Topic 3 Relation

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Explain the concept of relations between two sets;
2. Describe methods for representing relation;
3. Identity types of relation on set; and
4. Explain some of the properties of relations.

INTRODUCTION
In real life, relationship exists between people and other entities. For example
"father of" is a relationship between two individuals. Similarly we may have a
relationship "owner of" between people and car. In mathematics, this concept can
be formalised by using relation. In this topic, we will discuss the concept of
relation. We will give several geometric and algebraic methods for representing
relation between objects. We will also discuss some of the properties of relation.

 
3.1 CONCEPT OF RELATION

SELF-CHECK 3.1

You understand that relationship exist between people and other living
entities. Can a relationship exist between non-living objects?
 TOPIC 3 RELATION 43

We can define a relation as follows:

Definition 3.1a:
Let X and Y be two sets. A (binary) relation R from a set X to a set Y is a subset
of the Cartesian product X x Y. If (x, y) R, we write x R y and say that x is
related to y. Let X and Y be two sets.
The set
{x X | (x, y) R for some y Y}

is called the domain of R. The set

{y Y | (x, y) R for some x X}

is called the range of R.

Example 3.1a

If X is a set of students
X = {Jimmy, Sheila, Shah, Zurai}
and Y is a set of courses
Y = {Computer Science, Math, Art, History}
a relation R between X and Y indicating „courses taken by the students‰ can be
written
R = {(Jimmy, Computer Science), (Sheila, Math), (Jimmy, Art), (Shah,
History), (Shah, Computer Science), (Zurai, Math)}.
Since (Shah, History) R, we may write Shah R History.
We can represent a relation in Example 3.1a graphically by using an arrow
diagram as shown in Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1: Relation between X and Y in graphical representation

44 TOPIC 3 RELATION

Example 3.1b

Suppose A is a set of lecturers and B is a set of cars.

A = {Ahmad, Johan, Ravie, Zul}

B = {Iswara, Wira, Mercedes}
We can define a relation R between the two sets indicating „types of cars owned
by lecturers‰ as

R = {(Ahmad,Iswara),(Johan,Wira),(Johan,Mercedes),(Ravie,Wira)}

The graphical representation of this relation is as shown in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2: Relation between A and B in pictorial representation

Example 3.1c

Suppose X = {2, 3, 4} and Y = {3, 4, 5, 6, 7}. If we define a relation R from X

to Y by (x, y) R if x divides y (with zero remainder)
we obtain
R = {(2, 4), (2, 6), (3, 3), (3, 6), (4, 4)}
The domain of R is the set {2, 3, 4} and the range of R is the set {3, 4, 6} (see
Figure 3.3).

Figure 3.3: Relation between X and Y in graphical

 TOPIC 3 RELATION 45

ACTIVITY 3.1

1. Suppose that
A = {Selangor,Kelantan,Perak}
B = {KotaBharu,Taiping,Ipoh,Seremban}
Write a relation R between set A and set B defined by (x,y) R
if „y is a town in x‰.
2. A car manufacturer makes three different types of car frames and
two types of engines. List all possible models of cars
Frame type: sedan (s), coupe (c), van (v)
Engine type: gas (g), diesel (d)
3. Suppose that
X = {1,2,3,4,5}
Y = {3,6,9}
Write a relation R between set X and set Y defined by:
(a) (x,y) R if x < y
(b) (x,y) R if y = 2x
4. I hope that you have understood the basic concept in relation.
Based on your understanding, write a relation for the following
items, G = gender; and T = toys that kids love to play. You may
represent your idea using graphics.

 
3.2 INVERSE RELATION

Definition
Let R be a relation from X to Y. The inverse of R, denoted R–1, is the
relation from Y to X defined by
R –1 = {(y, x) | (x, y) R}
46 TOPIC 3 RELATION

Example 3.2a

Let
X = {2, 3, 4} and Y = {3, 4, 5, 6}.
If we define a relation R from X to Y by
(x, y) R if x divides y
we obtain
R = {(2, 4), (2, 6), (3, 3), (3, 6), (4, 4)}
This relation can be presented graphically as shown in Figure 3.5.

Figure 3.4: Relation between X and Y pictorially

The inverse of the relation R is

R 1 = {(4, 2), (6, 2), (3, 3), (6, 3), (4, 4)}
We can represent them graphically as below shown in Figure 3.5.

1
Figure 3.5: Inverse relation, R between X and Y pictorially

This relation can be described as „x is divisible by y‰.

 TOPIC 3 RELATION 47

ACTIVITY 3.2
Give the inverse for all the relations below:
(a) R = {(a, 6), (b, 2), (a, 1), (c, 1)}
(b) R = {(Suzi, Music), (Emmy, History), (Adri, Mathematics),
(Emmy, Chemistry)}
(c) R = {(2, 2), (5, 6), (1, 2), (7, 1), (9, 1)}
(d) R = {(8, 26), (21, 17), (10, a), (c, 45), (b, 3), (c, 3)}
(e) R = {(Blue, Car), (Red, Flower), (Black, Car), (White, Flower)}

 
3.3 COMPOSITION OF RELATION

Definition
Let R1 be a relation from X to Y and R2 a relation from Y to Z. The
composition of R 1 and R2, denoted R2 o R 1 , is the relation from X
to Z defined by

R2 o R1 = {(x, z) | (x, y) R1 and (y, z) R2 for some y Y}

We can represent it graphically as can be seen in Figure 3.6.

