Skip to main contentSkip to solution

For the relation R={(a,b):a≤b}R = \{(a, b): a \leq b\} in R\mathbb{R}, which of the following is correct?

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 3

The relation R={(a,b):a≤b}R = \{(a, b): a \leq b\} in R\mathbb{R} consists of all ordered pairs (a,b)(a, b) where a≤ba \leq b.

To determine the properties of this relation, three conditions must be checked: reflexive, symmetric, and transitive.


For RR to be reflexive, (a,a)(a, a) must be in RR for every a∈Ra \in \mathbb{R}.

This requires a≤aa \leq a for all a∈Ra \in \mathbb{R}.

Since any real number is less than or equal to itself, this condition holds.

Examples: 5≤55 \leq 5, −3≤−3-3 \leq -3, 0≤00 \leq 0

Therefore, RR is reflexive.


For RR to be symmetric, whenever (a,b)∈R(a, b) \in R, then (b,a)(b, a) must also be in RR.

This requires: if a≤ba \leq b, then b≤ab \leq a.

Consider a=2a = 2 and b=5b = 5:

(2,5)∈R(2, 5) \in R since 2≤52 \leq 5

For (5,2)(5, 2) to be in RR, we need 5≤25 \leq 2, which is false.

Therefore, RR is not symmetric.


For RR to be transitive, whenever (a,b)∈R(a, b) \in R and (b,c)∈R(b, c) \in R, then (a,c)(a, c) must be in RR.

This requires: if a≤ba \leq b and b≤cb \leq c, then a≤ca \leq c.

Consider a=2a = 2, b=5b = 5, c=8c = 8:

(2,5)∈R(2, 5) \in R since 2≤52 \leq 5

(5,8)∈R(5, 8) \in R since 5≤85 \leq 8

(2,8)∈R(2, 8) \in R since 2≤82 \leq 8

This is a fundamental property of inequalities in R\mathbb{R} and holds for all real numbers.

Therefore, RR is transitive.


The relation RR is reflexive and transitive but not symmetric.

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Left arrow: Previous question
  • Right arrow: Next question
  • S key: Jump to solution
  • Q key: Jump to question