Question 5:

The following relations are defined on the set of real numbers.

(i) aRb if a – b > 0
(ii) aRb if 1 + ab > 0
(iii) aRb if |a| ≤ b

Find whether these relations are reflexive, symmetric or transitive.

Answer 5:
(i)
Reflexivity: Let a be an arbitrary element of R. Then,

a∈R
But a − a = 0 ≯ 0
So, this relation is not reflexive.

Symmetry:

Let (a, b) ∈ R
⇒a−b>0
⇒ −(b − a) > 0
⇒b−a<0
So, the given relation is not symmetric.

Transitivity:

Let (a, b) ∈ R and (b, c) ∈ R. Then,

a − b > 0 and b − c > 0
Adding the two, we get
a−b+b−c>0
⇒a−c>0
⇒ (a, c) ∈ R.
So, the given relation is transitive.

(ii)
Reflexivity: Let a be an arbitrary element of R. Then,

a∈R
⇒1+a×a>0
i. e. 1 + a2 > 0 [Since, square of any number is positive]
So, the given relation is reflexive.

Symmetry:

Let (a, b) ∈ R
⇒ 1 + ab > 0
⇒ 1 + ba > 0
⇒ (b, a) ∈ R
So, the given relation is symmetric.

Transitivity:

Let (a, b) ∈ R and (b, c) ∈ R

⇒ 1 + ab > 0 and 1 + bc > 0
But 1 + ac ≯ 0
⇒ (a, c) ∉ R
So, the given relation is not transitive.

(iii)
Reflexivity: Let a be an arbitrary element of R. Then,

a∈R
⇒ |a| ≮ a [Since, |a| = a]
So, R is not reflexive.

Symmetry:

Let (a, b) ∈ R
⇒ |a| ≤ b
⇒ |b| ≰ a for all a, b ∈ R
⇒ (b, a) ∉ R
So, R is not symmetric.
 Transitivity:

Let (a, b) ∈ R and (b, c) ∈ R

⇒ |a| ≤ b and |b| ≤ c
Multiplying the corresponding sides, we get
|a| |b| ≤ bc
⇒ |a| ≤ c
⇒ (a, c) ∈ R
Thus, R is transitive.

Question 6:
Check whether the relation R defined on the set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} as R = {(a, b) : b =
a + 1} is reflexive, symmetric or transitive.

Answer 6:
Reflexivity:

Let a be an arbitrary element of R. Then,

a = a + 1 cannot be true for all a ∈ A.
⇒ (a, a) ∉ R
So, R is not reflexive on A.

Symmetry:
Let (a, b) ∈ R
⇒b=a+1
⇒ −a = −b + 1
⇒a=b−1
Thus, (b, a) ∉ R
So, R is not symmetric on A.

Transitivity:
 Let (1, 2) and (2, 3) ∈ R
⇒ 2 = 1 + 1 and 3 2 + 1 is true.
But 3 ≠ 1 + 1
⇒ (1, 3) ∉ R
So, R is not transitive on A.

Question 7:
Check whether the relation R on R defined by R = {(a, b) : a ≤ b3} is reflexive,
symmetric or transitive.

Answer 7:
Reflexivity:

1 3
Since 2
> ( 12 ) ,
( 12 , 1
2
) ∉R
So, R is not reflexive.

Symmetry:

Since ( 12 , 2) ∈ R,
1
2 < 23
3
But 2 > ( 12 )
1
⇒ (2, 2
) ∈R
So, R is not symmetric.

Transitivity:
1
Since (7, 3) ∈ R and (3, 3 3 ) ∈ R,
1 3
3
7 < 3 and 3 = (3 ) 3

1 3
But 7 > (3 ) 3

1
⇒ (7, 3 3 ) ∉ R
So, R is not transitive.
Question 8:
Prove that every identity relation on a set is reflexive, but the converse is not
necessarily true.

Answer 8:
Let A be a set. Then,

Identity relation IA = IA is reflexive, since (a, a) ∈ A∀a

The converse of it need not be necessarily true.

Consider the set A = {1, 2, 3}

Here,
Relation R = {(1, 1), (2, 2) , (3, 3), (2, 1), (1, 3)} is reflexive on A.
However, R is not an identity relation.

Question 9:
If A = {1, 2, 3, 4} define relations on A which have properties of being
(i) reflexive, transitive but not symmetric
(ii) symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive
(iii) reflexive, symmetric and transitive.

Answer 9:
(i) The relation on A having properties of being reflexive, transitive, but not symmetric is
R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (4, 4), (2, 1)}

Relation R satisfies reflexivity and transitivity.

