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How is transitivity shown for modular arithmetic?

Transitivity is shown by demonstrating that if the first number has the same remainder modulo 3 as the second, and the second has the same remainder as the third, then the first has the same remainder as the third.

Conditions

  • The relation is equality of remainders modulo 3.
  • The property requires that if x is related to y and y is related to z, then x is related to z.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Select three numbers, such as 10, 7, and 13.
  2. Verify that 10 mod 3=73 = 7 mod 3 (both equal 1).
  3. Verify that 7 mod 3=133 = 13 mod 3 (both equal 1).
  4. Conclude that 10 mod 3=133 = 13 mod 3.
  5. State that this chaining of relationships demonstrates transitivity.

Example

The lecturer explains: "if you have that 10 mod 3 equals 7 mod 3, and you have that 7 mod 3 equals 13 mod 3... then the 10 mod 3 equals the 13 mod 3 as well. And so you can get transitivity for your modular arithmetic."

Common misconceptions

  • Thinking that transitivity requires the numbers to be in a specific arithmetic progression.
  • Assuming that the relation is transitive only if the remainders are zero.

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