Class JEE Mathematics Sets, Relations, and Functions Q #1045
KNOWLEDGE BASED
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4 Marks 2021 JEE Main 2021 (Online) 31st August Morning Shift MCQ SINGLE
Which of the following is not correct for relation $R$ on the set of real numbers?
(A) $(x, y) \in R \Leftrightarrow 0 < |x| - |y| \le 1$ is neither transitive nor symmetric.
(B) $(x, y) \in R \Leftrightarrow 0 < |x - y| \le 1$ is symmetric and transitive.
(C) $(x, y) \in R \Leftrightarrow |x| - |y| \le 1$ is reflexive but not symmetric.
(D) $(x, y) \in R \Leftrightarrow |x - y| \le 1$ is reflexive and symmetric.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation
Consider the relation defined by $0 < |x - y| \le 1$.
We need to show that this relation is symmetric but not transitive. A relation is symmetric if whenever $(a, b)$ is in the relation, $(b, a)$ is also in the relation. Since $|x-y| = |y-x|$, if $0 < |x-y| \le 1$, then $0 < |y-x| \le 1$. Therefore, if $(a, b)$ is in the relation, so is $(b, a)$, so the relation is symmetric.

A relation is transitive if whenever $(a, b)$ and $(b, c)$ are in the relation, $(a, c)$ is also in the relation. Let $x = 0.2, y = 0.9, z = 1.5$. Then $|x - y| = |0.2 - 0.9| = |-0.7| = 0.7$, and $|y - z| = |0.9 - 1.5| = |-0.6| = 0.6$. So $0 < |x - y| \le 1$ and $0 < |y - z| \le 1$. However, $|x - z| = |0.2 - 1.5| = |-1.3| = 1.3$, which is not less than or equal to $1$. So $(x, z)$ is not in the relation. Therefore, the relation is not transitive. So, option B is not correct.