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CBSE Board Examination 2026 · Section D · 5 marks

Q32: ∣x−y∣|x - y| divisible by a prime pp as an equivalence relation, or f(x)=3x+25x−3f(x) = \frac{3x + 2}{5x - 3} one-one and onto

The question

(a) A relation R is defined on Z, the set of integers, as

R = {(x,y):∣x−y∣\{(x, y) : |x - y| is divisible by a prime number ‘p’, x,y∈Z}x, y \in Z\}

check whether R is an equivalence relation or not.

OR

(b) A function f:R−{35}⟶R−{35}f : R - \left\{\dfrac35\right\} \longrightarrow R - \left\{\dfrac35\right\} is defined as f(x)=3x+25x−3f(x) = \dfrac{3x + 2}{5x - 3}⁠. Show that f is one-one and onto.

Exam answer

(a)

Here pp is a fixed prime number.

Reflexive: Let x∈Zx \in Z⁠. Then ∣x−x∣=0=0⋅p|x - x| = 0 = 0\cdot p⁠, which is divisible by pp⁠. So (x,x)∈R(x, x) \in R⁠. Thus R is reflexive.

Why?

R is an equivalence relation when it is reflexive, symmetric and transitive. Each property is proved for arbitrary integers, not for examples.

An integer nn is divisible by pp when n=kpn = kp for some integer kk⁠. Watch out: 0 is divisible by every prime, since 0=0⋅p0 = 0\cdot p⁠.

Symmetric: Let (x,y)∈R(x, y) \in R⁠. Then ∣x−y∣|x - y| is divisible by pp⁠. As ∣y−x∣=∣x−y∣|y - x| = |x - y|⁠, ∣y−x∣|y - x| is divisible by pp⁠. So (y,x)∈R(y, x) \in R⁠. Thus R is symmetric.

Why?

y−x=−(x−y)y - x = -(x - y)⁠, and a number and its negative have the same modulus:

∣y−x∣=∣−(x−y)∣=∣x−y∣|y - x| = |-(x - y)| = |x - y|

Transitive: Let (x,y)∈R(x, y) \in R and (y,z)∈R(y, z) \in R⁠. Then ∣x−y∣|x - y| and ∣y−z∣|y - z| are divisible by pp⁠, so x−y=mpx - y = mp and y−z=npy - z = np for some integers mm⁠, nn⁠.

Why?

If ∣x−y∣=kp|x - y| = kp⁠, then x−y=kpx - y = kp or x−y=−kpx - y = -kp⁠. Either way x−yx - y is an integer multiple of pp⁠, so we can drop the modulus and write x−y=mpx - y = mp with mm an integer (possibly negative).

x−z=(x−y)+(y−z)=mp+np=(m+n)p\begin{aligned} x - z &= (x - y) + (y - z) \\ &= mp + np = (m + n)p \end{aligned}
Why?

Adding the two differences makes yy cancel, which links xx to zz directly.

So ∣x−z∣=∣m+n∣ p|x - z| = |m + n|\,p is divisible by pp⁠, and (x,z)∈R(x, z) \in R⁠. Thus R is transitive.

Why?

m+nm + n is an integer, so ∣m+n∣|m + n| is a whole number. And ∣(m+n)p∣=∣m+n∣ p|(m + n)p| = |m + n|\,p because p>0p > 0⁠.

Since R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive, R is an equivalence relation.

(b)

One-one: Let x1,x2∈R−{35}x_1, x_2 \in R - \left\{\frac35\right\} such that f(x1)=f(x2)f(x_1) = f(x_2)⁠.

Why?

To prove one-one, show that equal outputs can only come from equal inputs:

f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2f(x_1) = f(x_2) \Rightarrow x_1 = x_2
3x1+25x1−3=3x2+25x2−3⇒ (3x1+2)(5x2−3)=(3x2+2)(5x1−3)⇒ 15x1x2−9x1+10x2−6=15x1x2−9x2+10x1−6⇒ −19x1=−19x2⇒ x1=x2\begin{aligned} &\frac{3x_1 + 2}{5x_1 - 3} = \frac{3x_2 + 2}{5x_2 - 3} \\ \Rightarrow\ &(3x_1 + 2)(5x_2 - 3) \\ &= (3x_2 + 2)(5x_1 - 3) \\ \Rightarrow\ &15x_1x_2 - 9x_1 + 10x_2 - 6 \\ &= 15x_1x_2 - 9x_2 + 10x_1 - 6 \\ \Rightarrow\ &-19x_1 = -19x_2 \\ \Rightarrow\ &x_1 = x_2 \end{aligned}
Why?

Cross-multiplying is allowed because neither denominator is 0: x1,x2≠35x_1, x_2 \ne \frac35⁠.

