# A field that can be ordered in two distinct ways

For a short reminder about ordered fields you can have a look to following post. We prove there that $$\mathbb{Q}$$ can be ordered in only one way.

That is also the case of $$\mathbb{R}$$ as $$\mathbb{R}$$ is a real-closed field. And one can prove that the only possible positive cone of a real-closed field is the subset of squares.

However $$\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{2})$$ is a subfield of $$\mathbb{R}$$ that can be ordered in two distinct ways. Continue reading A field that can be ordered in two distinct ways

# An infinite field that cannot be ordered

## Introduction to ordered fields

Let $$K$$ be a field. An ordering of $$K$$ is a subset $$P$$ of $$K$$ having the following properties:

ORD 1
Given $$x \in K$$, we have either $$x \in P$$, or $$x=0$$, or $$-x \in P$$, and these three possibilities are mutually exclusive. In other words, $$K$$ is the disjoint union of $$P$$, $$\{0\}$$, and $$-P$$.
ORD 2
If $$x, y \in P$$, then $$x+y$$ and $$xy \in P$$.

We shall also say that $$K$$ is ordered by $$P$$, and we call $$P$$ the set of positive elements. Continue reading An infinite field that cannot be ordered