Can elements of the sets be left out of a relation?
Conditions
- A relation R is defined between sets A and B.
- R is a subset of .
Reasoning, step by step
- Recall that a relation is a subset of .
- Understand that a subset can omit elements from the full Cartesian product.
- Recognize that if an element is not the first component of any pair in R, it is left out of the relation.
- Similarly, if an element is not the second component of any pair in R, it is left out.
Example
In the humans-and-pets ownership example, the human has no outgoing arrows, meaning owns no pets. The dog and monkey have no incoming arrows, meaning they have no human owners. The speaker explicitly points out that these elements are not related in this example.
Common misconceptions
- Assuming that a relation must be total, meaning every element in A must be related to at least one element in B.
- Thinking that if an element is in the set, it must be involved in the relation.
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Related questions
The video tests the less-than relation with two reversed ordered pairs: (2, 5) and (5, 2). It shows that is true, so the pair (2, 5) belongs to the relation.
Conditions: The relation is the less-than symbol (<) on integers.; The pairs tested are (2, 5) and (5, 2).
No, a relation does not have to contain every possible ordered pair. By definition, a relation is a subset of the Cartesian product , meaning it can include only some of the ordered pairs.
Conditions: A and B are sets.; R is a relation between A and B.
Ordered pairs are used because the order of the elements matters in a relation. The first component of the pair is related to the second component, and swapping them can change whether the relationship holds.
Conditions: The relation is between two sets A and B.; The relationship is directional or asymmetric.
In the definition of a relation, capital letters A and B denote the sets themselves, while lowercase letters a and b denote individual elements belonging to those sets. The ordered pair (a, b) represents a specific element of the Cartesian product , where a is an element of A and b is an element of B.
Conditions: The context is the formal definition of a relation R between sets A and B.; The notation (a, b) ∈ is used.
In a relation diagram, an arrow drawn from an element in the first set to an element in the second set means that the corresponding ordered pair belongs to the relation. It visually encodes the membership of a specific pair in the subset of the Cartesian product.
Conditions: The diagram shows two sets, typically represented as ovals or circles.; An arrow connects an element from the first set to an element from the second set.
Answers are generated from source material and independently checked. Consult the original video or creator if something is unclear.