How to determine if a set relation is Transitive?












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$begingroup$


So, as far as binary relations go, I have a firm grasp on the symmetric, anti-symmetric, and reflexive relations. However, when it comes to transitive relations, I run into a block.



In this problem, for example, I had to determine the transitive closures for the given set that contained: (1,1) (1,2) (2,3) (3,2) (4,4)



The additional elements that would enable this set to be a transitive relation were: (1,3) (2,2) (3,3)



I think I understand that if there is a (1,2) and a (2,3) then there must also be a (1,3). I see that there is a (2,3), but why doesn't there have to be a (3, 4) and a (2,4)? I need some enlightenment as to how I can properly go about determining transitive closures, or determining if a completed relation set includes the right elements to make it transitive.










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    1












    $begingroup$


    So, as far as binary relations go, I have a firm grasp on the symmetric, anti-symmetric, and reflexive relations. However, when it comes to transitive relations, I run into a block.



    In this problem, for example, I had to determine the transitive closures for the given set that contained: (1,1) (1,2) (2,3) (3,2) (4,4)



    The additional elements that would enable this set to be a transitive relation were: (1,3) (2,2) (3,3)



    I think I understand that if there is a (1,2) and a (2,3) then there must also be a (1,3). I see that there is a (2,3), but why doesn't there have to be a (3, 4) and a (2,4)? I need some enlightenment as to how I can properly go about determining transitive closures, or determining if a completed relation set includes the right elements to make it transitive.










    share|cite|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      1












      1








      1





      $begingroup$


      So, as far as binary relations go, I have a firm grasp on the symmetric, anti-symmetric, and reflexive relations. However, when it comes to transitive relations, I run into a block.



      In this problem, for example, I had to determine the transitive closures for the given set that contained: (1,1) (1,2) (2,3) (3,2) (4,4)



      The additional elements that would enable this set to be a transitive relation were: (1,3) (2,2) (3,3)



      I think I understand that if there is a (1,2) and a (2,3) then there must also be a (1,3). I see that there is a (2,3), but why doesn't there have to be a (3, 4) and a (2,4)? I need some enlightenment as to how I can properly go about determining transitive closures, or determining if a completed relation set includes the right elements to make it transitive.










      share|cite|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      So, as far as binary relations go, I have a firm grasp on the symmetric, anti-symmetric, and reflexive relations. However, when it comes to transitive relations, I run into a block.



      In this problem, for example, I had to determine the transitive closures for the given set that contained: (1,1) (1,2) (2,3) (3,2) (4,4)



      The additional elements that would enable this set to be a transitive relation were: (1,3) (2,2) (3,3)



      I think I understand that if there is a (1,2) and a (2,3) then there must also be a (1,3). I see that there is a (2,3), but why doesn't there have to be a (3, 4) and a (2,4)? I need some enlightenment as to how I can properly go about determining transitive closures, or determining if a completed relation set includes the right elements to make it transitive.







      discrete-mathematics relations






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      edited Dec 8 '18 at 1:31









      Andrés E. Caicedo

      65.4k8158248




      65.4k8158248










      asked Dec 7 '18 at 23:37









      ZepheriahZepheriah

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      83






















          2 Answers
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          $begingroup$

          Let's make a list of the pairs together with the ones that can be chained with them by transitivity
          begin{array}{cccc}
          1 & 2 & to \
          hline
          (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) \
          (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) \
          (1,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(1,3)} \
          (2,3) & (3,2) & color{red}{(2,2)} \
          (3,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(3,3)} \
          (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4)
          end{array}

          In the first column, a pair; in the second column a pair that can be chained to the first one; in the third column, what's necessary to satisfy transitivity. Red color means the needed pair is missing.



          Now we have to repeat the check with the newly added pairs
          begin{array}{cccc}
          1 & 2 & to \
          hline
          (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) & *\
          (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) & * \
          (1,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
          (1,2) & (2,3) & (1,3) & * \
          (1,3) & (3,2) & (1,2) \
          (1,3) & (3,3) & (1,3) \
          (2,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
          (2,2) & (2,3) & (2,3) \
          (2,3) & (3,2) & (2,2) & * \
          (2,3) & (3,3) & (2,3) \
          (3,2) & (2,3) & (3,3) & * \
          (3,3) & (3,2) & (3,2) \
          (3,3) & (3,3) & (3,3) \
          (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4) & *
          end{array}

          None has been marked red, because all pairs in the third column belong to the “second stage” relation. The $*$ denotes a row that has already been considered in the first stage.



