# Math Help - Distinct equivalent classes the null set

1. ## Distinct equivalent classes the null set

Let R be an equivalence relation on a set S. Let E and F be two distinct equivalence classes of R. Prove that E and F = null set.

Do i show that itys transitive im a bit stuck. Help much appreciated thanks.

Let R be an equivalence relation on a set S. Let E and F be two distinct equivalence classes of R. Prove that E and F = null set.

Do i show that itys transitive im a bit stuck. Help much appreciated thanks.
Do you mean $E \cap F = \emptyset$?

Assume there exists an element in $E \cap F$, call it $x$. Then you can apply transitivity as every element of $E$ is equivalent to $x$, as is every element of $F$. $e \sim x$ and $x \sim f \Rightarrow e \sim f \Rightarrow E = F$, a contradiction.

3. Originally Posted by Swlabr
Do you mean $E \cap F = \emptyset$?

Assume there exists an element in $E \cap F$, call it $x$. Then you can apply transitivity as every element of $E$ is equivalent to $x$, as is every element of $F$. $e \sim x$ and $x \sim f \Rightarrow e \sim f \Rightarrow E = F$, a contradiction.
Yep thats what i meant thanks.

4. Originally Posted by Swlabr
Do you mean $E \cap F = \emptyset$?

Assume there exists an element in $E \cap F$, call it $x$. Then you can apply transitivity as every element of $E$ is equivalent to $x$, as is every element of $F$. $e \sim x$ and $x \sim f \Rightarrow e \sim f \Rightarrow E = F$, a contradiction.
acually im a bit confused how is this a contradiction, it doesnt show its in the null set, just that e is in f?

You assumed that there is some element in $E\cap F$. As Swlabr showed, this implies $E=F$, however you took E,F to be distinct equivalence classes, ie. $E \neq F$ - so this is a contradiction.
More of a forward-knowledge looking back approach (since you need to do this problem to prove what I'm about to say), but a relation $R$ on $S$ induces a partition $\pi$ of $S$ where the blocks are the equivalence classes. If that is a definition in your book the answer follows immediately.