a and ψ(y) = y ∧ b. The composition ψφ is an order-preserving map from the interval [a ∧ b, b] to itself which also satisfies the inequality ψ(φ(x)) = (x ∨ a) ∧ b ≥ x. The example shows that this inequality can be strict in general. In a modular lattice, however, equality holds. Since the dual of a modular lattice is again modular, φψ is also the identity on [a, a ∨ b], and therefore the two maps φ and ψ are isomorphisms between these two intervals. This result is sometimes called the diamond isomorphism theorem for modular lattices. A lattice is modular if and only if the diamond isomorphism theorem holds for every pair of elements. The diamond isomorphism theorem for modular lattices is analogous to the second isomorphism theorem in algebra, and it is a generalization of the lattice theorem. Modular pairs and related notions In any lattice, a modular pair is a pair (a, b) of elements such that for all x satisfying a ∧ b ≤ x ≤ b, we have (x ∨ a) ∧ b = x, i.e. if one half of the diamond isomorphism theorem holds for the pair. An element b of a lattice is called a (right) modular element if (a, b) is a modular pair for all elements a. A lattice with the property that if (a, b) is a modular pair, then (b, a) is also a modular pair is called an M-symmetric lattice. Since a lattice is modular if and only if all pairs of elements are modular, clearly every modular lattice is M-symmetric. In the lattice N5 described above, the pair (b, a) is modular, but the pair (a, b) is not. Therefore, N5 is not M-symmetric. The centred hexagon lattice S7 is M-symmetric but not modular. Since N5 is a sublattice of S7, it follows that the M-symmetric lattices do not form a subvariety of the variety of lattices. M-symmetry is not a self-dual notion. A dual modular pair is a pair which is modular in the dual lattice, and a lattice is called dually M-symmetric or M*-symmetric if its dual is M-symmetric. It can be shown that a finite lattice is modular if and only if it is M-symmetric and M*-symmetric. The same equivalence holds for infinite lattices which satisfy the ascending chain condition (or the descending chain condition). Several less important notions are