SubQuantityOf

Directed

yes

Source end
Allowed

Quantity

Multiplicity

1 - 1

Target end
Allowed

Quantity

Multiplicity

1 - 1

Binary properties
Reflexivity

no

Transitivity

yes

Symmetry

no

Cyclicity

no

Definition

«SubQuantityOf» is a parthood relation between two quantities, e.g.:

  1. alcohol is part of wine;

  2. plasma is part of blood;

  3. sugar is part of ice cream.

Quantities have not elements (or members). Since their members cannot be enumerated, they must be defined by a relation that unifies them into a connected whole (self-connectedness). Quantities are connected topologically (unlike e.g. collectives, which parts and members may not be placed together). Topological connection is characteristic for quantities and because of topological connection, sub-quantities cannot be shared among several super-quantities. For this reason, a subQuantityOf relation is always non-sharable. Since quantities do not have elements, they can be arbitrarily divided, like e.g. water. That´s why any quantity is defined to be maximal portion and can not be part of itself (water cannot be part of water). Since every part of a quantity is maximal (and self-connected), the SubQuantityOf parthood must have a cardinality constraint of one and exactly one in the sub-quantity side. E.g. since alcohol is a quantity (and, hence, maximal), there is exactly one quantity of alcohol which is part of a specific quantity of wine. Since quantity is maximal, it cannot have a quantity of the same kind as its part – i.e. the «SubQuantityOf» relation is irreflexive.

Nevertheless, a quantity can be part of another quantity (like glucose in wine) using the «SubQuantityOf» relation. The change of any of parts of the quantity changes the identity of the whole (i.e. quantities are extensional entities). That is why the strong supplementation axiom holds for the the «SubQuantityOf» relations (unlike «SubCollectionOf» relation, which on contrary holds only weaker axiom). For the same reason, all parts of a quantity are essential and «SubQuantityOf» relations are essential parthood relations. Further, since essential parthood relations are always transitive, «SubQuantityOf» is always transitive.

Constraints

C1: The «SubQuantityOf» relation is always non-shareable.

C2: A sub-quantity is always an essential part of its super-quantity (marked with {essential} constraint).

C3: The cardinality in the part-end must be exactly one.

C4: The «SubQuantityOf» quantities at its both ends. Quantities are types as defined in the overview table above.

Common questions

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Examples

EX1: Typical Subquantity

EX2: Another Example of Subquantity

EX3: Examples of Subquantity

See also

References:

GUIZZARDI, Giancarlo. Ontological Foundations for Structural Conceptual Models. Enschede: CTIT, Telematica Instituut, 2005. GUIZZARDI, Giancarlo. Introduction to Ontological Engineering. [presentation] Prague: Prague University of Economics, 2011.