Question 15 Marks
Show that the relation $R$ in the set $A=\{1,2,3,4,5\}$ given by $R=\{(a, b):|a-b|$ is even $\}$, is an equivalence relation. Show that all the elements of $\{1,3,5\}$ are related to each other and all the elements of $\{2,4\}$ are related to each other. But no element of $\{1,3,5\}$ is related to any element of $\{2,4\}$.
Answer
View full question & answer→$A=\{1,2,3,4,5\}$ and $R=\{(a, b):|a-b|$ is even $\}$, then $R=\{(1,3),(1,5),(3,5),(2,4)\}$
1. For $(a, a),|a-a|=0$ which is even. $\therefore R$ is reflexive.
If $| a - b |$ is even, then $| b - a |$ is also even. $\therefore R$ is symmetric.
Now, if $| a - b |$ and $| b - c |$ is even then $| a - b + b - c |$ is even
$\Rightarrow| a - c |$ is also even. $\therefore R$ is transitive.
Therefore, R is an equivalence relation.
2. Elements of {1, 3, 5} are related to each other.
Since $|1-3|=2,|3-5|=2,|1-5|=4$ all are even numbers
$\Rightarrow$ Elements of $\{1,3,5\}$ are related to each other.
Similarly elements of (2, 4) are related to each other.
Since |2 - 4| = 2 an even number, then no element of the set {1, 3, 5) is related to any element of (2, 4).
Hence no element of (1, 3, 5) is related to any element of (2, 4).
1. For $(a, a),|a-a|=0$ which is even. $\therefore R$ is reflexive.
If $| a - b |$ is even, then $| b - a |$ is also even. $\therefore R$ is symmetric.
Now, if $| a - b |$ and $| b - c |$ is even then $| a - b + b - c |$ is even
$\Rightarrow| a - c |$ is also even. $\therefore R$ is transitive.
Therefore, R is an equivalence relation.
2. Elements of {1, 3, 5} are related to each other.
Since $|1-3|=2,|3-5|=2,|1-5|=4$ all are even numbers
$\Rightarrow$ Elements of $\{1,3,5\}$ are related to each other.
Similarly elements of (2, 4) are related to each other.
Since |2 - 4| = 2 an even number, then no element of the set {1, 3, 5) is related to any element of (2, 4).
Hence no element of (1, 3, 5) is related to any element of (2, 4).

