Properties of Relations

By Lexter T. Aquino, BSCS 1 - 2

 Reflexive Relation

A relation is reflexive if and only

Example:
if ∀a∈A, aRa. So, a relation R is R={(1,1),(1,2),(2,2),(3,3),(3,1)}
reflexive if it relates every element  on the set A={1,2,3}.

of A to itself.
Arrow diagram example of reflexivity

a a
a is related to a, so are
All elements relate to b b all the other elements
themselves
to themselves
c c

d d
 Symmetric Relation

A relation is symmetric if for

all a, b∈A it holds that Example:

if aRb then bRa. Thus, the relative R={(1,1),(1,2), (2,1),(1,3),(3,1)} on the

set A={1,2,3}.
order of the components in an
ordered pair does not matter
 Arrow diagram example of symmetry

a a
As noticeable, this
aRb is symmetric, so is b b relation is also
aRd considered reflexive
c c

d d
 Antisymmetric Relation

A relation is antisymmetric if
Example:
there is no pair of distinct elements
R={(1,1),(2,1), (2,3),(3,1),(3,3)} on the
of A each of which is related set A={1,2,3}.

by R to the other.

Arrow diagram example of
antisymmetry
Relation R of a set X is antisymmetric
if (a , b) ∈ and (b , a) ∈ R,
a a meaning a = b; but if a ≠ b,
then (b , a) ∈ R
b b

c c

d d
 Transitive Relation

A relation is considered
Example:
transitive if for all a,b,c∈A it
R={(1,2),(1,3), (2,2),(2,3),(3,3)} on the
holds that set A={1,2,3}.

if aRb and bRc, then aRc.
 Arrow diagram example of transitive

a a
This relation is only As can be seen, dRb
has a transitive
b b and bRa, thus dRa
property
c c

d d