TeXipedia

vartriangleleft

Represents a left-pointing triangular binary relation symbol commonly used in mathematical logic and set theory.

Overview

Serves as a specialized mathematical operator indicating specific relationships between elements or sets, particularly in formal logic and abstract mathematics.

  • Often employed in order theory to denote strict partial orders
  • Used in theoretical computer science for describing program semantics
  • Appears in mathematical proofs and formal specifications where precise relation notation is required
  • Provides a visually distinct alternative to standard inequality symbols when different relations need to be distinguished

Examples

Showing a strict precedence relation in order theory.

xyzx \vartriangleleft y \vartriangleleft z
x \vartriangleleft y \vartriangleleft z

Expressing a proper subset relationship with additional emphasis.

ABCA \vartriangleleft B \subseteq C
A \vartriangleleft B \subseteq C

Denoting a strict ordering in a partially ordered set.

P1P2P3P4P_1 \vartriangleleft P_2 \vartriangleleft P_3 \vartriangleleft P_4
P_1 \vartriangleleft P_2 \vartriangleleft P_3 \vartriangleleft P_4