Let f : X → Y be a function. Define a relation R in X given by R = {(a, b) : f (q) = f(b)}. Examine if R is an equivalence relation.
For every a ∈ X. (a. a) ∈ R as f (a) = f (a),
∴ R is reflexive.
Similarly. (a, b) ∈ R ⇒ f(a) = f(b) ⇒ f(b) = f(a) ⇒ (b, a) ∈ R ∴ R is symmetric.
Further, (a, b) ∈ R and (b, c) ∈ R
⇒ f (a) = f (b) and f (b) = f(c) ⇒ f (a) = f (c) ⇒ (a, c) ∈ R ∴ R is transitive.
∴ R is an equivalence relation.