⇒ (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3) ∈ R
and (1, 1), (2, 1) ∈ R ⇒ (1, 1) ∈ R
However, (2, 1) ∈ R, but (1, 2) ∉ R

(ii) The relation on A having properties of being symmetric, but neither reflexive nor
transitive is
R = {(1, 2), (2, 1)}
The relation R on A is neither reflexive nor transitive, but symmetric.
 (iii) The relation on A having properties of being symmetric, reflexive and transitive is
R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (4, 4), (1, 2), (2, 1)}
The relation R is an equivalence relation on A.

Question 10:
Let R be a relation defined on the set of natural numbers N as
R = {(x, y) : x, y ∈ N, 2x + y = 41}
Find the domain and range of R. Also, verify whether R is (i) reflexive, (ii) symmetric (iii)
transitive.

Answer 10:
Domain of R is the values of x and range of R is the values of y that together should
satisfy 2x+y = 41.
So,
Domain of R = {1, 2, 3, 4, ... , 20}
Range of R = {1, 3, 5, ... , 37, 39}

Reflexivity: Let x be an arbitrary element of R. Then,

x∈R
⇒ 2x + x = 41 cannot be true.
⇒ (x, x) ∉ R
So, R is not reflexive.

Symmetry:
Let (x, y) ∈ R. Then,
2x + y = 41
⇒ 2y + x = 41
⇒ (y, x) ∉ R
So, R is not symmetric.

Transitivity:
Let (x, y) and (y, z) ∈ R
⇒ 2x + y = 41 and 2y + z = 41
⇒ 2x + z = 2x + 41 − 2y 41 − y − 2y = 41 − 3y
⇒ (x, z) ∉ R
Thus, R is not transitive.
Question 11:
Is it true that every relation which is symmetric and transitive is also reflexive? Give
reasons.

Answer 11:
No, it is not true.

Consider a set A = {1, 2, 3} and relation R on A such that R = {(1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 3), (1,
3)}
The relation R on A is symmetric and transitive. However, it is not reflexive.

(1, 1), (2, 2) and (3, 3) ∉ R

Hence, R is not reflexive.

Question 12:
An integer m is said to be related to another integer n if m is a multiple of n.Check if the
relation is symmetric, reflexive and transitive.

Answer 12:
 R = {(m, n) : m, n ∈ Z, m = kn, where k ∈ N}
Reflexivity :
Let m be an arbitrary element of R. Then,
m = km is true for k = 1
⇒ (m, m) ∈ R
Thus, R is reflexive.
Symmetry : Let (m, n) ∈ R
⇒ m = kn for some k ∈ N
→ n = 1k m
⇒ (n, m) ∉ R
Thus, R is not symmetric.
Transitivity : Let (m, n) and (n, o) ∈ R
⇒ m = kn and n = lo for some k, l ∈ N
⇒ m = (kl) o
Here, kl ∈ R
⇒ (m, o) ∈ R
Thus, R is transitive.

Question 13:
Show that the relation '≥' on the set R of all real numbers is reflexive and transitive but
not symmetric.

Answer 13:
Let R be the set such that R = {(a, b) : a, b∈ R; a ≥ b}

Reflexivity:
Let a be an arbitrary element of R.
⇒a∈R
⇒a=a
⇒ a ≥ a is true for a = a
⇒ (a, a) ∈ R
Hence, R is reflexive.

Symmetry:
 Let (a, b) ∈ R
⇒ a ≥ b is same as b ≤ a, but not b ≥ a
Thus, (b, a) ∉ R
Hence, R is not symmetric.

Transitivity:
Let (a, b) and (b, c) ∈ R
⇒ a ≥ b and b ≥ c
⇒a≥b≥c
⇒a≥c
⇒ (a, c) ∈ R
Hence, R is transitive.

Question 14:
Give an example of a relation which is
(i) reflexive and symmetric but not transitive;
(ii) reflexive and transitive but not symmetric;
(iii) symmetric and transitive but not reflexive;
(iv) symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive.
(v) transitive but neither reflexive nor symmetric.

Answer 14:
Suppose A be the set such that A = {1, 2, 3}

(i) Let R be the relation on A such that

R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 3)}
Thus,
R is reflexive and symmetric, but not transitive.

(ii) Let R be the relation on A such that

R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 3)}
Clearly, the relation R on A is reflexive and transitive, but not symmetric.

