A relation R is a partial ordering if it is a pre-order (i.e. it is reflexive (x R x) and transitive (x R y R z => x R z)) and it is also antisymmetric (x R y R x => x = y). The ordering is partial, rather than total, because there may exist elements x and y for which neither x R y nor y R x. In domain theory, if D is a set of values including the undefined value (bottom) then we can define a partial ordering relation <= on D by x <= y if x = bottom or x = y. The constructed set D x D contains the very undefined element, (bottom, bottom) and the not so undefined elements, (x, bottom) and (bottom, x). The partial ordering on D x D is then (x1,y1) <= (x2,y2) if x1 <= x2 and y1 <= y2. The partial ordering on D -> D is defined by f <= g if f(x) <= g(x) for all x in D. (No f x is more defined than g x.) A lattice is a partial ordering where all finite subsets have a least upper bound and a greatest lower bound. ("<=" is written in LaTeX as sqsubseteq). (1995-02-03)

A set with a partial ordering.

In mathematics, a partial derivative of a function of several variables is its derivative with respect to one of those variables, with the others held constant (as opposed to the total derivative, in which all variables are allowed to vary). Partial derivatives are used in vector calculus and differential geometry.