What is an equivalence relation? Show that the relation of ‘similarity’ on the set S of all triangles in a plane is an equivalence relation.
What is an equivalence relation? Show that the relation of ‘similarity’ on the set S of all triangles in a plane is an equivalence relation.

Answer : An equivalence relation is one which possesses the properties of reflexivity, symmetry and transitivity.

  • Reflexivity: A relation R on A is said to be reflexive if (a, a) є R for all a є
  • Symmetry: A relation R on A is said to be symmetrical if (a,b) є R è(b, a) є R for all (a, b) є
  • Transitivity: A relation R on A is said to be transitive if (a, b) є R and (b, c) є R è (a, c) є R for all (a, b, c) є

Let S be a set of all triangles in a plane.

  • Since every triangle is similar to itself, it is
  • If one triangle is similar to another triangle, it implies that the other triangle is also similar to the first Hence, it is symmetric.
  • If one triangle is similar to a triangle and another triangle is also similar to that triangle, all the three triangles are similar. Hence, it is