Show that (P(X), ⊂) is an ordered set

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It makes intuitive sense to me, but I am not sure how to prove it.

The exact wording of the exercise is:

Let X be a set, and let P(X) denote its power set. Show:

  1. (P(X), ⊂) is an ordered set.
  2. (P(X), ⊂) is a totally ordered set if and only if X = ∅ or X = {a}.

If I know how to do 1., I think I would be able to do 2. alone without help.


I would know what to do if it were (P(X), ⊆) but I am confused, because:

It is not reflexive since A ⊂ A for all A ⊂ P(X) is not true because of A = A.

I am not sure if it is antisymmetric since the definitions I found would not work because of similar reasons as above.

I do know it is transitive, however.

So what type of ordered set would this be, and how would I prove it? I would appreciate the help.