Set (Cover/Covering - Open Cover/Covering - Subcover/Subcovering)

Cover/Covering - Definition

A family 𝛾 of nonempty subsets of 𝑋 whose union contains the given set 𝑋 (and which contains no duplicated subsets) is called a cover (or covering) of 𝑋. For example:

  • there is only a single cover of {1}, namely {{1}}
  • there are five covers of {1,2}, namely {{1},{2}}{{1,2}}{{1},{1,2}}{{2},{1,2}}, and {{1},{2},{1,2}}

The number of possible covers for a set of 𝑁 elements are:

  • 1, 5, 109, 32297, 2147321017, 9223372023970362989, …

Cover/Covering - Specialized Covers

Specialized Cover

Description

minimal cover

is a cover for which the removal of one member destroys the covering property. For example:

  • of the five covers of {1,2}, only {{1},{2}} and {{1,2}} are minimal covers

proper covers

antichain covers

k-covers

k*-covers