Relations

Chapter 9

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Chapter Summary
Relations and Their Properties
n-ary Relations and Their Applications (not currently
included in overheads)
Representing Relations
Closures of Relations (not currently included in
overheads)
Equivalence Relations
Partial Orderings
Relations and Their
Properties
Section 9.1
Section Summary
Relations and Functions
Properties of Relations
Reflexive Relations
Symmetric and Antisymmetric Relations
Transitive Relations
Combining Relations
Binary Relations
Definition: A binary relation R from a set A to a set B
is a subset R ⊆ A × B.
Example:
Let A = {0,1,2} and B = {a,b}
{(0, a), (0, b), (1,a) , (2, b)} is a relation from A to B.
We can represent relations from a set A to a set B
graphically or using a table:
Relations are more general than
functions. A function is a relation
where exactly one element of B is
related to each element of A.
Binary Relation on a Set
Definition: A binary relation R on a set A is a subset
of A × A or a relation from A to A.
Example:
Suppose that A = {a,b,c}. Then R = {(a,a),(a,b), (a,c)} is
a relation on A.
Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}. The ordered pairs in the relation
R = {(a,b) | a divides b} are
(1,1), (1, 2), (1,3), (1, 4), (2, 2), (2, 4), (3, 3), and (4, 4).
Binary Relation on a Set (cont.)
Question: How many relations are there on a set A?

Solution: Because a relation on A is the same thing as a

subset of A ⨉ A, we count the subsets of A × A. Since
A × A has n2 elements when A has n elements, and a set
| A|2
with m elements has 2 subsets, there are 2 subsets of A
m

| A|2
× A. Therefore, there are 2 relations on a set A.
Binary Relations on a Set (cont.)
Example: Consider these relations on the set of integers:
R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b}, R4 = {(a,b) | a = b},
R2 = {(a,b) | a > b}, R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1},
R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b}, R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3}.
Note that these relations are on an infinite set and each of these relations is an
infinite set.

Which of these relations contain each of the pairs

(1,1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (1, −1), and (2, 2)?

Solution: Checking the conditions that define each relation, we see that the
pair (1,1) is in R1, R3, R4 , and R6: (1,2) is in R1 and R6: (2,1) is in R2, R5, and R6:
(1, −1) is in R2, R3, and R6 : (2,2) is in R1, R3, and R4.
Reflexive Relations
Definition: R is reflexive iff (a,a) ∊ R for every element a∊
A. Written symbolically, R is reflexive if and only if
∀x[x∊U ⟶ (x,x) ∊ R]
Example: The following relations on the integers are reflexive:
If A = ∅ then the empty relation is
R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b}, reflexive vacuously. That is the empty
relation on an empty set is reflexive!
R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b},
R4 = {(a,b) | a = b}.
The following relations are not reflexive:
R2 = {(a,b) | a > b} (note that 3 ≯ 3),
R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1} (note that 3 ≠3 + 1),
R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3} (note that 4 + 4 ≰ 3).
Symmetric Relations
Definition: R is symmetric iff (b,a) ∊ R whenever (a,b) ∊ R for all
a,b ∊ A. Written symbolically, R is symmetric if and only if
∀x∀y [(x,y) ∊R ⟶ (y,x) ∊ R]
Example: The following relations on the integers are symmetric:
R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b},
R4 = {(a,b) | a = b},
R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3}.
The following are not symmetric:
R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b} (note that 3 ≤ 4, but 4 ≰ 3),
R2 = {(a,b) | a > b} (note that 4 > 3, but 3 ≯ 4),
R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1} (note that 4 = 3 + 1, but 3 ≠4 + 1).
Antisymmetric Relations
Definition:A relation R on a set A such that for all a,b ∊ A if (a,b) ∊ R
and (b,a) ∊ R, then a = b is called antisymmetric. Written symbolically,
R is antisymmetric if and only if
∀x∀y [(x,y) ∊R ∧ (y,x) ∊ R ⟶ x = y]
Example: The following relations on the integers are antisymmetric:
R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b},
For any integer, if a ≤ b and
R2 = {(a,b) | a > b}, b ≤ a , then a = b.
R4 = {(a,b) | a = b},
R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1}.
The following relations are not antisymmetric:
R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b}
(note that both (1,−1) and (−1,1) belong to R3),
R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3} (note that both (1,2) and (2,1) belong to R6).
Transitive Relations
Definition: A relation R on a set A is called transitive if whenever (a,b) ∊ R
and (b,c) ∊ R, then (a,c) ∊ R, for all a,b,c ∊ A. Written symbolically, R is
transitive if and only if
∀x∀y ∀z[(x,y) ∊R ∧ (y,z) ∊ R ⟶ (x,z) ∊ R ]
 Example: The following relations on the integers are transitive:
R1 = {(a,b) | a ≤ b}, For every integer, a ≤ b
R = {(a,b) | a > b}, and b ≤ c, then b ≤ c.
2

