Verifying R is an Order Relation on {1,2,3}

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on verifying whether the relation R = {(1,1), (2,2), (3,3), (3,2), (3,1), (2,1)} is an order relation on the set {1, 2, 3}. Participants explore the properties of reflexivity, anti-symmetry, and transitivity as they relate to order relations, and they also consider a follow-up question regarding the relationship between two order relations defined on real numbers.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that to verify R as an order relation, one must check the reflexive, anti-symmetric, and transitive properties.
  • Reflexivity is confirmed by the presence of (1,1), (2,2), and (3,3) in R.
  • Anti-symmetry is discussed, with participants noting that (2,1) is in R, suggesting that (1,2) must not be present for the property to hold.
  • Transitivity is examined, with a participant stating that if (3,2) and (2,1) are in R, then (3,1) must also be in R for transitivity to hold.
  • A follow-up question is raised about verifying a statement regarding the relation "y precedes x" in terms of the usual less than or equal to relation, and how to prove this using the three properties of order relations.
  • Some participants clarify that the definitions of the relations R and < are intertwined, suggesting that if one is an order relation, the other must be as well.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of reversing the pairs in the relations and how this affects the properties of order relations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need to verify the three properties of order relations, but there is some disagreement regarding the implications of specific pairs in R and how they affect the properties. The follow-up question regarding the relationship between two order relations introduces further complexity, and no consensus is reached on that aspect.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the definitions of the relations and the properties being discussed depend on the context of the set {1, 2, 3} and the real numbers, which may influence the verification process.

laminatedevildoll
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How do I verify that R={(1,1). (2,2), (3,3) (3,2) (3,1), (2,1)} is an order relation on {1,2,3}.

So far, I have that an ordered set is a pair (X, <) where X is a set tand where < in a binary relation on X so that the following three properties are fulfilled:

1. reflexive prop
2. anti-symmetric prop
3. transitive prop

Do I have to prove each property for R?
 
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Yes, and the simplest way to check is just go through the pairs.

Reflexive: Are (1,1), (2,2), (3,3) in the set?

Anti-symmetric: (2, 1) is in the set. If this relation is anti-symmetric, (1, 2) must not be in the set. Is that true? What other pairs do you have to look at?

Transitive: I see (3,2) and (2,1) in the set. If this relation is transitive, what pair must be in the set? Is it?
 
Reflexive: (1,1), (2,2), (3,3) are in the set.

Anti-symmetric: (2, 1) is in the set. If this relation is anti-symmetric, (1, 2) must not be in the set. Yes this is true. So, this property is true.

Transitive: (3,2) and (2,1) are in the set. If this relation is transitive, then (3,1) must be in the set.

Follow up:

Let x,y be in R.

If y precedes x if and only if y less than or equal to x, the, do I verify that this statement is an order relation like before using the three properties? If I use the three properties, then how can I prove that y precedes x.

This is how I started off:

Reflexive Property:
If x in an element in R, then x < x for all x in R. Therefore, x precedes x.

Anti-symmetric:
For all x,y in R if x<y y< x then, x=y, where y precedes x.

Thank you for your help.
 
Last edited:
Anti-symmetric: (2, 1) is in the set. If this relation is anti-symmetric, (1, 2) must not be in the set. Yes this is true. So, this property is true.
I was giving an example! (2,1) is not the only pair you need to check.

Reflexive Property:
If x in an element in R, then x < x for all x in R. Therefore, x precedes x.
You mean x<= x (or [itex]x\le x[/tex]), of course.[/itex]
 
laminatedevildoll said:
Follow up:

Let x,y be in R.

If y precedes x if and only if y less than or equal to x, the, do I verify that this statement is an order relation like before using the three properties? If I use the three properties, then how can I prove that y precedes x.
I can't really follow what you're saying. You have two order relations here: R and <. And you've defined R to be <. So you really have nothing to prove- just check your definition of < - is it an order relation?
Did you want to prove something else? You haven't said on what set the relations are defined, but assume they're defined on {1, 2, 3}. Using the usual definition of <, "y precedes x if and only if y less than or equal to x" means "if y precedes x, then y < x" and "if y < x, then y precedes x". So R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 3)}. Is this what you meant to say?
I think you only meant "For all x and y in R, if (y, x) is in R, then y < x." That also means if y > x, then (y, x) is not in R. Is that what you wanted?
 
honestrosewater said:
I can't really follow what you're saying. You have two order relations here: R and <. And you've defined R to be <. So you really have nothing to prove- just check your definition of < - is it an order relation?
Did you want to prove something else? You haven't said on what set the relations are defined, but assume they're defined on {1, 2, 3}. Using the usual definition of <, "y precedes x if and only if y less than or equal to x" means "if y precedes x, then y < x" and "if y < x, then y precedes x". So R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 3)}. Is this what you meant to say?
I think you only meant "For all x and y in R, if (y, x) is in R, then y < x." That also means if y > x, then (y, x) is not in R. Is that what you wanted?

This is actually unrelated to the previous problem. But, I think that I have to go through the three properties of an order relation to prove this.

The problem:

Let x,y is an element in R, real number. We define a relation <= (precedes symbol) on R. Verify that <= (precedes symbol) defined by

x<= (precedes) y if and only if y<= x (less than or equal to)

Verify that <= (precedes symbol) is an order relation.
 
Last edited:
HallsofIvy said:
I was giving an example! (2,1) is not the only pair you need to check.

Similarly, (3,2) and (3,1) are also anti-symmetric since (2,3) and (1,3) are not on the set, right?
 
laminatedevildoll said:
The problem:

Let x,y is an element in R, real number. We define a relation <= (precedes symbol) on R. Verify that <= (precedes symbol) defined by

x<= (precedes) y if and only if y<= x (less than or equal to)

Verify that <= (precedes symbol) is an order relation.
Okay, you said before that y precedes x iff y < x. Let P denote the relation "precedes" and L denote the relation "less than or equal to". So now instead of P = L, you have that (x, y) is in P iff (y, x) is in L. In other words,
P = {(x, y) : (y, x) is in L and x and y are in R}.
What else does P equal (what is the relationship between P and L)?
 
honestrosewater said:
Okay, you said before that y precedes x iff y < x. Let P denote the relation "precedes" and L denote the relation "less than or equal to". So now instead of P = L, you have that (x, y) is in P iff (y, x) is in L. In other words,
P = {(x, y) : (y, x) is in L and x and y are in R}.
What else does P equal (what is the relationship between P and L)?

Do you mean this relationship?

P={(x,y): x P y if y L x}

or do I have to jump into the reflexive property?
 
  • #10
laminatedevildoll said:
Do you mean this relationship?

P={(x,y): x P y if y L x}

or do I have to jump into the reflexive property?
I mean that P and L are inverses. Remember that binary relations are sets of pairs. You're told that if (x, y) is in L, then (y, x) is in P, and if (y, x) is in P, then (x, y) is in L. In other words, L and P contain the same pairs- just reversed. If (x, x) is in L, then (x, x) is in P. If (x, y) and (y, z) are in L, then (y, x) and (z, y) are in P.
In order to prove that P is an order relation, you need to know that L is an order relation. Otherwise, you could only prove that if L is an order relation, then P is an order relation. But assume you already know L is an order relation. Then the following holds:
For all x, y, and z in R
1) (x, x) is in L.
2) If (x, y) and (y, x) are in L, then x = y.
3) If (x, y) and (y, z) are in L, then (x, z) is in L.
L and P have the same pairs- just reversed, so:
For all x, y, and z in R
4) (x, x) is in P.
Can you see the rest now? To see the rest, highlight:
5) If (y, x) and (x, y) are in P, then y = x.
6) If (y, x) and (z, y) are in P, then (z, x) is in P.
To make it even clearer, (6) can be rewritten as
7) If (z, y) and (y, x) are in P, then (z, x) is in P.
So (4), (5), and (7) show that P is an order relation. Notice that P is usually called "greater than or equal to" :) [/color]
Does that make sense?
 
  • #11
honestrosewater said:
I mean that P and L are inverses. Remember that binary relations are sets of pairs. You're told that if (x, y) is in L, then (y, x) is in P, and if (y, x) is in P, then (x, y) is in L. In other words, L and P contain the same pairs- just reversed. If (x, x) is in L, then (x, x) is in P. If (x, y) and (y, z) are in L, then (y, x) and (z, y) are in P.
In order to prove that P is an order relation, you need to know that L is an order relation. Otherwise, you could only prove that if L is an order relation, then P is an order relation. But assume you already know L is an order relation. Then the following holds:
For all x, y, and z in R
1) (x, x) is in L.
2) If (x, y) and (y, x) are in L, then x = y.
3) If (x, y) and (y, z) are in L, then (x, z) is in L.
L and P have the same pairs- just reversed, so:
For all x, y, and z in R
4) (x, x) is in P.
Can you see the rest now? To see the rest, highlight:
5) If (y, x) and (x, y) are in P, then y = x.
6) If (y, x) and (z, y) are in P, then (z, x) is in P.
To make it even clearer, (6) can be rewritten as
7) If (z, y) and (y, x) are in P, then (z, x) is in P.
So (4), (5), and (7) show that P is an order relation. Notice that P is usually called "greater than or equal to" :) [/color]
Does that make sense?

Yes, it makes sense. I got confused with the "precedes" symbol, when in reality it somewhat refers closely to the "less than or equal to" sign. Thank you.
 

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