Relations and Functions

Question

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

(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}

Answer

A is the set of human beings in a town at a particular time R is relation in A.
(a) R = {(x, y) : x and y work at the same time}
R is reflexive as (x, x) ∈ R R is symmetric as ( x, y) ∈ R ∈ (y, x) ∈ R
[ ∵ x and y work at the same time ⇒ y and x work at the same time] R is transitive as (x, y), (y, z) ∈ R ⇒ (x, z) ∈ R
[∴ if x and y, y and z work at the same time, then x and z also work at the same time]
(b) R = {(x,y) : x and y live in the same locality}
R is reflexive as (x, x) ∈ R R is symmetric as ( x, y) ∈ R ⇒ (y, x) ∈ R
[∴ x and y live in the same locality ⇒ y and x live in the same locality] R is transitive as ( x, y), ( y, z) ∈ R ⇒ (x, z) ∈ R
[∵ if x and y, y and z live in the same locality. then x and z also live in the same locality]
(c) R = {(x,y) : x is exactly 7 cm taller than y}
Since (x, x) ∉ R as x cannot be 7 cm taller than x.
∴ R is not reflexive.
(x, y) ∈ R ⇒ (y.x) ∈ R as if x is taller than y, then y cannot be taller than x.
∴ R is not symmetric.
Again (x,y), (y,z) ∈ R ⇏ (x, z) ∈ R
[∵ if x is taller than y by 7 cm and y is taller than z by 7 cm,
then x is taller than z by 14 cm]
∴ R is not transitive.
(d) R = {(x,y) : x is wife of y}
R is not reflexive as (x,y) ∉ R    [∴ x cannot be wife of x]
Also (x, y) ∈ R ⇏ (y, x) ∈ R [∵ if x is wife of y, then y cannot be wife of x] ∴ R is not symmetric.
R is not transitive.
(e) R = {(x,y) : x is father of y}
R is not reflexive as (x, x) ∉ R    [ ∵ x cannot be father of x]
Also (x,y) ∈ R ⇐ (y, x) ∈ R [ ∵ if x is father of y. then y cannot be father of x] ∴ R is not symmetric.
R is not transitive.

Sponsor Area

Some More Questions From Relations and Functions Chapter

Let A be the set of all students of a boys school. Show that the relation R in A given by R = {(a, b) : a is sister of b} is the empty relation and R’ = {(a, b) : the difference between heights of a and b is less than 3 meters} is the universal relation.

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

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.