Trying to understand transitive relations

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In summary, transitive relations are a type of mathematical relationship between three elements, where if the first element is related to the second element and the second element is related to the third element, then the first element is also related to the third element. They differ from other types of relationships, such as symmetric or reflexive, because they involve a chain of connections between three elements. Transitive relations can be seen in everyday life, such as in a family tree or transportation. In scientific research, they allow for making connections between variables and drawing conclusions. They can also be applied to non-mathematical concepts, such as language in grammar.
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r0bHadz
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Homework Statement
Say you have relation R= {(2,4) (4,2)}
Relevant Equations
If (a,b) is an element of R, and (b,c) is an element of R, R={(a,b) (b,c) (a,c)} is transitive
Obviously R is not transitive because it doesn't contain (2,2). But does it need to contain both (2,2) and (4,4) to be considered transitive?
 
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Yes. A better definition of transitivity would say if ##(a,b)## and ##(b,c)## are elements of ##R##, then ##(a,c)## is an element of ##R##. It has to hold for ALL ##a## and ##c##, the case ##a=c## included.
 
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thanks for the reply. I can't figure this new design out at all, not sure where the "answered" button is
 

1. What is a transitive relation?

A transitive relation is a relationship between three or more objects or elements where if the first element is related to the second and the second is related to the third, then the first is also related to the third. In simpler terms, if A is related to B and B is related to C, then A is also related to C.

2. Why is understanding transitive relations important?

Understanding transitive relations is important because it allows us to make logical deductions and inferences based on the relationships between objects or elements. It also helps us to identify patterns and make predictions in various fields such as mathematics, computer science, and social sciences.

3. How can transitive relations be represented?

Transitive relations can be represented in various ways, including using graphs or diagrams, tables, matrices, and mathematical equations. These representations help to visually illustrate the relationships between objects or elements and make it easier to analyze and understand them.

4. What are some examples of transitive relations?

Some examples of transitive relations include the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren (if person A is the grandparent of person B and person B is the grandparent of person C, then person A is also the grandparent of person C), the relationship between numbers (if 2 is less than 5 and 5 is less than 8, then 2 is less than 8), and the relationship between countries and continents (if a country is located in a certain continent and that continent is part of another continent, then the country is also part of the larger continent).

5. How can we use transitive relations in scientific research?

Transitive relations can be used in scientific research to analyze and understand complex systems and relationships between variables. They can also be used to make predictions and test hypotheses. For example, in biology, transitive relations can be used to understand food webs and the interactions between different species in an ecosystem.

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