17.5: Activities
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In each of the following, describe the requested combination of relations in words (i.e. in the form “a is related to b if …”). Try to “simplify” your description, if possible.
In Task h and Task i, the symbol ≡k represents a relation on Z, where m≡kn means that m and n have the same remainder when divided by k. (It may help to know that this is equivalent to k dividing the difference m−n.)
- <∪> on Z.
- Union of “longer than” and “shorter than” on Σ∗ for some alphabet Σ.
- Union of “longer than”, “shorter than”, and “same length as” on Σ∗ for some alphabet Σ.
- Intersection of “longer than” and “shorter than” on Σ∗ for some alphabet Σ.
- The complement of ≤ on Z.
- The inverse of ≤ on Z.
- The inverse of “xRy if 2x+3y=0” on Z.
- The intersection of ≡5 and ≡7 on Z.
- The intersection of ≡2 and ≡4 on Z.
In each of the following, you are given a set A and a relation R on A. Determine which of the properties reflexive, symmetric, antisymmetric, and transitive R possesses.
- A=Z, R is <.
- A is the set of all straight lines in the plane, R means “is parallel to.”
- A is the set of all straight lines in the plane, R means “is perpendicular to.”
- A=Σ∗ for some alphabet Σ, R means “is the same length as.”
- A=Σ∗ for some alphabet Σ, R means “is shorter than.”
- A=Σ∗ for some alphabet Σ, x is some fixed choice of letter in Σ, R means “contains the same number of occurrences of x as.”
- A is an arbitrary set, R is the empty relation.
- A is an arbitrary set, R is the universal relation.
- Suppose R is a relation on a set A. Convince yourself that R∪R−1 is symmetric. (See the Symmetric Relation Test.)
- Recall that | represents the relation “divides” on sets of integers. Draw the directed graph for | on the set A={2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16}. Then describe how to obtain the graph for the symmetric relation |∪|−1 as an undirected graph from the graph of R using only an eraser.
For each of the properties reflexive, symmetric, antisymmetric, and transitive, carry out the following.
Assume that R and S are nonempty relations on a set A that both have the property. For each of RC, R∪S, R∩S, and R−1, determine whether the new relation
- must also have that property;
- might have that property, but might not; or
- cannot have that property.
Any time you answer Statement i or Statement iii, outline a proof. Any time you answer Statement ii, provide two examples: one where the new relation has the property, and one where the new relation does not. (You may use graphs to describe your examples.)