Successors and predecessors in lexicographic sums #
In the lexicographic sum α ⊕ₗ β, every element of α lies below every element of β. When α
has no maximal element, the successor of an element of either summand is its successor inside that
summand, so α ⊕ₗ β is a successor order. Dually, when β has no minimal element, α ⊕ₗ β is a
predecessor order with predecessors computed inside the summands. For example ℤ ⊕ₗ ℤ, two copies
of the integers one after the other, is a successor and predecessor order without endpoints that is
not isomorphic to ℤ.
The successor of an element of the left summand is its successor there.
The successor of an element of the right summand is its successor there.
The predecessor of an element of the left summand is its predecessor there.
The predecessor of an element of the right summand is its predecessor there.