MATH301- DISCRETE MATHEMATICS Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015. 
Dr. Nahid Sultana 
Email: nszakir@ud.edu.sa 
Chapter 2: Relations 
10/10/2014 
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Topics 10/10/2014 
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 
Product sets 
 
Relations 
 
Inverse Relation, 
 
Representing Relations Using Matrices 
 
Composition of Relations 
 
Types of Relations 
 
Reflexive and Irreflexive Relations 
 
Symmetric and Antisymmetric Relations 
 
Transitive Relations 
 
Equivalence Relations 
 
Partial Ordering Relations 
 
Closure Properties Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Product sets 
Definition: The ordered pair (x , y) is a single element consisting of pair of elements in which 
 
x is the first element (coordinate) 
 
y is the second element (coordinate). 
Definition: Two ordered pair (x , y) and (w , z) will be equal if 
x = w and y = z. 
Note: 
 
If {a, b} is a set, {a, b}= {b, a} 
 
If (a, b) is an ordered pair, then (a, b) ≠ (b, a) 10/10/2014 
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Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Cartesian Product 10/10/2014 
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Definition: The Cartesian product of two sets A and B is the set of all ordered pairs (a, b) with 
Example: Let A = {x, y} and B = {1, 2}. Compute . Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Relations 10/10/2014 
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Definition: A Relation R from set A to set B is a subset of A × B. 
 
If (a , b) ∈ R, we say that “a is related to b", and write aRb. 
 
If (a , b) ∉ R, we say that “a is not related to b“, and write aRb. 
 
If A = B, we often say that R ∈ A × A is a relation on A. 
Example: A = (1, 2, 3) and B = {x, y, z}, and let R = {(1, y), (1, z), (3, y)}. Then R is a relation from A to B ? . 
Yes--since R is a subset of A × B 
With respect to this relation, Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Relations 
Solution: Note that these relations are on an infinite set and each of these relations is an infinite set. Checking the conditions that define each relation, we see that 
(1,1) is in R1, R3, R4 , and R6: 
(1,2) is in R1 and R6: 
(2,1) is in R2, R5, and R6: 
(1, −1) is in R2, R3, and R6 : 
(2,2) is in R1, R3, and R4. 
Example: Consider these relations on the set of integers: 
R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b}, R4 = {(a,b) | a = b}, 
R2 = {(a,b) | a > b}, R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1}, 
R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b}, R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3}. 
Which of these relations contain each of the pairs 
(1,1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (1, −1), and (2, 2)? 10/10/2014 
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Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Relations (Cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Definition: The domain of relation R is the set of all first elements of the ordered pairs which belong to R, denoted by Dom(R). 
Definition: The range is the set of second elements of the ordered pairs which belong to R, denoted by Ran(R). 
Example: A = (1, 2, 3) and B = {x, y, z}, and consider the relation 
R = {(1, y), (1, z), (3, y)}. 
Find the domain and range of R. 
The domain of R is Dom(R) = {1, 3} 
The range of R is Ran(R) = {y, z} Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Inverse Relations 10/10/2014 
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Definition: Let R be any relation from set A to B. The inverse of R, denoted by R-1, is the relation from B to A denoted by R-1 = {(b , a)|(a , b)∈ R} 
Example: let A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {x, y, z}. Find the inverse of 
R = {(1, y), (1 , z), (3 , y)} 
Solution: R−1 = {(y , 1), (z , 1), (y , 3)} 
 
If R is any relation, then (R-1)-1 = R. 
 
The domain and range of R-1 are equal to the range and domain of R, respectively. 
 
If R is a relation on A, then R-1 is also a relation on A. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Representing Relations Using Matrices 
 
A relation between finite sets can be represented using a zero-one matrix. 
 
Suppose R is a relation from A = {a1, a2, …, am} to B = {b1, b2, …, bn}. 
 
The elements of the two sets can be listed in any particular arbitrary order. When A = B, we use the same ordering. 
 
