Definition:Real Interval/Unbounded without Endpoints
Definition
The unbounded interval without endpoints is equal to the set of real numbers:
- $\openint \gets \to = \R$
Notation
An arbitrary (real) interval is frequently denoted $\mathbb I$.
Sources which use the $\textbf {boldface}$ font for the number sets $\N, \Z, \Q, \R, \C$ tend also to use $\mathbf I$ for this entity.
Some sources merely use the ordinary $\textit {italic}$ font $I$.
Some sources prefer to use $J$.
Wirth Interval Notation
The notation used on this site to denote a real interval is a fairly recent innovation, and was introduced by Niklaus Emil Wirth:
\(\ds \openint a b\) | \(:=\) | \(\ds \set {x \in \R: a < x < b}\) | Open Real Interval | |||||||||||
\(\ds \hointr a b\) | \(:=\) | \(\ds \set {x \in \R: a \le x < b}\) | Half-Open (to the right) Real Interval | |||||||||||
\(\ds \hointl a b\) | \(:=\) | \(\ds \set {x \in \R: a < x \le b}\) | Half-Open (to the left) Real Interval | |||||||||||
\(\ds \closedint a b\) | \(:=\) | \(\ds \set {x \in \R: a \le x \le b}\) | Closed Real Interval |
The term Wirth interval notation has consequently been coined by $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$.
Also denoted as
The notation using $\infty$ is usual:
\(\ds \openint {-\infty} \infty\) | \(:=\) | \(\ds \R\) |
On $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$ the $\gets \cdots \to$ notation is preferred.
Also known as
Some sources refer to this as an open infinite (real) interval.
Also see
- Definition:Open Real Interval
- Definition:Closed Real Interval
- Definition:Half-Open Real Interval
- Definition:Unbounded Closed Real Interval
- Definition:Unbounded Open Real Interval
Sources
- 1973: G. Stephenson: Mathematical Methods for Science Students (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Chapter $1$: Real Numbers and Functions of a Real Variable: $1.2$ Operations with Real Numbers