21 - Equivalence relations

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In Class Practice

Hint for 21.1
Follow example 20.14. Then use the definition of an equivalence class.

Draw a diagram for 21.2

E 21.4 Proof
Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and S = {{1, 2}, {3, 4}, {5}}

Define

R={(a,b)∈A×A:for some x∈s,both a∈x and b∈x}

R={(1,2),(2,1),(1,1),(2,2),(3,4),(4,3),(3,3),(4,4),(5,5)}

Proof. Let A, R, S be as stated above. We show that R is an equivalence relation.

(Reflexive): Let a∈A. There is an X∈S such that a∈X. Hence (a,a)∈R. So aRa. Therefore R is reflexive.

(Symmetric.) Let a,b∈A. Assume that aRb. Then (a,b)∈R. So there is a set X∈S such that a,b∈X. Hence bRa so (b,a)∈R. Thus R is symmetric.

(Transitive.) Let a, b, c ∈ A and assume aRb and bRc. Then there is some X ∈ S such that a,b ∈ X, and there is some Y ∈ S such that b,c ∈ Y. Since the elements ofSaredisjoint,b∈Xandb∈Y impliesthatX=Y.Therefore,bothaandcare in X, and aRc. Therefore R is transitive.

Show that a, b in X



HW 21

Ben Finch

E 21.1
Reflexive.
Proof. We see that for each x∈A there exists (x,x)∈R. Thus R is reflexive. ◻

Symmetric.
Proof. We see that for each (a,b)∈R there exists (b,a)∈R. Thus R is symmetric. ◻

Transitive.
Disproof. Fix a = 1, b = 2, c = 3. We see aRb and bRc since (1,2)∈R and (2,3)∈R. However aR̸c since (1,3)∉R. Thus R is not transitive.

Antisymmetric.
Disproof. Fix a=1, b=2. We have aRb and bRa since (a,b)∈R and (b,a)∈R, but a≠b. Thus R is not antisymmetric.

Since R is not transitive, R is not an equivalence relation.

E 21.2
Let A={1,2,3,4,5}. The equivalence relations are {1, 2, 3} and {4, 5}.

R={(1,1),(2,2),(3,3),(4,4),(5,5)(1,2),(2,1),(1,3),(3,1),(2,3),(3,2),(4,5),(5,4)}

Equivalence classes:
[1] = {1, 2, 3}
[2] = {1, 2, 3}
[3] = {1, 2, 3}
[4] = {4, 5}
[5] =

E 21.3
The following ordered pairs must be in R.

R={(1,1),(2,2),(3,3),(4,4),(5,5),(1,3),(3,1),(3,4),(4,3),(1,4),(4,1)}

E 21.4
[1] = {1, 2}
[2] = {1, 2}
[3] = {3, 4}
[4] = {3, 4}
[5] =

E 21.5
a)
Proof.
Let A = R−{0}.
a∼b if ab>0.
We aim to prove that ∼ is an equivalence relation on A.

Reflexive. Assume a∈A. Then aRa since a⋅a=a2>0. Thus ∼ is reflexive.

Symmetric. Let a,b∈A. Assume aRb. Then a⋅b>0. Thus b⋅a>0. Hence bRa. Thus ∼ is symmetric.

Transitive. Let a,b,c∈A. Assume aRb and bRc. Then a⋅b>0 and b⋅c>0. We use the facts that:

We have two cases.

Case 1: a>0. Then b is positive since a⋅b>0. Then c is positive since b⋅c>0. Thus a⋅c>0 so we have aRc.

Case 2: a<0. Then b is negative since a⋅b>0. Then c is negative since b⋅c>0. Thus a⋅c>0 so we have aRc.

Thus ∼ is transitive.

Since ∼ is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive, it is an equivalence relation. ◻

b)
Using the facts that:

we see that the equivalence classes are

  1. {x∈R : x>0}
  2. {x∈R : x<0}

E 21.6
Proof.
Let A - the set of humans with English names.

α≈β if the name of α and the name of β start with the same letter.

Reflexive.
Assume that α is A. Then α starts with the same letter as α so α≈α. So ≈ is reflexive.

Symmetric.
Assume that α≈β. Then α,β start with the same letter. Thus β≈α. So ≈ is symmetric.

Transitive.
Assume that α≈β and β≈γ. Then α,β have the begin with the same letter and β,γ begin with the same letter. Then α,γ begin with the same letter so α≈γ. Thus ≈ is transitive.

Since ≈ is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive, ≈ is an equivalence relation on A. ◻

b) The equivalence classes of ≈ are the groups of English names that begin with the same letter.

E 21.7
Let R be a reflexive, symmetric, and antisymmetric relation on a set A. We want to show that R is an equality relation, or in other words, for any x, y ∈ A, we have xRy if and only if x=y.

Proof:

We will prove both directions:

⇒ Suppose xRy for some x, y in A. Use the antisymmetry of R which states that if xRy and yRx, then x=y. We have xRy by assumption, and since R is symmetric (which means if xRy, then yRx), we also have yRx. Therefore, by antisymmetry of R, we must have x=y.

⇐ Suppose x=y for some x, y in A. We want to show xRy. Because R is a reflexive relation we know that xRx. But since x=y, we can replace x with y and conclude yRy, or equivalently xRy.

Therefore, we have proven that for any x, y in A, xRy if and only if x=y. Hence, R is an equality relation on A. ◻