          If at this stage still some pairs had been missing, a third stage would be necessary.



          In this case, however, we're done: the transitive closure is
          $$
          {(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(2,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3),(4,4)}
          $$






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            0












            $begingroup$

            The trick here is to build chains: can you build a chain with these relationships that gets you from $2$ to $4$? If not, then you don't need $(2,4)$ to transitively close the relation. On the other hand, $(2,3)$ and $(3,2)$ can be chained together $(2,3,2)$ and so $(2,2)$ must be in the closure.






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              2 Answers
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              2 Answers
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              $begingroup$

              Let's make a list of the pairs together with the ones that can be chained with them by transitivity
              begin{array}{cccc}
              1 & 2 & to \
              hline
              (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) \
              (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) \
              (1,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(1,3)} \
              (2,3) & (3,2) & color{red}{(2,2)} \
              (3,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(3,3)} \
              (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4)
              end{array}

              In the first column, a pair; in the second column a pair that can be chained to the first one; in the third column, what's necessary to satisfy transitivity. Red color means the needed pair is missing.



              Now we have to repeat the check with the newly added pairs
              begin{array}{cccc}
              1 & 2 & to \
              hline
              (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) & *\
              (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) & * \
              (1,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
              (1,2) & (2,3) & (1,3) & * \
              (1,3) & (3,2) & (1,2) \
              (1,3) & (3,3) & (1,3) \
              (2,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
              (2,2) & (2,3) & (2,3) \
              (2,3) & (3,2) & (2,2) & * \
              (2,3) & (3,3) & (2,3) \
              (3,2) & (2,3) & (3,3) & * \
              (3,3) & (3,2) & (3,2) \
              (3,3) & (3,3) & (3,3) \
              (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4) & *
              end{array}

              None has been marked red, because all pairs in the third column belong to the “second stage” relation. The $*$ denotes a row that has already been considered in the first stage.



              If at this stage still some pairs had been missing, a third stage would be necessary.



              In this case, however, we're done: the transitive closure is
              $$
              {(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(2,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3),(4,4)}
              $$






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                2












                $begingroup$

                Let's make a list of the pairs together with the ones that can be chained with them by transitivity
                begin{array}{cccc}
                1 & 2 & to \
                hline
                (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) \
                (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) \
                (1,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(1,3)} \
                (2,3) & (3,2) & color{red}{(2,2)} \
                (3,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(3,3)} \
                (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4)
                end{array}

                In the first column, a pair; in the second column a pair that can be chained to the first one; in the third column, what's necessary to satisfy transitivity. Red color means the needed pair is missing.



                Now we have to repeat the check with the newly added pairs
                begin{array}{cccc}
                1 & 2 & to \
                hline
                (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) & *\
                (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) & * \
                (1,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
                (1,2) & (2,3) & (1,3) & * \
                (1,3) & (3,2) & (1,2) \
                (1,3) & (3,3) & (1,3) \
                (2,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
                (2,2) & (2,3) & (2,3) \
                (2,3) & (3,2) & (2,2) & * \
                (2,3) & (3,3) & (2,3) \
                (3,2) & (2,3) & (3,3) & * \
                (3,3) & (3,2) & (3,2) \
                (3,3) & (3,3) & (3,3) \
                (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4) & *
                end{array}

                None has been marked red, because all pairs in the third column belong to the “second stage” relation. The $*$ denotes a row that has already been considered in the first stage.



                If at this stage still some pairs had been missing, a third stage would be necessary.



                In this case, however, we're done: the transitive closure is
                $$
                {(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(2,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3),(4,4)}
                $$






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  2












                  2








                  2





                  $begingroup$

                  Let's make a list of the pairs together with the ones that can be chained with them by transitivity
                  begin{array}{cccc}
                  1 & 2 & to \
                  hline
                  (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) \
                  (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) \
                  (1,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(1,3)} \
                  (2,3) & (3,2) & color{red}{(2,2)} \
                  (3,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(3,3)} \
                  (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4)
                  end{array}

                  In the first column, a pair; in the second column a pair that can be chained to the first one; in the third column, what's necessary to satisfy transitivity. Red color means the needed pair is missing.



