Ordered set operators

In mathematical notation, ordered set operators indicate whether an object precedes or succeeds another. These relationship operators are denoted by the unicode symbols U+227A-F, along with symbols located unicode blocks U+228x through U+22Ex.

Examples

 * The relationship x precedes y is written x ≺ y. The relation x precedes or is equal to y is written x ≼ y.
 * The relationship x succeeds (or follows) y is written x ≻ y. The relation x succeeds or is equal to y is written x ≽ y.

Use in political science
In Political science and Decision theory, order relations are typically used in the context of an agent's choice, for example the preferences of a voter over several political candidates.


 * x ≺ y means that the voter prefers candidate y over candidate x.
 * x ~ y means the voter is indifferent between candidates x and y.
 * x ≲ y means the voter is indifferent or prefers candidate y.