConeString] such that"DualExponentialCone" TemplateBox[{}, DualExponentialConeString] such that{"PowerCone",α} TemplateBox[{alpha}, PowerConeList] such that{"DualPowerCone",α} TemplateBox[{alpha}, DualPowerConeList] such that
- Possible cone specifications κ in for matrices x include:
-
"NonNegativeCone" TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString] such that{"SemidefiniteCone", n} TemplateBox[{n}, SemidefiniteConeList] symmetric positive definite matrices
- Possible cone specifications κ in for arrays x include:
-
"NonNegativeCone" TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString] such that
- For exact numeric quantities, VectorLess internally uses numerical approximations to establish numerical ordering. This process can be affected by the setting of the global variable $MaxExtraPrecision .
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (3)
x<y yields True when xi < yi is True for all i=1,…,n:
x<y yields False when xi ≥ yi for any i=1,…,n:
Represent a vector inequality:
When v is replaced by numerical vector space elements, the inequality gives True or False :
The cone is also given by :
The cone is also given by :
The cuboid is also given by :
Scope (7)
Determine if all of the elements in a vector are strictly positive:
Determine if all components are strictly less than 1:
!xy does not imply xy:
For each component, !xi<yi does imply xi≥yi:
Compare the components of two matrices:
Compare symmetric matrices:
Represent the condition that Norm [{x,y}]<1:
Represent the condition that :
Show the boundary where for non-negative x,y with α between 0 and 1:
Applications (1)
VectorLess is a fast way to compare many elements:
Properties & Relations (3)
VectorLess is compatible with a vector space operation:
Adding vectors to both sides of for any vector :
Multiplying by positive constants for any :
xy is a (strict) partial order, i.e. irreflexive, asymmetric and transitive:
Irreflexive, i.e. for all elements so no element is related to itself:
Asymmetric, i.e. if then :
Transitive, i.e. if and then :
xκy are partial orders but not total orders, so there are incomparable elements:
Neither nor is true, because and are incomparable elements:
The set of vectors and . These are the comparable elements to :
Related Guides
History
Text
Wolfram Research (2019), VectorLess, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLess.html.
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2019. "VectorLess." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLess.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2019). VectorLess. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLess.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_vectorless, author="Wolfram Research", title="{VectorLess}", year="2019", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLess.html}", note=[Accessed: 23-November-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_vectorless, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={VectorLess}, year={2019}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLess.html}, note=[Accessed: 23-November-2025]}