Relation on X: Symmetry, Reflexivity & Transitivity

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of relations on a set X, specifically focusing on symmetry, reflexivity, and transitivity. Participants explore examples of relations that exhibit these properties and seek clarification on the definitions and implications of these properties in the context of given relations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents a relation R that is symmetric but not reflexive or transitive, questioning why the presence of certain pairs affects transitivity.
  • Another participant clarifies that transitivity requires the condition to hold for all elements, not just some, and provides a specific example to illustrate this point.
  • A participant expresses confusion regarding the explanation of transitivity and requests further clarification on the specific example provided.
  • There is a discussion about the implications of adding a specific pair to the relation to achieve transitivity, with one participant suggesting that adding (b,b) would not suffice.
  • It is noted that the relation does not satisfy the transitive condition due to the absence of certain pairs, specifically (a,c).

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the definitions of symmetry, reflexivity, and transitivity, but there is disagreement regarding the specific examples and whether certain relations can be made transitive by adding pairs. The discussion remains unresolved as participants continue to seek clarification and explore the implications of their examples.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the application of the definitions of transitivity and the specific conditions under which they hold. There are also unresolved questions about how to modify the relations to achieve the desired properties.

sam0617
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Let X = { a, b, c }

X x X = { (a,a), (b,b), (c,c) }
{ (a,b), (b,a), (a,c), (c,a) }
{ (b,c), (c,b) }

1. Symmetric but not reflexive or transitive:
R = { (a,b), (b,a), (a,a), (b,c), (c,b) }
How come this is right? Isn't aRb, bRa imply aRa? isn't that transitive? is it because (b,c,), (c,b) is there but not (b,b) the reason why R is not transitive?

I ask because the 2nd question is confusing. Here it is:
2. Symmetric and transitive but not reflexive:
R= { (a,a), (a,b), (b,a), (b,b) }
See how aRb, bRa implies aRa so therefore it's transitive? How come it doesn't hold for the 1st question??

Thank you for any help.
 
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Transitive means that for ALL x,y,z:

xRy~\text{and}~yRz~\Rightarrow~xRz

It must holds for ALL.

For the first one, it isn't transitive since if you take x=z=a and y=x, then you see that the above is not satisfied. So it doesn't hold for ALL x,y,z. It does hold for some x,y,z. But it does hold for some. But some isn't enough to imply transitivity.

In (2), it does hold for ALL, so it is transitive.
 


micromass said:
Transitive means that for ALL x,y,z:

xRy~\text{and}~yRz~\Rightarrow~xRz

It must holds for ALL.

For the first one, it isn't transitive since if you take x=z=a and y=x, then you see that the above is not satisfied. So it doesn't hold for ALL x,y,z. It does hold for some x,y,z. But it does hold for some. But some isn't enough to imply transitivity.

In (2), it does hold for ALL, so it is transitive.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what the x=z=a and y=x then it wouldn't satisfy above.
Could you explain more?

EDIT: Then to make question 1 transitive, all I would have to add is (b,b) ?
 


Sorry, typo. I meant that if x=z=b and y=c, then it isn't true that bRc and cRb and bRb.

Adding (b,b) would not make it transtive.

Indeed, we also don't have

aRb and bRc => aRc

since (a,c) is not in the relation.
 

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