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MATH 112: Basic Mathematics

Topic 6 Handout

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Topic 6: Relations and Mappings

Introduction

Welcome to topic six. This topic is aimed at introducing you to the aspects of relations, types of
relations and how to use the mappings in arrow diagrams. The topic is, therefore, designed to
prepare you to have a clear and deeper understanding of the relations as this will help you a larger
picture of what functions are.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this topic you should be able to: -

1. Define cartesian product and relation

2. Describe types of relation
3. Describe relations using arrow diagrams.

6.1 Relations

6.1.1 Cartesian Product

Let A and B be any two sets, the cartesian product of A and B is the set

A  B = ( a, b ) : a  A, b  B

The members ( a, b ) of A  B are called ordered pairs

Examples

Given the sets A = 1, 2 and B = 1, 2,3 . Find A  B and B  B

Solution

A  B = ( a, b ) : a  A, b  B

= (1,1) , (1, 2 ) , (1,3) , ( 2,1) , ( 2, 2 ) , ( 2,3 )

B  B = ( b, b ) : b  B
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 = (1,1) , (1, 2 ) , (1,3) , ( 2,1) , ( 2, 2 ) , ( 2,3) , ( 3,1) , (3, 2 ) , (3,3 )

6.1.2 Relation
A relation R from A to B is any subset of A  B i.e using sets A and B above,

R = (1, 2 ) , (1,3) , ( 2, 2 ) is a relation from A to B .

In this relation we can as well state that

1 is related to 2 denoted by 1R 2

1 is related to 3 denoted by 1R3

2 is related to 2 denoted by 2R2

Another way of illustrating R is by arrow diagram

If R  A  B is a relation from A to B, , then the set

DR = a  A : aRb for some b  B is called the domain of the relation R

RR = b  B : aRb for some a  A is called the range of the relation R

If aRb , then b is called the image of a under R . Equivalently a is called the pre-image of b
under R .

Hence

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 DR is the set of all pre-images under R

RR is the set of all images under R

From the graph of R above,

a) The domain of R, DR is the set of all members of A having an arrow originating from
them.

b) The range of R, RR is the set of all the elements of B with an arrow pointing at them.

Examples

1. Given that A = 1, 2,3, 4 and B = 5,6,7,8,9 and

R = (1,5) , (1,7 ) , ( 3,7 ) , ( 4,6 ) , ( 4,9 )

a) Construct an arrow diagram for R

b) Find DR and RR

i) DR = 1,3, 4

ii) RR = 5,6,7,9

c) What is the image of 1?

5 and 7 since 1R5 and 1R 7

d) What are the pre-images of 8?

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 None since there does not exists x  A : xR8

2. Let the set A consists of Alice and Brian. Let set B consists of their children: Charles,
Dan, Emily, Faith and Gladys.
(i) Draw an arrow diagram for the relation R that assigns members of A to their
daughters in B . State the images of Alice.

Images of Alice {Emily, faith, Gladys}

(ii) Draw an arrow diagram for a relation S that assigns members of B to their father in
A (use the first letters of their names). State the pre-images of Brian and Alice.

A has no pre-image since A is not related to any member of B

B has pre –images as C , D, E , F , G

(iii) Let T = ( x, y ) : x is brother of y . List the members of T and hence find DT and

RT
Solution

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T is a relation from set B to set B

T = ( C , D ) , ( C , E ) , ( C , F ) , ( C , G ) , ( D, C ) , ( D, E ) , ( D, F ) , ( D, G )

DT = C , D

RT = B = C , D, E , F , G

Note: Any relation R  A  A is called a binary relation

3. Given the sets A = 0,1, 2,3 and B = 0,1, 2,3, 4,5,6 . Draw an arrow diagram with the

relation “is one less than” from set A to set B

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The image of 0,1, 2,3 are 1, 2,3, 4 which is called the Range and the entire set B is called

the codomain.

6.1.3 Types of Relation

A relation R  A  B is called a one-one relation if x  A, whenever xRy and xRz then

y = z in B

Examples

Let A = 1, 2,3 and B =  x, y, z . Then:

 
a) R = (1, x ) , ( 2, y ) , ( 3, z )

R is one-one relation

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 b) S = ( 2, x ) , ( 2, z ) , ( 3, y )

Since 2Sx and 2Sz while x  z , then S is not a one-one relation. S is called a one – many
relation.

c) T = (1, x ) , ( 2, x ) , ( 3, y )

T is called many – one relation

d) If R  A  B is a relation with property that RR = B then R is called an onto relation.

In the above example; R and S are onto relations while T is not onto since there does not
exist a  A such that aTz . A relation that is one – one and onto is called a bijection.

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Topic Summary

In this topic, you have learned what relations are in terms of mapping as well as using arrow
diagrams. It has also brought to your attention that there are types of relations such as; one to
one relation, one to many relations, many to one relations and many to many relations.

In summary, you learned that;

▪ Let, the cartesian product of A and B where A and B be any two sets is the set
A  B = ( a, b ) : a  A, b  B . The members ( a, b ) of A  B are called ordered pairs.

▪ A relation R from set A to set B is any subset of A  B

▪ In an arrow diagram relating sets A and B under the relation R ,

➢ The domain of R, DR is the set of all members of A having an arrow

originating from them.

➢ The range of R, RR is the set of all the elements of B with an arrow

pointing at them.

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