Figure 3.6: R2 o R1
48 TOPIC 3 RELATION

Example 3.3a

Suppose that we have two relations

R 1 = {(1, 2), (1, 6), (2, 4), (3, 4), (3, 6), (3, 8)}
and
R 2 = {(2, u), (4, s), (4, t), (6, t), (8, u)}

From the Definition, the relations can be presented graphically as shown in

Figure 3.7.

Figure 3.7: R2 o R1

The composition of these two relations is

R2 o R1 = {(1, u), (1, t), (2, s), (2, t), (3, s), (3, t), (3, u)} (see Figure 3.8).

Figure 3.8: Composition of the two relations

 TOPIC 3 RELATION 49

ACTIVITY 3.3
Write the composition relation for the given functions
(a) R1 = {(4, 10), (8, 2), (6, 6)}
R2 = {(10, w), (2, z), (6, y)}
(b) R1 = {(Math, 3), (Art, 1), (Math, 1), (History, 4), (Chemistry, 2)}
R2 = {(1, Adri), (1, Amy), (2, Amin), (3, Shah), (4, Amy)}

(c) R1 = {(Black, a), (Blue, a), (White, b), (Green, d), (Blue, c), (White, c)}
R2 = {(c, 2), (c, 6), (a, 4), (b, 4), (d, 6), (a, 8)}

(d) R1 = {(4, Black), (1, Red), (2, Blue), (3, White)}

R2 = {(Blue, Car), (Red, Flower), (Black, Car), (White, Flower)}

3.4 RELATION ON A SET

Figure 3.9 below illustrate type of relation on set

Transitive Relation

Figure 3.9: Types of relation on set

Definition
A (binary) relation R on a set X is a relation from a set X to a set Y.

Example 3.4a

Let R be the relation on

X = {1, 2, 3, 4}
defined by (x, y) R if x y, x, y X. Then
R = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (1, 4), (2, 2), (2, 3), (2, 4), (3, 3), (3, 4), (4, 4)}
50 TOPIC 3 RELATION

The domain and the range of R are both equal to X.

3.4.1 Reflexive Relation

Definition 3.4b:
A relation R on a set X is called reflexive if (x, x) R for every x X.

Example 3.4b

The relation R on X = {1, 2, 3, 4} of Example 3.4a above is reflexive because for

each elements x X, (x, x) R.

3.4.2 Symmetric Relation

Definition 3.4c:
A relation R on a set X is called symmetric if for all x, y X, if (x, y)
R, then (y, x) R.

Example 3.4c

Consider the relation R on X = {a, b, c, d} given as follows

R = {(a, d), (b, c), (c, b), (d, a)}
The relation is symmetric because for all x and y, if (x, y) R, then (y, x)
R. In this case (a,d) and (d,a), (b, c) and (c,b) are all in R.

3.4.3 Antisymmetric Relation

Definition 3.4d:
A relation R on a set X is called transitive if for all x, y, z X, if (x, y) and (y, z)
Example 3.4d
R, then (x, z) R.
Consider the relation R on X = {a, b, c, d} given by as follows
R = {(a, b), (b, c), (c, d)}
The relation is antisymmetric because of all x, y, if (x, y) R and x y, then (y, x) R.
 TOPIC 3 RELATION 51

3.4.4 Transitive Relation

Definition 3.4e:
A relation R on a set X is called reflexive if (x, x) R for every x X.

Example 3.4e

Consider the relation R on X = {a, b, c, d} which is given as follows:

R = {(a, b), (a, d), (a, c), (b, c), (b, d), (c, d)}
The relation R is transitive because for all x, y, z, if (x, y) and (y, z) R, then
(x, z) R. For example,
(a, b) R, (b, c) R, and (a, c) R;
(a, b) R, (b, d) R, and (a, d) R; and
(a, c) R, (c, d) R and (a, d) R.

ACTIVITY 3.4

1. Write each of the relations below as sets

(a) The relation R on {1, 2, 3,4} defined by (x, y) R if x y
(b) The relation R on {1,2,3,4,5} defined by (x,y) R if y = 2x
(c) Relation R on the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} defined by the rule (x, y) R
if 3 divides x y.
(d) Relation R on the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} defined by the rule (x, y) R
if x + y 6.
(e) Relation R on the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} defined by the rule (x, y) R
if x = y 1.
2. Is the relation in exercise 1(a) to (e) reflexive, symmetric,
antisymmetric or transitive?

 
52 TOPIC 3 RELATION

3.5 DIGRAPH
One way to picture a relation on a set is to draw its digraph. A digraph
consists of vertices to represent the elements of X and edges to represent the
relation between the elements.

Example 3.5a

The digraph for the relation in Example 3.5a is illustrated in Figure 3.10.