                  Now we have to repeat the check with the newly added pairs
                  begin{array}{cccc}
                  1 & 2 & to \
                  hline
                  (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) & *\
                  (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) & * \
                  (1,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
                  (1,2) & (2,3) & (1,3) & * \
                  (1,3) & (3,2) & (1,2) \
                  (1,3) & (3,3) & (1,3) \
                  (2,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
                  (2,2) & (2,3) & (2,3) \
                  (2,3) & (3,2) & (2,2) & * \
                  (2,3) & (3,3) & (2,3) \
                  (3,2) & (2,3) & (3,3) & * \
                  (3,3) & (3,2) & (3,2) \
                  (3,3) & (3,3) & (3,3) \
                  (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4) & *
                  end{array}

                  None has been marked red, because all pairs in the third column belong to the “second stage” relation. The $*$ denotes a row that has already been considered in the first stage.



                  If at this stage still some pairs had been missing, a third stage would be necessary.



                  In this case, however, we're done: the transitive closure is
                  $$
                  {(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(2,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3),(4,4)}
                  $$






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  Let's make a list of the pairs together with the ones that can be chained with them by transitivity
                  begin{array}{cccc}
                  1 & 2 & to \
                  hline
                  (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) \
                  (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) \
                  (1,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(1,3)} \
                  (2,3) & (3,2) & color{red}{(2,2)} \
                  (3,2) & (2,3) & color{red}{(3,3)} \
                  (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4)
                  end{array}

                  In the first column, a pair; in the second column a pair that can be chained to the first one; in the third column, what's necessary to satisfy transitivity. Red color means the needed pair is missing.



                  Now we have to repeat the check with the newly added pairs
                  begin{array}{cccc}
                  1 & 2 & to \
                  hline
                  (1,1) & (1,1) & (1,1) & *\
                  (1,1) & (1,2) & (1,2) & * \
                  (1,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
                  (1,2) & (2,3) & (1,3) & * \
                  (1,3) & (3,2) & (1,2) \
                  (1,3) & (3,3) & (1,3) \
                  (2,2) & (2,2) & (2,2) \
                  (2,2) & (2,3) & (2,3) \
                  (2,3) & (3,2) & (2,2) & * \
                  (2,3) & (3,3) & (2,3) \
                  (3,2) & (2,3) & (3,3) & * \
                  (3,3) & (3,2) & (3,2) \
                  (3,3) & (3,3) & (3,3) \
                  (4,4) & (4,4) & (4,4) & *
                  end{array}

                  None has been marked red, because all pairs in the third column belong to the “second stage” relation. The $*$ denotes a row that has already been considered in the first stage.



                  If at this stage still some pairs had been missing, a third stage would be necessary.



                  In this case, however, we're done: the transitive closure is
                  $$
                  {(1,1),(1,2),(1,3),(2,2),(2,3),(3,2),(3,3),(4,4)}
                  $$







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered Dec 8 '18 at 0:14









                  egregegreg

                  181k1485203




                  181k1485203























                      0












                      $begingroup$

                      The trick here is to build chains: can you build a chain with these relationships that gets you from $2$ to $4$? If not, then you don't need $(2,4)$ to transitively close the relation. On the other hand, $(2,3)$ and $(3,2)$ can be chained together $(2,3,2)$ and so $(2,2)$ must be in the closure.






                      share|cite|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$


















                        0












                        $begingroup$

                        The trick here is to build chains: can you build a chain with these relationships that gets you from $2$ to $4$? If not, then you don't need $(2,4)$ to transitively close the relation. On the other hand, $(2,3)$ and $(3,2)$ can be chained together $(2,3,2)$ and so $(2,2)$ must be in the closure.






                        share|cite|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$
















                          0












                          0








                          0





                          $begingroup$

                          The trick here is to build chains: can you build a chain with these relationships that gets you from $2$ to $4$? If not, then you don't need $(2,4)$ to transitively close the relation. On the other hand, $(2,3)$ and $(3,2)$ can be chained together $(2,3,2)$ and so $(2,2)$ must be in the closure.






                          share|cite|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          The trick here is to build chains: can you build a chain with these relationships that gets you from $2$ to $4$? If not, then you don't need $(2,4)$ to transitively close the relation. On the other hand, $(2,3)$ and $(3,2)$ can be chained together $(2,3,2)$ and so $(2,2)$ must be in the closure.







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered Dec 7 '18 at 23:45









                          Dan UznanskiDan Uznanski

                          6,62021427




                          6,62021427






























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