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Relations and Functions
Question
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Show that the relation R in the set A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } given by

R = { (a, b) : | a – b | is even}, is an equivalence relation. Show that all the elements of {1, 3, 5} are related to each other and all the elements of {2, 4} are related to each other. But no element of {1, 3, 5} is related to any element of {2, 4}.

Answer

A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
R = {(a, b) : | a – b | is even}
Now | a – a | = 0 is an even number,
∴ (a, a) ∈ R ∀ a ∈ A
⇒ R is reflexive.
Again (a, b) ∈ R
⇒ | a – b | is even ⇒ | – (b – a) | is even ⇒ | b – a | is even ⇒ (b, a) ∈ R
∴ R is symmetric.
Let (a, b) ∈ R and (b, c) ∈ R
⇒ | a – b | is even and | b – c | is even ⇒ a – b is even and b – c is even ⇒ (a – b) + (b – c) is even ⇒ a – c is even ⇒ | a – c | is even ⇒ (a, c) ∈ R
∴ R is transitive.
∴ R is an equivalence relation.
∵ | 1 – 3 | = 2, | 3 – 5 | = 2 and | 1 – 5 | = 4 are even, all the elements of {1, 3, 5} are related to each other. ∵ | 2 – 4 | = 2 is even,
all the elements of {2, 4} are related to each other.
Now | 1 – 2 | = 1, | 1 – 4 | = 3, | 3 – 2 | = 1, | 3 – 4 | = 1, | 5 – 2 | = 3 and | 5 – 4 | = 1 are all odd
no element of the set {1, 3, 5} is related to any element of (2, 4}.

Sponsor Area

Some More Questions From Relations and Functions Chapter

Show that the relation R in the set {1, 2, 3} given by R = {(1, 2), (2, 1)} is symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive.

Give an example of a relation which is

(i) Symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive.
(ii) Transitive but neither reflexive nor symmetric.
(iii) Reflexive and symmetric but not transitive.
(iv) Reflexive and transitive but not symmetric.
(v) Symmetric and transitive but not reflexive.

Let L be the set of all lines in a plane and R be the relation in L defined as R = {(L1, L2) : L1 is perpendicular to L2}. Show that R is symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive.

 Determine whether each of the following relations are reflexive, symmetric and transitive :

(i) Relation R in the set A = {1, 2, 3,....., 13, 14} defined as

R = {(x, y) : 3 x – y = 0}

(ii) Relation R in the set N of natural numbers defined as R = {(x, y) : y = x + 5 and x < 4} (iii) Relation R in the set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} as R = {(x,y) : y is divisible by x} (iv) Relation R in the set Z of all integers defined as R = {(x,y) : x – y is an integer}

(v) Relation R in the set A of human beings in a town at a particular time given by
(a)    R = {(x, y) : x and y work at the same place}
(b)    R = {(x,y) : x and y live in the same locality}
(c)    R = {(x, y) : x is exactly 7 cm taller than y}
(d)    R = {(x, y) : x is wife of y}
(e)    R = {(x,y) : x is father of y}

Check whether the relation R defined in the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} as R = {(a, b) : b = a + 1} is reflexive, symmetric or transitive.

Show that the relation R in R defined as R = {(a, b) : a ≤ b}, is reflexive and transitive but not symmetric.

Check whether the relation R in R defined by R = {(a,b) : a ≤ b3} is refleive, symmetric or transitive.

If R and R’ arc reflexive relations on a set then so are R ∪ R’ and R ∩ R’. 

If R and R’ are symmetric relations on a set A, then R ∩ R’ is also a sysmetric relation on A.