The following is the Hasse diagram of the poset [{a, b, c, d, e}, ≤]
The poset is
(A) not a lattice
(B) a lattice but not a distributive lattice
(C) a distributive lattice but not a Boolean algebra
(D) a Boolean algebra
Answer: (B)
Explanation:
It is a lattice but not a distributive lattice. Table for Join Operation of above Hesse diagram V |a b c d e ________________ a |a a a a a b |a b a a b c |a a c a c d |a a a d d e |a b c d e Table for Meet Operation of above Hesse diagram ^ |a b c d e _______________ a |a b c d e b |b b e e e c |c e c e e d |d e e d e e |e e e e e Therefore for any two element p, q in the lattice (A,<=) p <= p V q ; p^q <= p This satisfies for all element (a,b,c,d,e). which has 'a' as unique least upper bound and 'e' as unique greatest lower bound. The given lattice doesn't obey distributive law, so it is not distributive lattice, Note that for b,c,d we have distributive law b^(cVd) = (b^c) V (b^d). From the diagram / tables given above we can verify as follows, (i) L.H.S. = b ^ (c V d) = b ^ a = b (ii) R.H.S. = (b^c) V (b^d) = e v e = e b != e which contradict the distributive law. Hence it is not distributive lattice. so, option (B) is correct.