In mathematics, a binary relation R on a set X is antisymmetric if, for all a and b in X, if a is related to b and b is related to a, then a = b.

In mathematical notation, this is:

$\backslash forall\; a,\; b\; \backslash in\; X,\backslash \; a\; R\; b\; \backslash and\; b\; R\; a\; \backslash ;\; \backslash Rightarrow\; \backslash ;\; a\; =\; b$

Inequalities are antisymmetric, since for different numbers a and b both a ≤ b and a ≥ b can not be true.

Note that 'antisymmetric' is not the logical negative of 'symmetric' (whereby aRb implies bRa). (N.B.: Both are properties of relations expressed as universal statements about their members; their logical negations must be existential statements.) Thus, there are relations which are both symmetric and antisymmetric (e.g., the equality relation) and there are relations which are neither symmetric nor antisymmetric (e.g., divisibility on the integers).

Antisymmetry is different from asymmetry. According to one definition of asymmetric, anything that fails to be symmetric is asymmetric; the definition of antisymmetry is more specific than this. Another definition of asymmetric makes asymmetry equivalent to antisymmetry plus irreflexivity.

Examples

• Equality
• "... is even, ... is odd"

  Properties containing antisymmetry

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  • Partial order - An antisymmetric relation that is also transitive and reflexive.
  • total order - An antisymmetric relation that is also transitive and total.

  See also

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  • Symmetry in mathematics
  • Symmetric relation

  Set theory

  Antisymetrická relace | Antisymmetrie | Relación antisimétrica | 반대칭관계 | אנטי סימטריות | Relacja antysymetryczna | Antisymetrická relácia | 反对称关系