The relation R on the set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, given by R{(a, b) : |a - b| is even}, is :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
R : {(a, b) : |a - b| is even}
so for a, a ∈ A
|a - a| = 0 (even) ⇒ reflective
since |a - b| = |b - a| for (a, b) ∈ R
(b, a) ∈ R ⇒ symmetric
so |a - b| → even (a, b) ∈ R
|b - c| → even (b, c) ∈ R
true evenly when a, b both even or both are odd
if b is odd c is also odd
b is even c is also even
⇒ (a, c) both are even/odd
so |a - c| → even
|a - c| ∈ (R)
so its transitive
hence its an equivalence relation