R3 = {(a,b) | a = b or a = −b},
R4 = {(a,b) | a = b}.
The following are not transitive:
R5 = {(a,b) | a = b + 1} (note that both (3,2) and (2,1) belong to R5, but not
(3,1)),
R6 = {(a,b) | a + b ≤ 3} (note that both (2,1) and (1,2) belong to R6, but not
(2,2)).
Combining Relations
Given two relations R1 and R2, we can combine them
using basic set operations to form new relations such
as R1 ∪ R2, R1 ∩ R2, R1 − R2, and R2 − R1.
Example: Let A = {1,2,3} and B = {1,2,3,4}. The
relations R1 = {(1,1),(2,2),(3,3)} and
R2 = {(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(1,4)} can be combined using
basic set operations to form new relations:
R1 ∪ R2 ={(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(1,4),(2,2),(3,3)}
R1 ∩ R2 ={(1,1)} R1 − R2 ={(2,2),(3,3)}
R2 − R1 ={(1,2),(1,3),(1,4)}
Composition
Definition: Suppose
R1 is a relation from a set A to a set B.
R2 is a relation from B to a set C.

Then the composition (or composite) of R2 with R1, is a

relation from A to C where
if (x,y) is a member of R1 and (y,z) is a member of R2,
then (x,z) is a member of R2∘ R1.
Representing the Composition of a
Relation
R1 m R2 w
a
x
n
b
y
o
c
p z

R2∘ R1 = {(b,z),(b,x)}
Powers of a Relation
Definition: Let R be a binary relation on A. Then the
powers Rn of the relation R can be defined inductively by:
 Basis Step: R1 = R
 Inductive Step: Rn+1 = Rn ∘ R
(see the slides for Section 9.3 for further insights)
The powers of a transitive relation are subsets of the
relation. This is established by the following theorem:
Theorem 1: The relation R on a set A is transitive iff
Rn ⊆ R for n = 1,2,3 ….
(see the text for a proof via mathematical induction)
Representing Relations
Section 9.3
Section Summary
Representing Relations using Matrices
Representing Relations using Digraphs
Representing Relations Using Matrices
A relation between finite sets can be represented using a zero-one
matrix.
Suppose R is a relation from A = {a1, a2, …, am} to B = {b1,
b2, …, bn}.
 The elements of the two sets can be listed in any particular arbitrary order.
When A = B, we use the same ordering.
The relation R is represented by the matrix MR =
[mij], where

The matrix representing R has a 1 as its (i,j) entry when ai is related to bj

and a 0 if ai is not related to bj.
Examples of Representing Relations Using
Matrices
Example 1: Suppose that A = {1,2,3} and B = {1,2}. Let
R be the relation from A to B containing (a,b) if a ∈ A,
b ∈ B, and a > b. What is the matrix representing R
(assuming the ordering of elements is the same as the
increasing numerical order)?
Solution: Because R = {(2,1), (3,1),(3,2)}, the matrix is
Examples of Representing Relations Using
Matrices (cont.)
Example 2: Let A = {a1,a2, a3} and B = {b1,b2, b3,b4, b5}.
Which ordered pairs are in the relation R represented
by the matrix

Solution: Because R consists of those ordered pairs

(ai,bj) with mij = 1, it follows that:

R = {(a1, b2), (a2, b1),(a2, b3), (a2, b4),(a3, b1), {(a3, b3), (a3, b5)}.
Matrices of Relations on Sets
If R is a reflexive relation, all the elements on the main
diagonal of MR are equal to 1.

 R is a symmetric relation, if and only if mij = 1

whenever mji = 1. R is an antisymmetric relation, if and
only if mij = 0 or mji = 0 when i≠ j.
Example of a Relation on a Set
Example 3: Suppose that the relation R on a set is
represented by the matrix

Is R reflexive, symmetric, and/or antisymmetric?