The relation R is represented by the matrix 
MR = [mij], where 
 
The matrix representing R has a 1 as its (i,j) entry when ai is related to bj and a 0 if ai is not related to bj. 10/10/2014 
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Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Examples of Representing Relations Using Matrices 
Example 1: Suppose that A = {1,2,3} and B = {1,2}. Let R be the relation from A to B containing (a,b) if a ∈ A, b ∈ B, and a > b. What is the matrix representing R (assuming the ordering of elements is the same as the increasing numerical order)? 
Solution: Here R = {(2,1), (3,1),(3,2)}. The matrix representing R is 10/10/2014 
10 
Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Examples of Representing Relations Using Matrices (cont.) 
Example 2: Let A = {a1,a2, a3} and B = {b1,b2, b3,b4, b5}. Which ordered pairs are in the relation R represented by the matrix 
Solution: R = {(a1, b2), (a2, b1),(a2, b3), (a2, b4),(a3, b1), {(a3, b3), (a3, b5)}. 10/10/2014 
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Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Composition of Relations 10/10/2014 
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Definition: Suppose A, B and C are sets, and 
 
R is a relation from A to B 
 
S is a relation from B to C 
 
Then the composition of R and S, denoted by R ∘ S, is a relation from A to C defined by R ∘ S = {(a , c)| ∃ b ∈ B, for which (a , b) ∈ R and (b , c) ∈ S} 
Example: Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {a, b, c, d}, C = {x, y, z} and let R = {(1, a), (2, d), (3, a), (3, b), (3, d)} and S = {(b, x), (b, z), (c, y), (d, z)} Compute R ∘ S . 
Using arrow diagram, R ◦ S={(2,z), (3,x), (3,z)} Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Composition of Relations (Cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Example: Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {a, b, c, d}, C = {x, y, z} and let R = {(1, a), (2, d), (3, a), (3, b), (3, d)} and S = {(b, x), (b, z), (c, y), (d, z)}. Compute R ∘ S . 
There is another way of finding R ◦ S. 
Let MR and MS denote the matrix representations of the relations R and S, respectively. Then 
The nonzero entries in this matrix tell us which elements are related by R◦S. Thus R ◦ S={(2,z), (3,x), (3,z)} 
Multiplying MR and MS Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Types of relations 10/10/2014 
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Types of relations which are defined on a set A. 
 
Reflexive and Irreflexive Relations 
 
Symmetric and Antisymmetric Relations 
 
Transitive Relations 
Definition: A relation R on a set A is reflexive if (a,a) ∈ R for all a ∈ A. 
Thus R is not reflexive if there exists a ∈ A such that (a, a)∉ R. 
Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1)(1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)} 
R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2)} 
R3 = Φ 
Determine which relation is reflexive. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Types of relations (Cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Example: The following relations on the integers are reflexive: 
R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b}, 
R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b}, 
R4 = {(a,b) | a = b}. 
The following relations are not reflexive: 
R2 = {(a,b) | a > b} (note that 3 ≯ 3), 
R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1} (note that 3 ≠3 + 1), 
R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3} (note that 4 + 4 ≰ 3). Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Types of relations (Cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Definition: A relation R on a set A is symmetric if whenever aRb then bRa, i.e., if whenever (a, b) ∈ R then (b, a) ∈ R. Thus R is not symmetric if there exists a, b ∈ A such that (a, b) ∈ R but (b, a) ∉ R. 
Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1)(1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)} R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 2)} Determine which relation is symmetric. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Types of relations (Cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Definition: A relation R on a set A is antisymmetric if whenever aRb and bRa then a = b. 
Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1)(1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)} 
R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2)} 
Determine which relation is antisymmetric. 
The contrapositive of this definition is that R is antisymmetric if whenever a ≠ b, then either (a,b) ∉ R or (b,a) ∉ R. 
Definition: A relation R is not antisymmetric if there exist a, b ∈ A such that (a,b)∈ R and (b, a) ∈ R but a ≠ b. 
Note: Not symmetric ≠ antisymmetric . Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Types of relations (Cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 3), (1, 3)} 
R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2,2), (2,3)} 
R3 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (1,3), (3,3)} 
Determine which relation is transitive. 
Definition: A relation R on a set A is transitive if whenever aRb and bRc then aRc, that is, if whenever (a, b)∈R and (b, c)∈ R then (a, c)∈R. 
Thus R is not transitive if there exist a, b, c ∈ R such that 
(a,b)∈ R and (b, c) ∈ R but (a,c) ∉ R. 
If such a, b and c not exist, then R is transitive. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Equivalence relation 10/10/2014 
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Example: Consider the following relation on the set A = {1, 2, 3,4}: R = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2,1), (2,2), (3,4), (4,3), (3,3), (4, 4)} 
Determine whether this relation is equivalence or not. 
Definition: A relation R on a set A is called an equivalence relation if R is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive. 
 
