Definition:Infimum/Also known as

Definition

Particularly in the field of analysis, the infimum of a set $T$ is often referred to as the greatest lower bound of $T$ and denoted $\map {\mathrm {glb} } T$ or $\map {\mathrm {g.l.b.} } T$.

Some sources refer to the infimum of a set as the infimum on a set.

Some sources refer to the infimum of a set as the meet of the set and use the notation $\bigwedge T$ or $\ds \bigwedge_{y \mathop \in T} y$.

Some sources introduce the notation $\ds \inf_{y \mathop \in T} y$, which may improve clarity in some circumstances.

Some older sources, applying the concept to a (strictly) decreasing real sequence, refer to an infimum as a lower limit.

Sources

• 1919: Horace Lamb: An Elementary Course of Infinitesimal Calculus (3rd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $\text I$. Continuity: $2$. Upper or Lower Limit of a Sequence
• 1964: Walter Rudin: Principles of Mathematical Analysis (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: The Real and Complex Number Systems: Real Numbers: $1.34$. Definition
• 1967: Michael Spivak: Calculus ... (previous): Part $\text {II}$: Foundations: Chapter $8$: Least Upper Bounds
• 1970: Arne Broman: Introduction to Partial Differential Equations ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Fourier Series: $1.1$ Basic Concepts: $1.1.2$ Definitions
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): bound: 1. (of a function)
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): greatest common divisor (GCD)
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): bound: 1. (of a function)
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): greatest lower bound (g.l.b.; infimum)