Layasan, Maria Eliza Joy H.

BSED – MATH 3-1A

ABSTRACT ALGEBRA

In Exercises 1 to 3, determine whether the given relation is reflexive, symmetric or

transitive.

1. n R m in ℤ if nm > 0
a. The relation R is reflexive, because (n, n) ∈ ℤ for all n since n ∙ n = n2 > 0.
b. The relation R is symmetric, because (n, m) ∈ ℤ if and only if nm > 0, which implies
(m, n) ∈ ℤ, since mn > 0.
c. The relation R is not transitive, since for all integers n, m, and p, if nm > 0, but mp >
0 and np > 0 is not necessarily true. For example, if n = 2, m = 3, and p = -2, then we
have 2 ∙ 3 > 0, but 3 ∙ (-2) >
/ 0 and 2 ∙ (-2) >
/ 0.

Therefore, the relation R is reflexive and symmetric, but not transitive.

2. x R y in ℝ if |x| = |y|
a. The relation R is reflexive, since for all real numbers x, we have |x| = |x|, so (x, x) is
in the relation R.
b. The relation R is symmetric, since for all real numbers x and y, if |x| = |y| then |y| =
|x|, which means (y, x) is also in relation R.
c. The relation R is transitive, since for all real numbers x, y, and z, if |x| = |y| and |y| =
|z|, then |x| = |z|, which means (x, z) is also in the relation R.
Therefore, the relation R is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive, and thus it is an
equivalence relation.

3. x R y in ℝ if x ≥ y
a. The relation R is not reflexive, since for all real number x, x < 0, x is not greater than
or equal to itself.
b. The relation R is not symmetric, since for all real number x and y with x > y, (x, y) is
in the relation R, but (y, x) is not in the relation R.
c. The relation R is transitive, since for all real numbers x, y, z with x > y and y > z, x
> y > z, which means (x, z) is in the relation R.
Therefore, the relation is not reflexive and not symmetric, but it is transitive.