A Method for Finding the m Smallest Values of a Monotonic Function Defined on Ordered Sets of Positive Integers The minimum value of a monotonic increasing function defined on a partially ordered set S is assumed on the set of minimal points of S. This observation is used to devise an efficient method for finding the m smallest functional values of monotonic functions defined on ordered pairs of positive integers. The method is easily extended to include monotonic functions defined on ordered n-tuples. Included is a FORTRAN program which was written to implement the procedure for a certain important case. CACM July, 1966 Sigillito, V. G. CA660709 JB March 2, 1978 9:13 PM 1403 5 1403 1403 5 1403 1403 5 1403