When Will Every Maximal F-free Subposet Contain a Maximal Element?

Abstract

Let F be a partially ordered set (poset). A poset P is called F-free if P contains no subposet isomorphic to F. A finite poset F is said to have the maximal element property if every maximal F-free subposet of any finite poset P contains a maximal element of P. It is shown that a poset F with at least two elements has the maximal element property if and only if F is an antichain or F ∼ = 2 + 2.