If R is a relation on the set {a, b, c} defined by R = {(a, b), (b, c)}, what ca
Practice Questions
Q1
If R is a relation on the set {a, b, c} defined by R = {(a, b), (b, c)}, what can be said about R?
Reflexive
Symmetric
Transitive
None of the above
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If R is a relation on the set {a, b, c} defined by R = {(a, b), (b, c)}, what can be said about R?
Step 1: Understand what a relation is. A relation R on a set is a collection of ordered pairs from that set.
Step 2: Identify the set we are working with. The set is {a, b, c}.
Step 3: Look at the relation R given, which is R = {(a, b), (b, c)}.
Step 4: Check if R is reflexive. A relation is reflexive if every element is related to itself. Here, (a, a), (b, b), and (c, c) are not in R, so R is not reflexive.
Step 5: Check if R is symmetric. A relation is symmetric if for every (x, y) in R, (y, x) is also in R. Here, (b, a) and (c, b) are not in R, so R is not symmetric.
Step 6: Check if R is transitive. A relation is transitive if whenever (x, y) and (y, z) are in R, then (x, z) must also be in R. Here, we have (a, b) and (b, c), but (a, c) is not in R, so R is not transitive.
Step 7: Conclude that R is neither reflexive, symmetric, nor transitive.
Reflexive Relation – A relation R on a set is reflexive if every element is related to itself, i.e., for every x in the set, (x, x) is in R.
Symmetric Relation – A relation R is symmetric if for every (x, y) in R, (y, x) is also in R.
Transitive Relation – A relation R is transitive if whenever (x, y) and (y, z) are in R, then (x, z) must also be in R.