Solution for Section 10.2 Question 5

5.  a) For all ordered pairs (a, b) in Z × (Z \ {0}),  (a, b) r (a, b)  since a/b = a/b , so the relation r is reflexive.

b) For all ordered pairs (a, b) and (c, d) in Z × (Z \ {0}),  if   (a, b) r (c, d),  then a/b = c/d ,  which implies that c/d = a/b, so  (c, d) r (a, b). Thus, the relation r is symmetric. (It might help to start thinking about this as a particular example, such as 1/2 = 3/6, so 3/6 = 1/2, and then thinking about it in general terms. ) 

c) For all ordered pairs (a, b), (c, d) and (e, f) in Z × (Z \ {0}), if   (a, b) r (c, d)  and  (c, d) r (e, f),  then a/b = c/d and c/d = e/f , which implies that a/b = e/f,  so   (a, b) r (e, f). Thus, the relation r is transitive. (It might help to start thinking about this as a particular example, such as 1/2 = 3/6 and 3/6 = 5/10  so 1/2 = 5/10 , and then thinking about it in general terms. )

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