(iii) Let R be the relation on A such that

R = {(1, 2), (2, 1), (1, 3), (3, 1), (2, 3)}
We see that the relation R on A is symmetric and transitive, but not reflexive.

(iv) Let R be the relation on A such that

R = {(1, 2), (2, 1), (1, 3), (3, 1)}
 The relation R on A is symmetric, but neither reflexive nor transitive.

(v) Let R be the relation on A such that

R = {(1, 2), (2, 3), (1, 3)}
The relation R on A is transitive, but neither symmetric nor reflexive.

Question 15:
Given the relation R = {(1, 2), (2, 3)} on the set A = {1, 2, 3}, add a minimum number of
ordered pairs so that the enlarged relation is symmeteric, transitive and reflexive.

Answer 15:
We have,

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

R can be a transitive only when the elements (1, 3) is added

R can be a reflexive only when the elements (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3) are added

R can be a symmetric only when the elements (2, 1), (3, 1) and (3, 2) are added

So, the required enlarged relation, R' = {(1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3), (3, 1),
(3, 2), (3, 3)} = A × A

Question 16:
Let A = {1, 2, 3} and R = {(1, 2), (1, 1), (2, 3)} be a relation on A. What minimum
number of ordered pairs may be added to R so that it may become a transitive relation
on A.

Answer 16:
We have,

A = {1, 2, 3} and R = {(1, 2), (1, 1), (2, 3)}

To make R a transitive relation on A, (1, 3) must be added to it.

So, the minimum number of ordered pairs that may be added to R to make it a
transitive relation is 1.
Question 17:
Let A = {a, b, c} and the relation R be defined on A as follows: R = {(a, a), (b, c), (a, b)}.
Then, write minimum number of ordered pairs to be added in R to make it reflexive and
transitive.
[NCERT EXEMPLAR]

Answer 17:
We have,

A = {a, b, c} and R = {(a, a), (b, c), (a, b)}

R can be a reflexive relation only when elements (b, b) and (c, c) are added to it

R can be a transitive relation only when the element (a, c) is added to it

So, the minmum number of ordered pairs to be added in R is 3.

Question 18:
Each of the following defines a relation on N:

(i) x > y, x, y ∈ N
(ii) x + y = 10, x, y ∈ N
(iii) xy is square of an integer, x, y ∈ N
(iv) x + 4y = 10, x, y ∈ N

Determine which of the above relations are reflexive, symmetric and transitive.
[NCERT EXEMPLAR]

Answer 18:
(i) We have,

R = {(x, y) : x > y, x, y ∈ N}
As, x = x ∀x ∈ N
⇒ (x, x) ∉ R
So, R is not a reflexive relation
Let (x, y) ∈ R
⇒x>y
but y < x
⇒ (y, x) ∉ R
So, R is not a symmeteric relation
Let (x, y) ∈ R and (y, z) ∈ R
⇒ x > y and y > z
⇒x>z
⇒ (x, z) ∈ R
So, R is a transitive relation

(ii) We have,

R = {(x, y) : x + y = 10, x, y ∈ N}

R = {(1, 9), (2, 8), (3, 7), (4, 6), (5, 5), (6, 4), (7, 3), (8, 2), (9, 1)}
As, (1, 1) ∉ R
So, R is not a reflexive relation
Let (x, y) ∈ R
⇒ x + y = 10
⇒ y + x = 10
⇒ (y, x) ∈ R
So, R is a symmeteric relation
As, (1, 9) ∈ R and (9, 1) ∈ R but (1, 1) ∉ R
So, R is not a transitive relation

(iii) We have,

R = {(x, y) : xy is square of an integer, x, y ∈ N}

2
As, x × x = x2 , which is a square of an integer x
⇒ (x, x) ∈ R
So, R is a reflexive relation
Let (x, y) ∈ R
⇒ xy is square of an integer
⇒ yx is also a square of an integer
⇒ (y, x) ∈ R
So, R is a symmeteric relation
Let (x, y) ∈ R and (y, z) ∈ R
⇒ xy is square of an integer and yz is also a square of an interger
⇒ xz must be a square of an integer
⇒ (x, z) ∈ R
So, R is a transitive relation

(iv) We have,

R = {(x, y) : x + 4y = 10, x, y ∈ N}

R = {(2, 4), (6, 1)}

As, (2, 2) ∉ R
So, R is not a reflexive relation
As, (2, 4) ∈ R but (4, 2) ∉ R
So, R is not a symmeteric relation
As, (2, 4) ∈ R but 4 is not related to any natural number
So, R is a transitive relation