Show that the relation R in the set A of all the books in a library of a college, given by R = {(x, y): x and y have same number of pages} is an equivalence relation.

Question 7: Show that the relation R in the set A of all the books in a library of a college, given by R = {(x, y): x and y have same number of pages} is an equivalence relation.

Answer: Set A is the set of all books in the library of a college.

R = {x, y): x and y have the same number of pages}

Now, R is reflexive since (x, x) ∈ R as x and x has the same number of pages.

Let (x, y) ∈R ⇒ x and y have the same number of pages.

⇒ y and x have the same number of pages.

⇒(y, x) ∈ R

∴R is symmetric.

Now, let (x, y) ∈R and (y, z) ∈ R.

⇒ x and y and have the same number of pages and y and z have the same number of pages.

⇒ x and z have the same number of pages.

⇒(x, z) ∈ R

∴R is transitive.

Therefore, R is an equivalence relation.