xy or VectorGreater[{x,y}]
yields True for vectors of length n if xi>yi for all components
.
xκy or VectorGreater[{x,y},κ]
yields True for x and y if
, where κ is a proper convex cone.
VectorGreater 
xy or VectorGreater[{x,y}]
yields True for vectors of length n if xi>yi for all components
.
xκy or VectorGreater[{x,y},κ]
yields True for x and y if
, where κ is a proper convex cone.
Details
- VectorGreater gives a partial ordering of vectors, matrices and arrays that is compatible with vector space operations, so that
and
imply
for all
. - VectorGreater is typically used to specify vector inequalities for constrained optimization, inequality solving and integration.
- When x and y are
-vectors, xy is equivalent to
. That is, each part of x is greater than the corresponding part of y for the relation to be true. - When x and y are dimension
arrays, xy is equivalent to
. That is, each part of x is greater than the corresponding part of y for the relation to be true. - xy remains unevaluated if x or y has non-numeric elements; typically gives True or False otherwise.
- When x is an n-vector and y is a numeric scalar, xy yields True if xi>y for all components
. - By using the character , entered as
v>
or \[VectorGreater], with subscripts vector inequalities can be entered as follows: -

VectorGreater[{x,y}] the standard vector inequality 
VectorGreater[{x,y},κ] vector inequality defined by a cone κ - In general, one can use a proper convex cone κ to specify a vector inequality. The set
is the same as κ. - Possible cone specifications κ in
for vectors x include: -
{"NonNegativeCone", n} ![TemplateBox[{n}, NonNegativeConeList] TemplateBox[{n}, NonNegativeConeList]](Files/VectorGreater.en/22.png)
such that 
{"NormCone", n} ![TemplateBox[{n}, NormConeList] TemplateBox[{n}, NormConeList]](Files/VectorGreater.en/25.png)
such that Norm[{x1,…,xn-1}]<xn"ExponentialCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, ExponentialConeString] TemplateBox[{}, ExponentialConeString]](Files/VectorGreater.en/27.png)
such that 
"DualExponentialCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, DualExponentialConeString] TemplateBox[{}, DualExponentialConeString]](Files/VectorGreater.en/30.png)
such that 
{"PowerCone",α} ![TemplateBox[{alpha}, PowerConeList] TemplateBox[{alpha}, PowerConeList]](Files/VectorGreater.en/33.png)
such that 
{"DualPowerCone",α} ![TemplateBox[{alpha}, DualPowerConeList] TemplateBox[{alpha}, DualPowerConeList]](Files/VectorGreater.en/36.png)
such that 
- Possible cone specifications κ in
for matrices x include: -
"NonNegativeCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString] TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString]](Files/VectorGreater.en/40.png)
such that 
{"SemidefiniteCone", n} ![TemplateBox[{n}, SemidefiniteConeList] TemplateBox[{n}, SemidefiniteConeList]](Files/VectorGreater.en/43.png)
symmetric positive definite matrices 
- Possible cone specifications κ in
for arrays x include: -
"NonNegativeCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString] TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString]](Files/VectorGreater.en/46.png)
such that 
- For exact numeric quantities, VectorGreater internally uses numerical approximations to establish numerical ordering. This process can be affected by the setting of the global variable $MaxExtraPrecision.
Examples
open all close allBasic Examples (3)
Scope (7)
Determine if all of the elements in a vector are non-negative:
Determine if all components are less than or equal to 1:
For each component, !xi≥yi does imply xi<yi:
Compare the components of two matrices:
Represent the condition that Norm[{x,y}]<=1:
Represent the condition that
:
Show the boundary of where
for non-negative x,y with α between 0 and 1:
Applications (1)
VectorGreater is a fast way to compare many elements:
Properties & Relations (3)
VectorGreater is compatible with a vector space operation:
Adding vectors to both sides of
for any vector
:
Multiplying by positive constants
for any
:
xκy are (strict) partial orders, i.e. irreflexive, asymmetric and transitive:
Irreflexive, i.e.
for all elements
so no element is related to itself:
Transitive, i.e. if
and
then
:
xκy are partial orders but not total orders, so there are incomparable elements:
Neither
nor
is true, because
and
are incomparable elements:
The set of vectors
and
. These are the only comparable elements to
:
Related Guides
History
Text
Wolfram Research (2019), VectorGreater, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorGreater.html.
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2019. "VectorGreater." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorGreater.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2019). VectorGreater. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorGreater.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_vectorgreater, author="Wolfram Research", title="{VectorGreater}", year="2019", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorGreater.html}", note=[Accessed: 26-October-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_vectorgreater, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={VectorGreater}, year={2019}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorGreater.html}, note=[Accessed: 26-October-2025]}