Introduction to Equivalence Relations
Equivalence relations are a fundamental concept in discrete mathematics. They provide a way to classify objects into different groups based on certain properties or characteristics. In this article, we will explore the concept of equivalence relations and provide examples to help you understand how they work.
Definition of Equivalence Relations
An equivalence relation on a set is a relation that satisfies three properties: reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity. Let’s take a closer look at each of these properties:
Reflexivity
A relation R on a set A is reflexive if every element of A is related to itself. In other words, for every element a in A, (a, a) belongs to R. This means that every element is equivalent to itself.
Symmetry
A relation R on a set A is symmetric if for every pair of elements (a, b) that belongs to R, the pair (b, a) also belongs to R. This means that if a is related to b, then b is also related to a.
Transitivity
A relation R on a set A is transitive if for every three elements a, b, and c that belong to A, if (a, b) belongs to R and (b, c) belongs to R, then (a, c) also belongs to R. This means that if a is related to b and b is related to c, then a is also related to c.
Examples of Equivalence Relations
Now, let’s explore some examples to illustrate how equivalence relations work:
Example 1: Equivalence Relation on Integers
Consider the set of integers Z, and define a relation R as follows: for any two integers a and b, (a, b) belongs to R if and only if a – b is divisible by 5. We can see that this relation satisfies the three properties of an equivalence relation:
- Reflexivity: For any integer a, a – a = 0, which is divisible by 5. Therefore, (a, a) belongs to R.
- Symmetry: If (a, b) belongs to R, then a – b is divisible by 5. This means that b – a is also divisible by 5, so (b, a) belongs to R.
- Transitivity: If (a, b) and (b, c) belong to R, then a – b and b – c are divisible by 5. This implies that a – c = (a – b) + (b – c) is also divisible by 5, so (a, c) belongs to R.
Therefore, the relation R defined on Z is an equivalence relation.
Example 2: Equivalence Relation on Sets
Let’s consider the set of all triangles in a plane. We can define a relation R as follows: for any two triangles A and B, (A, B) belongs to R if and only if A and B have the same area. This relation is an equivalence relation because:
- Reflexivity: Every triangle has the same area as itself, so (A, A) belongs to R for any triangle A.
- Symmetry: If A and B have the same area, then B and A also have the same area. Therefore, if (A, B) belongs to R, then (B, A) belongs to R.
- Transitivity: If A, B, and C have the same area, then A, B, and C all have equal areas. Therefore, if (A, B) and (B, C) belong to R, then (A, C) also belongs to R.
Thus, the relation R defined on the set of triangles is an equivalence relation.
Example 3: Equivalence Relation on Strings
Consider the set of all strings over the alphabet {a, b}. We can define a relation R as follows: for any two strings s and t, (s, t) belongs to R if and only if s and t have the same length. This relation is an equivalence relation because:
- Reflexivity: Every string has the same length as itself, so (s, s) belongs to R for any string s.
- Symmetry: If s and t have the same length, then t and s also have the same length. Therefore, if (s, t) belongs to R, then (t, s) belongs to R.
- Transitivity: If s, t, and u have the same length, then s, t, and u all have equal lengths. Therefore, if (s, t) and (t, u) belong to R, then (s, u) also belongs to R.
Therefore, the relation R defined on the set of strings is an equivalence relation.
Conclusion
Equivalence relations are a powerful tool in discrete mathematics for classifying objects based on certain properties. They provide a way to group objects together based on their equivalence. By understanding the properties of reflexivity, symmetry, and transitivity, you can identify and work with equivalence relations in various contexts. The examples provided in this article demonstrate how equivalence relations can be applied to different sets, such as integers, triangles, and strings.