Figure 3.10: Digraph for relation

Example 3.5b

The relation R on X = {a, b, c, d} given by the digraph as shown in Figure 3.11.

R = {(a, d), (b, c), (c, b), (d, a)}

1
b

c d
Figure 3.11: Diagraph for relation R on X

We can determine the characteristics of a relation by using digraph (see

Table 3.1).
 TOPIC 3 RELATION 53

Table 3.1: Characteristics of a Relation and Digraph

Set Relation Digraph

Reflexive relation
Symmetric relation
Antisymmetric relation
Transitive relation
Has a loop at every vertex.
Has the property that whenever there is a directed edge
from v to w, there is also a directed edge from w to v
Has the property that between any two vertices there is
at most one directed edge.
Has the property that whenever there are directed edges
from x to y and from y to z, there is also a directed edge
from x to z.

ACTIVITY 3.5

Draw the digraph of the relation

(a) The relation R = {(1, 2), (2, 1), (3, 3), (1, 1), (2, 2)} on X = {1, 2, 3}
(b) The relation R = {(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4), (4, 1)} on {1, 2, 3, 4}
(c) The relation R on {1, 2, 3,4} defined by (x, y) R if x2 y
(d) The relation R = {(a, 3), (b, 1), (c, 4), (d, 1)} on {a, b, c, d}

At this point you should understand the four types of relation in a set that
we have discuss earlier. If you still unclear about the topic, you shall take a look
at this website

URL:http://www.maths.sussex.ac.uk/Staff/RPL/DM/DManswers_4a.pdf.

The website has some question followed by answers with explanation.

54 TOPIC 3 RELATION

3.6 PARTIAL ORDER

Definition
A relation R on a set X is called a partial order if R is reflexive, antisymmetric
and transitive.

Example 3.6a

Consider the relation R on the set X = {1,2,3,4,5} defined by

(x,y) R if x divides y
So R = {(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(1,4),(1,5),(2,2),(2,4), (3,3), (4,4), (5,5)}
R is reflexive since (1,1) (2,2) (3,3) (4,4) (5,5) are in R.
R is antisymmetric since (2,1), (3,1), (4,1), (5,1) and (4,2) are not in R.
R is transitive since (1,2), (2,4) and (1,4) are in R.
Thus R is a partial order.

Example 3.6b

In general, a relation R on a set of positive integers defined by

(x,y) R if x divides y
is a partial order.
If R is a partial order on a set X, we can denote x y to indicate that (x, y) R.

Example 3.6c

The less than or equals relation on the positive integers is a total order since, if x
and y integers, either x y or y x.

Definition
Suppose that R is a partial order on a set X. If x, y X and either x y or y x,
we say that x and y are comparable. If x, y X and x y but y x is not, we say
that x and y are incomparable.

Definition
If every pair of elements in X is comparable, we call R a total order.
 TOPIC 3 RELATION 55

ACTIVITY 3.6

Determine whether each relation defined on the set of positive integers is a

partial order?
(a) (x,y) R if x = y
(b) (x,y) R if x > y
(c) (x,y) R if x y
(d) (x,y) R if x = y
(e) (x,y) R if 3 divides x y

3.6 EQUIVALENCE RELATION

Definition
A relation that is reflexive, symmetric and transitive on a set X is called an
equivalent relation on X.

Example 3.7a

Consider the relation R on {1,2,3,4,5} defined as

R = {(1, 1), (1, 3), (1, 5), (2, 2), (2, 4), (3, 1), (3, 3), (3, 5), (4, 2), (4, 4), (5, 1), (5, 3), (5, 5)}
R is reflexive because (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (4, 4), (5, 5) R.
R is symmetric because whenever (x, y) is in R, (y, x) is also in R.
R is transitive because whenever (x, y) and (y, z) are in, (x, z) is also in R.
Thus, R is an equivalence relation on {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}.

Example 3.7b

The relation R of Example 3.6a is not equivalence relation because R is not

symmetric.
56 TOPIC 3 RELATION

ACTIVITY 3.7

1. Determine whether the given relation is equivalence relation

on {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}.
(a) {(1,1), (2,2), (3,3), (4,4), (5,5), (1,3), (3,1)}
(b) {(1,1), (2,2), (3,3), (4,4), (5,5), (1,3), (3,1), (3,4), (4,3)}
(c) {(1,1), (2,2), (3,3), (4,4)}
(d) {(1,1), (2,2), (3,3), (4,4), (5,5), (1,5), (5,1), (3,5), (5,3), (1,3), (3,1)}}

For the following question, x, y {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}.

(a) {(x, y) | 1 x 5, 1 y 5}
(b) {(x, y) | 4 divides x y}
(c) {(x, y) | 3 divides x + y}
(d) {(x, y) | x divides 2 y}

2. Determine whether the given relation is equivalence relation on the

set of all people.
(a) {(x, y) | x and y are the same height}
(b) {(x, y) | x and y have, at some time, lived in the same country}
(c) {(x, y) | x and y have the same first name}
(d) {(x, y) | x is taller than y}
(e) {(x, y) | x and y have the same parents}
(f) {(x, y) | x and y have the same color hair}