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Module 3:

The Language of Relations and Functions

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME

1. Identify function as a special kind of relation from one set to another

2. Determine when a relation is a function
3. Describe and write functional relationships for given problem situations
4. Make a pictorial representation of a relation between two sets.

INTRODUCTION
There are many kinds of relationships in the world. For instance, we say that two people are
related by blood if they share a common ancestor and that they are related by marriage if one shapes a
common ancestor with the spouse of the other.
Similarly, the objects of mathematics may be related in various ways. A set X may be said to be
related to a set Z if X is a subset of Z, or if X is not a subset of Z. A number x may be said to be related to
a number y if x< y, or if x is a factor of y, or if x 2 + y2 = 1. And the list could go on!

ACTIVITY

1. Describe the relationship of a teacher and the students?

2. Describe the relationship of an employer and employees?
3. Describe the relationship of a person and a passport?
4. Describe the relationship of parents to their child ?

ANALYSIS

1. What have you observed on the different relationships given above?

2. Can you identify the type of relation for each question above?
3. Among the relations given in the activity which is/are functional relation?
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ABSTRACTION

RECALL:

Ordered pair – Given elements x and y, the symbol (x,y) denotes the ordered pair consisting of x and y
together with the specification that x is the first element of the pair and y is the second element.

Example: ordered pair (4,9) ------- 4 is the first element and 9 is the second element

Cartesian Products
Given two sets A and B, the Cartesian product (also called cross product)) of A and B, denoted A×B (read
“A cross B”), is the set of all ordered pairs (x, y), where x ∈ A and y ∈ B ( x is an element of A and y is an element of B)

A × B = {(x, y) | x ∈ A and y ∈ B}

Example: Let A = {4, 6}, B = {3, 4, 5}, What is A × B?

Answer: { (4,3), (4,4), (4,5), (6,3), (6,4), (6,5) }

RELATIONS
Now:
Let A = {0,1,2} and B = {1,2,3}
Hence:
A x B = { ( 0,1), (0,2), (0,3) , ( 1,1), ( 1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (2,3) }

let us say that an element x in A is related to an element y in B if, and only if , x Is less than y.
Let us use the notation x R y as a shorthand for the sentenced “ x is related to y”.
Then,
0 R 1 ( zero is related to 1) since 0 < 1 (zero is less than 1)
0R2 since 0 < 2
0R3 since 0 < 3
1R2 since 1 < 2
1R3 since 1 < 3
2R3 since 2 < 3

But 1 R 1 ( 1 is not related to 1) since 1 < 1 ( since 1 is not less than 1)

2R1 since 2 < 1
2R2 since 2 < 2

Therefore: Among the ordered pairs of A x B as shown above , only ordered pairs
{ ( 0,1), (0,2), (0,3) , ( 1,2), (1,3), (2,3) } are related ( because those are the only pairs that passed the condition
“x is less than y”)

R = { ( 0,1), (0,2), (0,3) , ( 1,2), (1,3), (2,3) }

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Definition:
Relation
Let A and B be sets. A relation R from A to B is a subset of A x B. Given
an ordered pair (x,y) in A x B, x is related to y by R, written x R y, if and only if
(x,y) is in R. The set A is called domain of R and the set B is called the co-
domain.

Therefore, with the given example above R = { ( 0,1), (0,2), (0,3) , ( 1,2), (1,3), (2,3) }

Domain of R – { 0,1,2}
Co- domain of R – { 1,2,3}

Arrow Diagram of a Relation

Suppose R is a relation from a set A to a set B. The arrow diagram for R is obtained as follows

1. represent the elements of A as points in one region and the elements of B as points to another region
2. For each x in A and y in B, draw an arrow from x to y if, and only if, x is related to y by R.

Refer to the example above:

Let A = {0,1,2} and B = {1,2,3} given the condition that an element x in A is related to an element y in B
if, and only if ,” x Is less than y”. We found out that R = { ( 0,1), (0,2), (0,3) , ( 1,2), (1,3), (2,3) }

A B

0  1

1  2

2  3

Function
A function F from a set A to a set B is a relation with domain A
and co-domain B that satisfies the following two properties:

1. For every element x in A, there is an element y in B such that (x,y)∈ F

2. For all element x in A and y and z in B
If (x,y) ∈ F and (x,z) ∈ F, then x = z
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Another way to interpret the definition of function given in the box:

A relation is said to be a function if the following properties will be satisfied,

1. For every x element in set A there is a corresponding element y from set B (x has always a partner y)
in which (x,y) is an element of set F (they have to be part of set F)

2. For every x in A it has only one corresponding unique y element in B . (the x cannot have two partners
of y from set B) .

For example:

1. M = { ( 0,1), (0,2), (1,3), (2,3) }

The set M is not a function because it does not satisfy condition number 2 in which the ordered pairs
( 0,1) and (0,2) has the same first element (which is zero) but it has two different second element (which is 1 and
2).

2. H = { ( 0,1), (1,3), (2,3) }

The set H is a function because it satisfy the two conditions. First all the x elements (0,1,2) has
corresponding y elements (1,3) and they are all in set H. Second, all the first element (0,1,2) has no similar y
element.

APPLICATION

1.) Let A = {1,2} and B = {1,2,3} and define a relation R from A to B as follows

Given any (x,y) ∈ A x B

x− y
(x,y) ∈ R means that is an integer (note that this is the condition for x to be related to y)
2

This is another way of writing that

the ordered pair is related

a. State explicitly which ordered pairs are in A x B and which are in R.