Solution: Because all the diagonal elements are equal
to 1, R is reflexive. Because MR is symmetric, R is
symmetric and not antisymmetric because both m1,2
and m2,1 are 1.
Representing Relations Using Digraphs
Definition: A directed graph, or digraph, consists of a set V of vertices (or
nodes) together with a set E of ordered pairs of elements of V called edges
(or arcs). The vertex a is called the initial vertex of the edge (a,b), and the
vertex b is called the terminal vertex of this edge.
 An edge of the form (a,a) is called a loop.

Example 7: A drawing of the directed graph with vertices a, b, c, and d,

and edges (a, b), (a, d), (b, b), (b, d), (c, a), (c, b), and (d, b) is shown here.
Examples of Digraphs Representing
Relations
Example 8: What are the ordered pairs in the relation
represented by this directed graph?

Solution: The ordered pairs in the relation are

(1, 3), (1, 4), (2, 1), (2, 2), (2, 3), (3, 1), (3, 3),
(4, 1), and (4, 3)
Determining which Properties a Relation
has from its Digraph

Reflexivity: A loop must be present at all vertices in the

graph.
Symmetry: If (x,y) is an edge, then so is (y,x).
Antisymmetry: If (x,y) with x ≠ y is an edge, then (y,x)
is not an edge.
Transitivity: If (x,y) and (y,z) are edges, then so is
(x,z).
Determining which Properties a Relation
has from its Digraph – Example 1

a b

c d

• Reflexive? No, not every vertex has a loop

• Symmetric? Yes (trivially), there is no edge from one vertex to another
• Antisymmetric? Yes (trivially), there is no edge from one vertex
to another
• Transitive? Yes, (trivially) since there is no edge from one vertex to another
Determining which Properties a Relation
has from its Digraph – Example 2

a
b

c d
• Reflexive? No, there are no loops
• Symmetric? No, there is an edge from a to b, but not from b to a
• Antisymmetric? No, there is an edge from d to b and b to d
• Transitive? No, there are edges from a to c and from c to b,
but there is no edge from a to d
Determining which Properties a Relation
has from its Digraph – Example 3

a
b

c d
Reflexive? No, there are no loops
Symmetric? No, for example, there is no edge from c to a
Antisymmetric? Yes, whenever there is an edge from one
vertex to another, there is not one going back
Transitive? No, there is no edge from a to b
Determining which Properties a Relation
has from its Digraph – Example 4

b
a

c d
• Reflexive? No, there are no loops
• Symmetric? No, for example, there is no edge from d to a
• Antisymmetric? Yes, whenever there is an edge from one vertex
to another, there is not one going back
• Transitive? Yes (trivially), there are no two edges where the first
edge ends at the vertex where the second edge begins
Example of the Powers of a Relation
a b a b

d c d c
R R2

a b b
a

d c d c
R4 R 3

The pair (x,y) is in Rn if there is a path of length n from x to y in R

(following the direction of the arrows).
Equivalence Relations
Section 9.5
Section Summary
Equivalence Relations
Equivalence Classes
Equivalence Classes and Partitions
Equivalence Relations
Definition 1: A relation on a set A is called an
equivalence relation if it is reflexive, symmetric, and
transitive.

Definition 2: Two elements a, and b that are related

by an equivalence relation are called equivalent. The
notation a ∼ b is often used to denote that a and b are
equivalent elements with respect to a particular
equivalence relation.
Strings
Example: Suppose that R is the relation on the set of strings of English
letters such that aRb if and only if l(a) = l(b), where l(x) is the length of
the string x. Is R an equivalence relation?

Solution: Show that all of the properties of an equivalence relation hold.

 Reflexivity: Because l(a) = l(a), it follows that aRa for all strings a.
 Symmetry: Suppose that aRb. Since l(a) = l(b), l(b) = l(a) also holds
and bRa.
 Transitivity: Suppose that aRb and bRc. Since l(a) = l(b),and l(b) =
l(c), l(a) = l(c) also holds and aRc.
Congruence Modulo m
Example: Let m be an integer with m > 1. Show that the relation
R = {(a,b) | a ≡ b (mod m)}
is an equivalence relation on the set of integers.

Solution: Recall that a ≡ b (mod m) if and only if m divides a − b.

