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Q.Show that the relation R defined by R={(a,b):a−b is an integer}R = \{(a,b) : a-b \text{ is an integer}\} in the set ZZ of all integers is an equivalence relation.

Uttarakhand UbseUttarakhand Board Intermediate (Class 12) 2025Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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Verify the three defining properties — reflexivity, symmetry, transitivity — directly from the definition of R.

R={(a,b):a−b is an integer}R=\{(a,b): a-b \text{ is an integer}\} on the set ZZ of all integers.

Reflexive: For any a∈Za\in Z, a−a=0a-a=0, which is an integer. So (a,a)∈R(a,a)\in R for all aa. Hence R is reflexive.

Symmetric: Let (a,b)∈R(a,b)\in R, i.e. a−b=ka-b=k for some integer kk. Then b−a=−kb-a=-k, which is also an integer. So (b,a)∈R(b,a)\in R. Hence R is symmetric.

Transitive: Let (a,b)∈R(a,b)\in R and (b,c)∈R(b,c)\in R, i.e. a−b=k1a-b=k_1 and b−c=k2b-c=k_2 for integers k1,k2k_1,k_2. Then

a−c=(a−b)+(b−c)=k1+k2a-c=(a-b)+(b-c)=k_1+k_2 …

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