Chain Conditions and Optimal Elements in Generalized Union-Closed Families of Sets

Abstract The union-closed sets conjecture (sometimes referred to as Frankl’s conjecture) states that every finite, nontrivial union-closed family of sets has an element that is in at least half of its members. Although the conjecture is known to be false in the infinite setting, we show that many interesting results can still be recovered by imposing suitable chain conditions and considering carefully chosen elements called optimal elements. We use these elements to show that the union-closed conjecture holds for both finite and infinite union-closed families such that the cardinality of any chain of sets is at most three. We also show that the conjecture holds for all nontrivial topological spaces satisfying the descending chain condition on its open sets. Notably, none of those arguments depend on the cardinality of the underlying family or its universe. Finally, we provide an interesting class of families that satisfy the conclusion of the conjecture but are not necessarily union-closed.