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The well-known notation for continuous intervals is $[a,b]$. But what's the case for discrete intervals? Actually they are sets of finite elements $\left\{a, a+1, ..., b-1, b\right\}$ or infinite elements $\left\{0, 1, 2, ...\right\}$.

Is there any special notation or common practice for discrete intervals?

Santiago
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plasmacel
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    Isn't $[a,b] \cap \mathbb Z$ enough? – Santiago Aug 11 '16 at 19:21
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    See http://math.stackexchange.com/questions/1188685/correct-notation-for-slice-of-integers for the earlier version that I found by now. I cannot vote as dupe, and will vtc the other one. – quid Aug 11 '16 at 19:30
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    I have seen $\mathbf{Z}_{a,b}$, but that might be very uncommon. –  Aug 11 '16 at 19:37

2 Answers2

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A notation that is sometimes used is double-brackets, so $[[a,b]]$. (But it should still be explained what is meant.)

If one uses only the discrete version it is not uncommon to just use the usual notation $[a,b]$ for the discrete version, and to say so clearly somewhere.

Let me add that on an earlier question regarding this subject the notations $a..b$ and $[a..b]$ were also mentioned.

Frank Vel
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quid
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In the book Statistics for Business and Economics by David R. Anderson,

Discrete intervals are simplified using ellipses. For instance:

B = 0, 1, 2, …, 20

E = 0, 1, 2, …, 50

V = 0, 1, 2, …, ∞

Unlike continuous intervals, which can be described using parentheses and square bracket, or inequality symbols, Like:

H = [0,8] or 0 ≤ H ≤ 8

K = (0, ∞) or K > 0