Question

What is an ordered pair?

Answer 1

An ordered pair is two items listed in order, typically written in the form `(a, b)`.

Explanation:

An ordered pair is a tuple with two elements, typically written `(a, b)`. The ordering matters, so in general `(a, b) != (b, a)`.

More formally, you can say that an ordered pair of elements of a set `A` is a point or member of `A xx A`.

Alternatively you can say that it is a mapping `f:{0, 1} -> A`. If you define it in this way, the pair is effectively `(f(0), f(1))`

Answer 2

It is a pair of things (two things) in a particular order. So the ordered pair `(3,2)` is not the same as the ordered pair `(2,3)`

Explanation:

The ordered pair `(3,2)` is not the same as the ordered pair `(2,3)`. Although they have the same 2 numbers, these pairs are arranged differently. In an ordered pair, order matters.

(Note: `{5,7}` and `{7,5}` are the same unordered pair. Notice the different notation used for ordered versus unordered.)