It follows three properties: 
1) 
For every a ∈ A, aRa. 
2) 
If aRb then bRa. 
3) 
If aRb and bRc, then aRc. 
The relation R is equivalence because R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Equivalence relation (cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Example: Let A= ℤ, set of integers. Let R be defined by aRb 
iff a ≤ b. Determine whether this relation is equivalence or not. 
Therefore the relation R is not an equivalence. 
Solution: 
1) 
The relation R is reflexive a ≤ a. 
2) 
The relation R is not symmetric a ≤ b does not imply that b ≤ a . 
3) 
The relation R is transitive because a ≤ b and b ≤ c imply that a ≤ c. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Equivalence relation (cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Example: Prove that congruence modulo n is an equivalence relation on ℤ. 
Definition: For a given positive integer n ≥ 2, two integers a and b are called congruent modulo n, written as 
a ≡ b(mod n) 
if a - b is divisible by n. 
Solution: 
1) 
Reflexivity: For any a ∈ ℤ, we have a ≡ a(mod n) because a- a=0 is divisible by n. Hence the relation is reflexive. Cont to next slide….. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Equivalence relation (cont…) 10/10/2014 
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2) 
Symmetry: suppose a ≡ b(mod n) ⇒ a-b is divisible by n ⇒ (a-b)/n = k , for some k ∈ℤ ⇒ a-b = nk . Therefore, b-a = -(a-b) = -nk = n(-k) ⇒(b-a)/n = -k, so b-a is divisible by n as -k∈ℤ i.e. b ≡ a(mod n). Thus the relation is symmetric. 
3) Transitivity: suppose a ≡ b (mod n) and b ≡ c (mod n), then (a-b)/n =k and (b-c)/n=l for some k,l∈ℤ. i.e. a-b=nk and b-c=nl. By adding this two equations we get, a-c=n(k+l)⇒(a-c)/n=k+l. So a-c is divisible by n as k+l ∈ℤ, i.e. a ≡ c(mod n). Thus the relation is transitive. 
Hence this is an equivalence relation on ℤ. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015. 
Solution: Cont…..
Equivalence class (cont…) 10/10/2014 
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Definition: For an equivalence relation R defined on A and for a∈ A, the set [a] = {x ∈ A| (a, x) ∈R} is called the equivalence class of a in A. 
Definition: Any b ∈ [a] is called a representative of this equivalence class. 
Definition: The collection of all equivalence classes of elements of A under an equivalence relation R is called the quotient set, denoted by A/R, i.e. 
A/R = {[a] | a ∈ A}. 
Note: The quotient set A/R is a partition of A. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Partial Orderings 10/10/2014 
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Definition : A relation R on a set S is called a partial ordering, or partial order, if it is reflexive, antisymmetric, and transitive. 
Definition: A set A together with a partial ordering R is called a partially ordered set or poset. 
Example: Show that the “greater than or equal” relation (≥) is a partial ordering on the set of integers. 
Solution: 
Reflexivity: a ≥ a for every integer a. 
Antisymmetry: If a ≥ b and b ≥ a , then a = b. 
Transitivity: If a ≥ b and b ≥ c , then a ≥ c. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
Closure Properties 10/10/2014 
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 
Suppose R is a relation on A 
 
If R does not possess a particular relation (reflexive, symmetric, transitive) 
 
Then we may add as few new pairs as possible until we get a new relation R1 on A that have that required property. 
 
If such R1 exists, we call it the closure of R with respect to that property. 
 
Example: Reflexive closure, Symmetric closure, Transitive closure. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.

Chapter 2: Relations

  • 1.
    MATH301- DISCRETE MATHEMATICSCopyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015. Dr. Nahid Sultana Email: nszakir@ud.edu.sa Chapter 2: Relations 10/10/2014 1
  • 2.
    Topics 10/10/2014 2  Product sets  Relations  Inverse Relation,  Representing Relations Using Matrices  Composition of Relations  Types of Relations  Reflexive and Irreflexive Relations  Symmetric and Antisymmetric Relations  Transitive Relations  Equivalence Relations  Partial Ordering Relations  Closure Properties Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 3.
    Product sets Definition:The ordered pair (x , y) is a single element consisting of pair of elements in which  x is the first element (coordinate)  y is the second element (coordinate). Definition: Two ordered pair (x , y) and (w , z) will be equal if x = w and y = z. Note:  If {a, b} is a set, {a, b}= {b, a}  If (a, b) is an ordered pair, then (a, b) ≠ (b, a) 10/10/2014 3 Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 4.
    Cartesian Product 10/10/2014 4 Definition: The Cartesian product of two sets A and B is the set of all ordered pairs (a, b) with Example: Let A = {x, y} and B = {1, 2}. Compute . Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 5.
    Relations 10/10/2014 5 Definition: A Relation R from set A to set B is a subset of A × B.  If (a , b) ∈ R, we say that “a is related to b", and write aRb.  If (a , b) ∉ R, we say that “a is not related to b“, and write aRb.  If A = B, we often say that R ∈ A × A is a relation on A. Example: A = (1, 2, 3) and B = {x, y, z}, and let R = {(1, y), (1, z), (3, y)}. Then R is a relation from A to B ? . Yes--since R is a subset of A × B With respect to this relation, Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 6.
    Relations Solution: Notethat these relations are on an infinite set and each of these relations is an infinite set. Checking the conditions that define each relation, we see that (1,1) is in R1, R3, R4 , and R6: (1,2) is in R1 and R6: (2,1) is in R2, R5, and R6: (1, −1) is in R2, R3, and R6 : (2,2) is in R1, R3, and R4. Example: Consider these relations on the set of integers: R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b}, R4 = {(a,b) | a = b}, R2 = {(a,b) | a > b}, R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1}, R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b}, R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3}. Which of these relations contain each of the pairs (1,1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (1, −1), and (2, 2)? 10/10/2014 6 Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 7.
    Relations (Cont…) 10/10/2014 7 Definition: The domain of relation R is the set of all first elements of the ordered pairs which belong to R, denoted by Dom(R). Definition: The range is the set of second elements of the ordered pairs which belong to R, denoted by Ran(R). Example: A = (1, 2, 3) and B = {x, y, z}, and consider the relation R = {(1, y), (1, z), (3, y)}. Find the domain and range of R. The domain of R is Dom(R) = {1, 3} The range of R is Ran(R) = {y, z} Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 8.
    Inverse Relations 10/10/2014 8 Definition: Let R be any relation from set A to B. The inverse of R, denoted by R-1, is the relation from B to A denoted by R-1 = {(b , a)|(a , b)∈ R} Example: let A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {x, y, z}. Find the inverse of R = {(1, y), (1 , z), (3 , y)} Solution: R−1 = {(y , 1), (z , 1), (y , 3)}  If R is any relation, then (R-1)-1 = R.  The domain and range of R-1 are equal to the range and domain of R, respectively.  If R is a relation on A, then R-1 is also a relation on A. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 9.
    Representing Relations UsingMatrices  A relation between finite sets can be represented using a zero-one matrix.  Suppose R is a relation from A = {a1, a2, …, am} to B = {b1, b2, …, bn}.  The elements of the two sets can be listed in any particular arbitrary order. When A = B, we use the same ordering.  The relation R is represented by the matrix MR = [mij], where  The matrix representing R has a 1 as its (i,j) entry when ai is related to bj and a 0 if ai is not related to bj. 10/10/2014 9 Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 10.
