xy or VectorLessEqual[{x,y}]
yields True for vectors of length n if xi≤yi for all components  .
.
xκy or VectorLessEqual[{x,y},κ]
yields True for x and y if y-x∈κ, where κ is a proper convex cone.
 
     
   VectorLessEqual 
xy or VectorLessEqual[{x,y}]
yields True for vectors of length n if xi≤yi for all components  .
.
xκy or VectorLessEqual[{x,y},κ]
yields True for x and y if y-x∈κ, where κ is a proper convex cone.
Details
 
     
   - VectorLessEqual gives a partial ordering of vectors, matrices and arrays that is compatible with vector space operations, so that  and and imply imply for all for all . .
- VectorLessEqual is typically used to specify vector inequalities for constrained optimization, inequality solving and integration. It is also used to define minimal elements in vector optimization.
- When x and y are  -vectors, xy is equivalent to -vectors, xy is equivalent to . That is, each part of x is less than or equal to the corresponding part of y for the relation to be true. . That is, each part of x is less than or equal to the corresponding part of y for the relation to be true.
- When x and y are dimension  arrays, xy is equivalent to arrays, xy is equivalent to . That is, each part of x is less than or equal to the corresponding part of y for the relation to be true. . That is, each part of x is less than or equal to 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<= v<= or \[VectorLessEqual], with subscripts vector inequalities can be entered as follows: or \[VectorLessEqual], with subscripts vector inequalities can be entered as follows:
- 
      
       VectorLessEqual[{x,y}] the standard vector inequality  VectorLessEqual[{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. is the same as κ.
- Possible cone specifications κ in  for vectors x include: for vectors x include:
- 
      
      {"NonNegativeCone", n} ![TemplateBox[{n}, NonNegativeConeList] TemplateBox[{n}, NonNegativeConeList]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/21.png)  such that such that {"NormCone", n} ![TemplateBox[{n}, NormConeList] TemplateBox[{n}, NormConeList]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/24.png)  such that Norm[{x1,…,xn-1}]≤xn such that Norm[{x1,…,xn-1}]≤xn"ExponentialCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, ExponentialConeString] TemplateBox[{}, ExponentialConeString]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/26.png)  such that such that "DualExponentialCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, DualExponentialConeString] TemplateBox[{}, DualExponentialConeString]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/29.png)  such that such that or or {"PowerCone",α} ![TemplateBox[{alpha}, PowerConeList] TemplateBox[{alpha}, PowerConeList]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/33.png)  such that such that {"DualPowerCone",α} ![TemplateBox[{alpha}, DualPowerConeList] TemplateBox[{alpha}, DualPowerConeList]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/36.png)  such that such that 
- Possible cone specifications κ in  for matrices x include: for matrices x include:
- 
      
      "NonNegativeCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString] TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/40.png)  such that such that {"SemidefiniteCone", n} ![TemplateBox[{n}, SemidefiniteConeList] TemplateBox[{n}, SemidefiniteConeList]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/43.png) symmetric positive semidefinite matrices  
- Possible cone specifications κ in  for arrays x include: for arrays x include:
- 
      
      "NonNegativeCone" ![TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString] TemplateBox[{}, NonNegativeConeString]](Files/VectorLessEqual.en/46.png)  such that such that 
- For exact numeric quantities, VectorLessEqual 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:
Applications (8)
Basic Applications (1)
VectorLessEqual is a fast way to compare many elements:
Optimization over Vector Inequalities (1)
Solving Vector Inequalities (1)
The inequality  represents the cuboid Cuboid[pmin,pmax]:
 represents the cuboid Cuboid[pmin,pmax]:
Integration over Vector Inequality Regions (2)
Matrix Inequalities (3)
Use the standard vector order to represent the set of non-negative matrices:
Give the set of interval bounded matrices:
Use the semidefinite cone to define the set of symmetric positive semidefinite matrices:
Define the set of symmetric matrices with smallest eigenvalue  and largest eigenvalue
 and largest eigenvalue  by using
 by using  , where ℐn=IdentityMatrix[n] and κ="SemidefiniteCone". This finds the set of symmetric matrices
, where ℐn=IdentityMatrix[n] and κ="SemidefiniteCone". This finds the set of symmetric matrices  with eigenvalues between 1 and 2, i.e.
 with eigenvalues between 1 and 2, i.e.  :
:
Formulate the same problem using matrix variables:
Properties & Relations (3)
VectorLessEqual is compatible with a vector space operation:
Adding vectors to both sides  for any vector
 for any vector  :
:
Multiplying by positive constants  for any
 for any  :
:
xy is a (non-strict) partial order, i.e. reflexive, antisymmetric and transitive:
Reflexive, i.e.  for all elements
 for all elements  :
: 
Antisymmetric, i.e. if  and
 and  then
 then  :
:
Transitive, i.e. if  and
 and  then
 then  :
:
xκy are partial orders but not total orders, so there are incomparable elements:
Neither  nor
 nor  is true, because
 is true, because  and
 and  are incomparable elements:
 are incomparable elements:
The set of vectors  and
 and  . These are the comparable elements to
. These are the comparable elements to  :
:
Related Guides
History
Text
Wolfram Research (2019), VectorLessEqual, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLessEqual.html.
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2019. "VectorLessEqual." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLessEqual.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2019). VectorLessEqual. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLessEqual.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_vectorlessequal, author="Wolfram Research", title="{VectorLessEqual}", year="2019", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLessEqual.html}", note=[Accessed: 30-October-2025]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_vectorlessequal, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={VectorLessEqual}, year={2019}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/VectorLessEqual.html}, note=[Accessed: 30-October-2025]}




















