Define X to be set of all the relations R over N such that R^∗=N times N, where R^∗ is the transitive closure of R.

Gaige Haynes

Gaige Haynes

Answered question

2022-09-05

Calculate cardinality of a subset of all the relations above N
Define X to be set of all the relations R over N such that R = N × N , where R∗ is the transitive closure of R.
What is the cardinality of the set X?
What I've tried so far:
I notice that all the transitive relations besides N × N are not in X. And I know that the cardinality of all the transitive relations over N is c.

Answer & Explanation

Mekhi Parker

Mekhi Parker

Beginner2022-09-06Added 18 answers

Step 1
We show that the cardinality is c. Since you've already noted that there are at most c many relations in all, it suffices to show that there are at least c many relations with the desired property.
First, let a = ( a n ) n be an arbitrary sequence of natural numbers with the property that a n 1 for all n. Define the relation
R a := ( N × N ) { ( n , a n ) : n N { 1 } } .
Step 2
Since there are c many such sequences, it suffices to show that R a = N × N .
To do that, we need to show that ( n , a n ) R a for all n 1.
Fix such an n. Then, note that (n,1) and ( 1 , a n ) are both in R a . Thus, by transitivity, so is ( n , a n ) and we are done.
Baluttor7

Baluttor7

Beginner2022-09-07Added 17 answers

Step 1
First note that | X | c because | X | | P ( N × N ) | = c , where P denotes the powerset.
Let's define
P = { ( n , 0 ) : n N } { ( 0 , n ) : n N } .
Then the transitive closure P∗ of P is clearly N × N . So any relation R such that P R will satisfy R = N × N and hence R X for any such relation.
Step 2
Now for A N > 0 we define
R A = { ( 1 , a ) : a A } P .
Then by the above discussion R A X for any A N > 0 . Furthermore, for distinct A , B N > 0 we also have R A R B . So the assignment A R A is an injective function P ( N > 0 ) X, and hence c | X | . We conclude that | X | = c .

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