    Examples of RepresentingRelations Using Matrices Example 1: Suppose that A = {1,2,3} and B = {1,2}. Let R be the relation from A to B containing (a,b) if a ∈ A, b ∈ B, and a > b. What is the matrix representing R (assuming the ordering of elements is the same as the increasing numerical order)? Solution: Here R = {(2,1), (3,1),(3,2)}. The matrix representing R is 10/10/2014 10 Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 11.
    Examples of RepresentingRelations Using Matrices (cont.) Example 2: Let A = {a1,a2, a3} and B = {b1,b2, b3,b4, b5}. Which ordered pairs are in the relation R represented by the matrix Solution: R = {(a1, b2), (a2, b1),(a2, b3), (a2, b4),(a3, b1), {(a3, b3), (a3, b5)}. 10/10/2014 11 Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 12.
    Composition of Relations10/10/2014 12 Definition: Suppose A, B and C are sets, and  R is a relation from A to B  S is a relation from B to C  Then the composition of R and S, denoted by R ∘ S, is a relation from A to C defined by R ∘ S = {(a , c)| ∃ b ∈ B, for which (a , b) ∈ R and (b , c) ∈ S} Example: Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {a, b, c, d}, C = {x, y, z} and let R = {(1, a), (2, d), (3, a), (3, b), (3, d)} and S = {(b, x), (b, z), (c, y), (d, z)} Compute R ∘ S . Using arrow diagram, R ◦ S={(2,z), (3,x), (3,z)} Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 13.
    Composition of Relations(Cont…) 10/10/2014 13 Example: Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {a, b, c, d}, C = {x, y, z} and let R = {(1, a), (2, d), (3, a), (3, b), (3, d)} and S = {(b, x), (b, z), (c, y), (d, z)}. Compute R ∘ S . There is another way of finding R ◦ S. Let MR and MS denote the matrix representations of the relations R and S, respectively. Then The nonzero entries in this matrix tell us which elements are related by R◦S. Thus R ◦ S={(2,z), (3,x), (3,z)} Multiplying MR and MS Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 14.
    Types of relations10/10/2014 14 Types of relations which are defined on a set A.  Reflexive and Irreflexive Relations  Symmetric and Antisymmetric Relations  Transitive Relations Definition: A relation R on a set A is reflexive if (a,a) ∈ R for all a ∈ A. Thus R is not reflexive if there exists a ∈ A such that (a, a)∉ R. Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1)(1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)} R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2)} R3 = Φ Determine which relation is reflexive. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 15.
    Types of relations(Cont…) 10/10/2014 15 Example: The following relations on the integers are reflexive: R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b}, R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b}, R4 = {(a,b) | a = b}. The following relations are not reflexive: R2 = {(a,b) | a > b} (note that 3 ≯ 3), R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1} (note that 3 ≠3 + 1), R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3} (note that 4 + 4 ≰ 3). Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 16.
    Types of relations(Cont…) 10/10/2014 16 Definition: A relation R on a set A is symmetric if whenever aRb then bRa, i.e., if whenever (a, b) ∈ R then (b, a) ∈ R. Thus R is not symmetric if there exists a, b ∈ A such that (a, b) ∈ R but (b, a) ∉ R. Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1)(1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)} R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 2)} Determine which relation is symmetric. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 17.
    Types of relations(Cont…) 10/10/2014 17 Definition: A relation R on a set A is antisymmetric if whenever aRb and bRa then a = b. Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1)(1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)} R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2)} Determine which relation is antisymmetric. The contrapositive of this definition is that R is antisymmetric if whenever a ≠ b, then either (a,b) ∉ R or (b,a) ∉ R. Definition: A relation R is not antisymmetric if there exist a, b ∈ A such that (a,b)∈ R and (b, a) ∈ R but a ≠ b. Note: Not symmetric ≠ antisymmetric . Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 18.