 Reflexivity: a ≡ a (mod m) since a − a = 0 is divisible by m since 0=0∙
m.
 Symmetry: Suppose that a ≡ b (mod m). Then a − b is divisible by m, and so a
− b = km, where k is an integer. It follows that b − a = (− k) m, so b ≡ a (mod
m).
 Transitivity: Suppose that a ≡ b (mod m) and b ≡ c (mod m). Then m divides
both a − b and b − c. Hence, there are integers k and l with a − b = km
and b − c = lm. We obtain by adding the equations:
a − c = (a − b) + (b − c) = km + lm = (k + l) m.
Therefore, a ≡ c (mod m).
Divides
Example: Show that the “divides” relation on the set of positive integers
is not an equivalence relation.
Solution: The properties of reflexivity, and transitivity do hold, but this
relation is not symmetric. Hence, “divides” is not an equivalence relation.
Indeed,
 Reflexivity: a ∣ a for all positive integers a.
 Not Symmetric: For example, 2 ∣ 4, but 4 ∤ 2. Hence, the relation is not
symmetric.
 Transitivity: Suppose that a divides b and b divides c. Then there are
positive integers k and l such that b = ak and c = bl. Hence,
 c = a(kl), so a divides c. Therefore, the relation is transitive.
Equivalence Classes
Definition 3: Let R be an equivalence relation on a set A. The set of all elements that are
related to an element a of A is called the equivalence class of a. The equivalence class of a with
respect to R is denoted by [a]R.
When only one relation is under consideration, we can write [a], without the subscript R, for
this equivalence class.

Note that [a]R = {s|(a,s) ∈ R}.

 If b ∈ [a]R, then b is called a representative of this equivalence class. Any element of a class can
be used as a representative of the class.
 The equivalence classes of the relation congruence modulo m are called the congruence classes
modulo m. The congruence class of an integer a modulo m is denoted by [a]m, so [a]m = {…,
a−2m, a−m, a, a+m, a+2m, … }. For example,

[0]4 = {…, −8, −4 , 0, 4 , 8 , …} [1]4 = {…, −7, −3 , 1, 5 , 9 , …}

[2]4 = {…, −6, −2 , 2, 6 , 10 , …} [3]4 = {…, −5, −1 , 3, 7 , 11 , …}

Equivalence Classes and Partitions
Theorem 1: let R be an equivalence relation on a set A.
These statements for elements a and b of A are equivalent:
(i) aRb
(ii) [a] = [b]
(iii) [a] ∩ [b] ≠ ∅
Proof: We show that (i) implies (ii). Assume that aRb. Now
suppose that c ∈ [a]. Then aRc. Because aRb and R is
symmetric, bRa. Because R is transitive and bRa and aRc, it
follows that bRc. Hence, c ∈ [b]. Therefore, [a]⊆ [b]. A
similar argument (by symmetry ) shows that [b]⊆ [a]. Since
[a]⊆ [b] and [b]⊆ [a], we have shown that [a] = [b]. (ii)
implies (iii).
(see the text for a proof that (iii) implies (i))
Partition of a Set
Definition: A partition of a set S is a collection of
disjoint nonempty subsets of S that have S as their
union. In other words, the collection of subsets Ai,
where i ∈ I (where I is an index set), forms a partition
of S if and only if
Ai ≠ ∅ for all i ∈ I,
Ai ∩ Aj=∅ when i ≠ j,
and

A Partition of a Set
An Equivalence Relation Partitions a Set
Let R be an equivalence relation on a set A. The union of
all the equivalence classes of R is all of A, since an
element a of A is in its own equivalence class [a]R. In
other words,

From Theorem 1, it follows that these equivalence classes

are either equal or disjoint, so [a]R ∩[b]R=∅ iff [a]R ≠ [b]R.
Therefore, the equivalence classes form a partition of A,
because they split A into disjoint nonempty subsets.
An Equivalence Relation Partitions a Set
(continued)
Theorem 2: Let R be an equivalence relation on a set S. Then the equivalence
classes of R form a partition of S. Conversely, given a partition {Ai | i ∈ I} of the set S,
there is an equivalence relation R that has the sets Ai, i ∈ I, as its equivalence classes.

Proof: We have already shown the first part of the theorem.

