NIST

transitive

(definition)

Definition: A binary relation R for which a R b and b R c implies a R c.

See also reflexive, symmetric.

Note: The relation "less than" is transitive: if a < b and b < c, then a < c. The relation "is an ancestor of" is also transitive: if Reuben is an ancestor of Bill and Bill is an ancestor of Patrick, Reuben is an ancestor of Patrick. However "likes" is not transitive since someone I like may like someone that I don't like.

Author: PEB


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Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Wed Mar 13 12:42:46 2019.

Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "transitive", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: https://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/transitive.html