    Types of relations(Cont…) 10/10/2014 18 Example: Consider the following relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}: R1 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 3), (1, 3)} R2 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2,2), (2,3)} R3 = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (1,3), (3,3)} Determine which relation is transitive. Definition: A relation R on a set A is transitive if whenever aRb and bRc then aRc, that is, if whenever (a, b)∈R and (b, c)∈ R then (a, c)∈R. Thus R is not transitive if there exist a, b, c ∈ R such that (a,b)∈ R and (b, c) ∈ R but (a,c) ∉ R. If such a, b and c not exist, then R is transitive. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 19.
    Equivalence relation 10/10/2014 19 Example: Consider the following relation on the set A = {1, 2, 3,4}: R = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (2,1), (2,2), (3,4), (4,3), (3,3), (4, 4)} Determine whether this relation is equivalence or not. Definition: A relation R on a set A is called an equivalence relation if R is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive.  It follows three properties: 1) For every a ∈ A, aRa. 2) If aRb then bRa. 3) If aRb and bRc, then aRc. The relation R is equivalence because R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 20.
    Equivalence relation (cont…)10/10/2014 20 Example: Let A= ℤ, set of integers. Let R be defined by aRb iff a ≤ b. Determine whether this relation is equivalence or not. Therefore the relation R is not an equivalence. Solution: 1) The relation R is reflexive a ≤ a. 2) The relation R is not symmetric a ≤ b does not imply that b ≤ a . 3) The relation R is transitive because a ≤ b and b ≤ c imply that a ≤ c. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 21.
    Equivalence relation (cont…)10/10/2014 21 Example: Prove that congruence modulo n is an equivalence relation on ℤ. Definition: For a given positive integer n ≥ 2, two integers a and b are called congruent modulo n, written as a ≡ b(mod n) if a - b is divisible by n. Solution: 1) Reflexivity: For any a ∈ ℤ, we have a ≡ a(mod n) because a- a=0 is divisible by n. Hence the relation is reflexive. Cont to next slide….. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 22.
    Equivalence relation (cont…)10/10/2014 22 2) Symmetry: suppose a ≡ b(mod n) ⇒ a-b is divisible by n ⇒ (a-b)/n = k , for some k ∈ℤ ⇒ a-b = nk . Therefore, b-a = -(a-b) = -nk = n(-k) ⇒(b-a)/n = -k, so b-a is divisible by n as -k∈ℤ i.e. b ≡ a(mod n). Thus the relation is symmetric. 3) Transitivity: suppose a ≡ b (mod n) and b ≡ c (mod n), then (a-b)/n =k and (b-c)/n=l for some k,l∈ℤ. i.e. a-b=nk and b-c=nl. By adding this two equations we get, a-c=n(k+l)⇒(a-c)/n=k+l. So a-c is divisible by n as k+l ∈ℤ, i.e. a ≡ c(mod n). Thus the relation is transitive. Hence this is an equivalence relation on ℤ. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015. Solution: Cont…..
  • 23.
    Equivalence class (cont…)10/10/2014 23 Definition: For an equivalence relation R defined on A and for a∈ A, the set [a] = {x ∈ A| (a, x) ∈R} is called the equivalence class of a in A. Definition: Any b ∈ [a] is called a representative of this equivalence class. Definition: The collection of all equivalence classes of elements of A under an equivalence relation R is called the quotient set, denoted by A/R, i.e. A/R = {[a] | a ∈ A}. Note: The quotient set A/R is a partition of A. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 24.
    Partial Orderings 10/10/2014 24 Definition : A relation R on a set S is called a partial ordering, or partial order, if it is reflexive, antisymmetric, and transitive. Definition: A set A together with a partial ordering R is called a partially ordered set or poset. Example: Show that the “greater than or equal” relation (≥) is a partial ordering on the set of integers. Solution: Reflexivity: a ≥ a for every integer a. Antisymmetry: If a ≥ b and b ≥ a , then a = b. Transitivity: If a ≥ b and b ≥ c , then a ≥ c. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.
  • 25.
    Closure Properties 10/10/2014 25  Suppose R is a relation on A  If R does not possess a particular relation (reflexive, symmetric, transitive)  Then we may add as few new pairs as possible until we get a new relation R1 on A that have that required property.  If such R1 exists, we call it the closure of R with respect to that property.  Example: Reflexive closure, Symmetric closure, Transitive closure. Copyright © Nahid Sultana 2014-2015.