Each of the following defines a relation on N:
x y is square of an integer x, y ∈N
Determine which of the above relations are reflexive, symmetric and transitive.
Let R = {(x,y): x y is square of an integer, ∀ x,y ∈ N } be a relation defined on N.
R is reflexive ∵ x2 is square of an integer ∀ x ∈ N ⇒ (x,x) ∈ R
Let (x,y) ∈ R ∀ x, y ∈ N
⇒ x y is square of an integer
⇒ y x is square of an integer
⇒ (y,x) ∈ R
⇒ R is symmetric
Let (x,y) ∈ R and (y,z) ∈ R ∀ x, y,z ∈ N
⇒ x y is square of an integer and yz is square of an integer
let xy = p2 and yz = q2 for some p,q ∈ Z
⇒
⇒ , which is square of an integer
⇒ (x,z) ∈ R
⇒ R is transitive.
Thus, R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive.