Making a Relation Transitive

📺 Video Explanation

📝 Question

Let \( A = \{1,2,3\} \) and

\[ R = \{(1,2),(1,1),(2,3)\} \]

Find the minimum number of ordered pairs to be added so that \( R \) becomes transitive.


✅ Solution

🔹 Step 1: Check Transitivity Condition

A relation is transitive if: \[ (a,b),(b,c) \in R \Rightarrow (a,c) \in R \]


🔹 Step 2: Identify Chains

Given: \[ (1,2), (2,3) \in R \]

So, we must have: \[ (1,3) \in R \]

But \( (1,3) \notin R \)

➡️ Add: \[ (1,3) \]


🔹 Step 3: Check New Relation

New relation: \[ R’ = \{(1,1),(1,2),(2,3),(1,3)\} \]

Now check all chains:

  • \( (1,1),(1,2) \Rightarrow (1,2) \) ✔
  • \( (1,1),(1,3) \Rightarrow (1,3) \) ✔
  • \( (1,2),(2,3) \Rightarrow (1,3) \) ✔

No missing pairs.

✔ Relation is now transitive.


🎯 Final Answer

Minimum number of ordered pairs to be added = 1

Pair added: \[ (1,3) \]


🚀 Exam Insight

  • Always check chains like (a,b) and (b,c)
  • Add only required pairs → minimum condition
  • After adding, recheck all chains
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