For the second part, assume that {Ai | i ∈ I} is a partition of S. Let R be the relation
on S consisting of the pairs (x, y) where x and y belong to the same subset Ai in the
partition. We must show that R satisfies the properties of an equivalence relation.
 Reflexivity: For every a ∈ S, (a,a) ∈ R, because a is in the same subset as itself.
 Symmetry: If (a,b) ∈ R, then b and a are in the same subset of the partition, so (b,a) ∈ R.
 Transitivity: If (a,b) ∈ R and (b,c) ∈ R, then a and b are in the same subset of the
partition, as are b and c. Since the subsets are disjoint and b belongs to both, the two
subsets of the partition must be identical. Therefore, (a,c) ∈ R since a and c belong to
the same subset of the partition.
Partial Orderings
Section 9.6
Section Summary
Partial Orderings and Partially-ordered Sets
Lexicographic Orderings
Hasse Diagrams
Lattices (not currently in overheads)
Topological Sorting (not currently in overheads)
Partial Orderings
Definition 1: A relation R on a set S is called a partial
ordering, or partial order, if it is reflexive,
antisymmetric, and transitive. A set together with a
partial ordering R is called a partially ordered set, or
poset, and is denoted by (S, R). Members of S are
called elements of the poset.
Partial Orderings (continued)
Example 1: Show that the “greater than or equal”
relation (≥) is a partial ordering on the set of integers.
Reflexivity: a ≥ a for every integer a.
Antisymmetry: If a ≥ b and b ≥ a , then a = b.
Transitivity: If a ≥ b and b ≥ c , then a ≥ c.

These properties all follow from the order axioms for the integers.
(See Appendix 1).
Partial Orderings (continued)
Example 2: Show that the divisibility relation (∣) is a
partial ordering on the set of integers.
Reflexivity: a ∣ a for all integers a. (see Example 9 in
Section 9.1)
Antisymmetry: If a and b are positive integers with a | b
and b | a, then a = b. (see Example 12 in Section 9.1)
Transitivity: Suppose that a divides b and b divides c.
Then there are positive integers k and l such that b = ak
and c = bl. Hence, c = a(kl), so a divides c. Therefore, the
relation is transitive.
(Z+, ∣) is a poset.
Partial Orderings (continued)
Example 3: Show that the inclusion relation (⊆) is a
partial ordering on the power set of a set S.
Reflexivity: A ⊆ A whenever A is a subset of S.
Antisymmetry: If A and B are positive integers with
A ⊆ B and B ⊆ A, then A = B.
Transitivity: If A ⊆ B and B ⊆ C, then A ⊆ C.

The properties all follow from the

definition of set inclusion.
Comparability
Definition 2: The elements a and b of a poset (S,≼ ) are comparable if
either a ≼ b or b ≼ a. When a and b are elements of S so that neither
a ≼ b nor b ≼ a, then a and b are called incomparable.
The symbol ≼ is used to denote the relation in any
poset.

Definition 3: If (S,≼ ) is a poset and every two elements of S are

comparable, S is called a totally ordered or linearly ordered set, and ≼ is
called a total order or a linear order. A totally ordered set is also called a
chain.
Definition 4: (S,≼ ) is a well-ordered set if it is a poset such that ≼ is a
total ordering and every nonempty subset of S has a least element.
Lexicographic Order
Definition: Given two posets (A1,≼1) and (A2,≼2), the lexicographic
ordering on A1 ⨉ A2 is defined by specifying that (a1, a2) is less than
(b1,b2), that is,
(a1, a2) ≺ (b1,b2),
either if a1 ≺1 b1 or if a1 = b1 and a2 ≺2 b2.
 This definition can be easily extended to a lexicographic ordering on
strings (see text).
Example: Consider strings of lowercase English letters. A lexicographic
ordering can be defined using the ordering of the letters in the alphabet.
This is the same ordering as that used in dictionaries.
 discreet ≺ discrete, because these strings differ in the seventh position and e
≺ t.
 discreet ≺ discreetness, because the first eight letters agree, but the second
string is longer.
Hasse Diagrams
Definition: A Hasse diagram is a visual representation of a
partial ordering that leaves out edges that must be present
because of the reflexive and transitive properties.

A partial ordering is shown in (a) of the figure above. The loops

due to the reflexive property are deleted in (b). The edges that
must be present due to the transitive property are deleted in (c).
The Hasse diagram for the partial ordering (a), is depicted in (c).
Procedure for Constructing a Hasse
Diagram
To represent a finite poset (S,≼ ) using a Hasse
diagram, start with the directed graph of the relation:
Remove the loops (a, a) present at every vertex due to
the reflexive property.
Remove all edges (x, y) for which there is an element
z ∈ S such that x ≺ z and z ≺ y. These are the edges that
must be present due to the transitive property.
Arrange each edge so that its initial vertex is below the
terminal vertex. Remove all the arrows, because all edges
point upwards toward their terminal vertex.