Solution: A x B = { ( 1,1), ( 1,2), (1,3), (2,1), (2,2), (2,3) } these are the ordered pairs in A x B

To check which among the ordered pairs in A x B are related we have to do the following

x− y 1−1 0
(1,1) = = = 0, now 0 is an integer hence (1,1) is related
2 2 2

x− y 1−2 −1 −1
(1,2) = = , now is not an integer (remember integers are whole numbers not
2 2 2 2
fraction)
hence (1,2) is not related
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x− y 1−3 −2
(1,3) = = = -1, now -1 is an integer hence (1,3) is related
2 2 2

x− y 2−1 1 1
(2,1) = = , now is not an integer hence (2,1) is not related
2 2 2 2

x− y 2−2 0
(2,2) = = = 0, now 0 is an integer hence (2,2) is related
2 2 2

x− y 2−3 −1 −1
(2,3) = = , now is not an integer hence (2,3) is not related
2 2 2 2

Thus, R = { ( 1,1), (1,3), (2,2) } R here is the set of ordered pairs that are related based on the given
condition.

b. Is 1 R 3? ( Is 1 related to 3 ?)
Yes 1 R 3 because based from the answer in no. 1, 1 is related to 3
Another answer can also be ------- Yes, because (1,3) ∈ R

Is 2 R 3?
No, 2 is not related to 3, based from the answer in no. 1, (2,3) ∈ R

Is 2 R 2?
Yes 2 R 2 because based from the answer in no. 1, 2 is related to 2 that is (2,2) ∈ R

c. What are the domain and co-domain of R?

Since R = { ( 1,1), (1,3), (2,2) } hence,
The domain of R is { 1,2} and the co-domain is { 1,2,3}

2. Let A = { 2,4,6} and B = {1,3,5}. Which of the relations R, S, and T defined below are functions from A to B?

a. R = { (2,5) , (4,1), (4,3), ( 6,5) }

answer: R is not a function since it fails to satisfy condition number 2 in which in the ordered pairs (4,1), and
(4,3) the first element (4) has two different second element (1 and 3).

As you can observe, two arrows from

A B element 4 of set A is pointing to set B which
2 1 is on elements 1 and 3. This kind of relations
is called One -to- Many. This kind of relation
4 3 is not a function
6 5
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b. For all (x,y) ∈ AxB, ( x,y) ∈ S , means that y= x+ 1 (pls take note of this condition)

Answer: Let us find first what are the elements of A x B

Since A = { 2,4,6} and B = {1,3,5} then A x B = { (2,1), (2,3), (2,5), (4,1), (4,3), (4,5), (6,1), (6,3), (6,5) }

Now its says that For all (x,y) ∈ AxB, ( x,y) ∈ S , meaning all the ordered pairs in set A x B it is also the
ordered pairs of set S provided the y element satisfy the condition that y= x+ 1.

We all know that A x B = { (2,1), (2,3), (2,5), (4,1), (4,3), (4,5), (6,1), (6,3), (6,5) } and so we expect that
S = { (2,1), (2,3), (2,5), (4,1), (4,3), (4,5), (6,1), (6,3), (6,5) } however there is a condition in which y= x+ 1

So let us check:
The domain (x element) of the set A x B are {2,4,6} and so we expect that after we substitute the value
of x we will have the co-domain (y-element) of the set A x B as {1,3,5} .

If x = 6 -------- y= x+ 1 ------ y = 6 + 1 (substitute the value of x) then y = 7

However, there is no 7 as y-element in the set of A x B. Therefore, set S failed to satisfy the
condition number 1 for a relation to be a function. Therefore, S is not a function

X-element Y = x+ 1 y-element
2 Y = x+ 1------- y = 2 + 1 = 3 3
4 Y = x+ 1-------y = 4 + 1 = 5 5
6 Y = x+ 1------- y = 6 +1 = 7 7

A B Note that all the elements in set A are x element sand y

elements in set B. Now if you have observed, 6 (x element)
2 1 has no partner from set B. That is why the relation set S is
4 3 not a function because it fails to satisfy condition number 1.
What does condition number 1 states in the definition of
6 5
function? It states that all the x- elements in set A there
should be a partner of y element in set B.

c. T is defined by the arrow diagram

Answer: The relation set T is a function.

Because the given diagram satisfied condition 1 and 2. First, for every x
A B
element of A has a corresponding y- element on set B (everyone has a
2 1 partner). Second, each of the x- element in A has only one corresponding y
4 3 element . Although ordered pairs (4,1) and (6,1) has the same y element its
ok.
6 5  (4,1) and (6,1)
X (4,1) and (4, 3)

Also , the y element 3 has no partner x element, its ok as long as all the x-
elements has y partners. This is an example of Many – to -One relation and
it is a function
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ASSESSMENT

1. Let A = {2,3,4} and B= {6,8,10} and define a relation R from A to B as follows: For all (x,y) ∈ A x B ,

y
(x,y) ∈ R means that is an integer
x

a) Is 4 R 6? Is 4 R 8? Is (3,8) ∈ R ? Is (2,10) ∈ R ?
b) Write R as a set of ordered pairs
c) Write the domain and co-domain of R
d) Draw an arrow diagram for R

2. Let A = {2,4} and B= {1,3,5} and define a relation R, S, and T from A to B as follows:

For all (x,y) ∈ A x B ,

(x,y) ∈ R means that x ≥ y is an integer

x− y
(x,y) ∈ S means that is an integer
2

T = {(4,7), (6,5),(6,7)}

a. Draw arrow diagrams for R,S, and T

b. Indicate whether any of the relations R,S, and T are functions

3. Think of a real-life relationship. Take a video of your self while presenting the relationship you have chosen.
You have to identify the type of relation and present an example as well as the diagram

For example: The relationship of a husband and wife ( Catholic). It is a one-to-one relation. Since there is only
one woman is recognized as legal wife to her husband. Same goes with the husband to the wife.

husband wife

REFERENCES
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Mathematics in the Modern World (2018), Rex Book Store Inc.