Let A = \2, 3, 6, 7\ and B = \4, 5, 6, 8\. Let R be a relation defined on A B by (a1, b1)R(a2, b2) if and only if a1 + a2 = b1 + b2. Then the number of elements in R is .
Answer
25
Solution
Each element of R is a choice of ordered pairs (a1, a2) from A and (b1, b2) from B with equal sums.
Ordered sums a1 + a2: 4(1), 5(2), 6(1), 8(2), 9(4), 10(2), 12(1), 13(2), 14(1)
Ordered sums b1 + b2: 8(1), 9(2), 10(3), 11(2), 12(3), 13(2), 14(2), 16(1)
(number of ordered pairs in brackets). Only the common sums count:
Sum 8: 2 1 = 2; sum 9: 4 2 = 8; sum 10: 2 3 = 6; sum 12: 1 3 = 3; sum 13: 2 2 = 4; sum 14: 1 2 = 2
n(R) = 2 + 8 + 6 + 3 + 4 + 2 = 25
Answer: 25