Expand each side, one product at a time:

(3x1+2)(5x2−3)=(3x1)(5x2)+(3x1)(−3)+(2)(5x2)+(2)(−3)=15x1x2−9x1+10x2−6(3x2+2)(5x1−3)=(3x2)(5x1)+(3x2)(−3)+(2)(5x1)+(2)(−3)=15x1x2−9x2+10x1−6\begin{aligned} &(3x_1 + 2)(5x_2 - 3) \\ &= (3x_1)(5x_2) + (3x_1)(-3) \\ &\quad + (2)(5x_2) + (2)(-3) \\ &= 15x_1x_2 - 9x_1 + 10x_2 - 6 \\[4pt] &(3x_2 + 2)(5x_1 - 3) \\ &= (3x_2)(5x_1) + (3x_2)(-3) \\ &\quad + (2)(5x_1) + (2)(-3) \\ &= 15x_1x_2 - 9x_2 + 10x_1 - 6 \end{aligned}

After expanding, 15x1x215x_1x_2 and −6-6 appear on both sides and cancel. Collecting the rest:

−9x1+10x2=−9x2+10x1−9x1−10x1=−9x2−10x2−19x1=−19x2\begin{aligned} -9x_1 + 10x_2 &= -9x_2 + 10x_1 \\ -9x_1 - 10x_1 &= -9x_2 - 10x_2 \\ -19x_1 &= -19x_2 \end{aligned}

Divide both sides by −19-19⁠: x1=x2x_1 = x_2⁠.

Hence f is one-one.

Onto: Let y∈R−{35}y \in R - \left\{\frac35\right\} (codomain). Then f(x)=yf(x) = y gives

Why?

To prove onto, take any yy in the codomain and find an xx in the domain with f(x)=yf(x) = y⁠. We find it by solving f(x)=yf(x) = y for xx⁠.

3x+25x−3=y⇒ 3x+2=5xy−3y⇒ x(5y−3)=3y+2⇒ x=3y+25y−3(as y≠35)\begin{aligned} &\frac{3x + 2}{5x - 3} = y \\ \Rightarrow\ &3x + 2 = 5xy - 3y \\ \Rightarrow\ &x(5y - 3) = 3y + 2 \\ \Rightarrow\ &x = \frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3}\quad(\text{as } y \ne \tfrac35) \end{aligned}
Why?

Collect the xx-terms on one side: 5xy−3x=3y+25xy - 3x = 3y + 2⁠, then take xx out as a common factor.

3x+2=y(5x−3)3x+2=5xy−3y2+3y=5xy−3x3y+2=x(5y−3)\begin{aligned} 3x + 2 &= y(5x - 3) \\ 3x + 2 &= 5xy - 3y \\ 2 + 3y &= 5xy - 3x \\ 3y + 2 &= x(5y - 3) \end{aligned}

(First multiply both sides by 5x−35x - 3⁠. Then take 3x3x from both sides and add 3y3y to both sides.)

Dividing by 5y−35y - 3 is allowed only because y≠35y \ne \frac35⁠. This is why the codomain leaves out 35\frac35⁠.

Also x≠35x \ne \frac35⁠: if 3y+25y−3=35\frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3} = \frac35⁠, then 15y+10=15y−915y + 10 = 15y - 9⁠, i.e. 10=−910 = -9⁠, which is false. So x∈R−{35}x \in R - \left\{\frac35\right\} (domain).

Why?

The xx we found must lie in the domain, which leaves out 35\frac35⁠. Cross-multiplying 3y+25y−3=35\frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3} = \frac35 gives 5(3y+2)=3(5y−3)5(3y + 2) = 3(5y - 3)⁠, and that is impossible.

5(3y+2)=3(5y−3)15y+10=15y−910=−9(take 15y away)\begin{aligned} 5(3y + 2) &= 3(5y - 3) \\ 15y + 10 &= 15y - 9 \\ 10 &= -9 \quad (\text{take } 15y \text{ away}) \end{aligned}

Multiplying the numerator and the denominator by 5y−35y - 3⁠,

f(3y+25y−3)=3(3y+2)+2(5y−3)5(3y+2)−3(5y−3)=19y19=y\begin{aligned} &f\left(\frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3}\right) \\ &= \frac{3(3y + 2) + 2(5y - 3)}{5(3y + 2) - 3(5y - 3)} \\ &= \frac{19y}{19} = y \end{aligned}
Why?

Put x=3y+25y−3x = \frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3} into f(x)=3x+25x−3f(x) = \frac{3x + 2}{5x - 3}⁠:

f(3y+25y−3)=3⋅3y+25y−3+25⋅3y+25y−3−3f\left(\frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3}\right) = \frac{3\cdot\frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3} + 2}{5\cdot\frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3} - 3}

Multiply the top and the bottom by 5y−35y - 3⁠. Each fraction loses its denominator, and the lone 2 and 3 become 2(5y−3)2(5y - 3) and 3(5y−3)3(5y - 3)⁠.

Expanding:

3(3y+2)+2(5y−3)=9y+6+10y−6=19y+0=19y5(3y+2)−3(5y−3)=15y+10−15y+9=0+19=19\begin{aligned} &3(3y + 2) + 2(5y - 3) \\ &= 9y + 6 + 10y - 6 \\ &= 19y + 0 = 19y \\[4pt] &5(3y + 2) - 3(5y - 3) \\ &= 15y + 10 - 15y + 9 \\ &= 0 + 19 = 19 \end{aligned}

So the value is 19y19=y\frac{19y}{19} = y⁠.

Watch out: −3(−3)=+9-3(-3) = +9 in the denominator.

So for every yy in the codomain there is xx in the domain with f(x)=yf(x) = y⁠. Hence f is onto.

∴\therefore f is one-one and onto.

Where this comes from

Chapter 1, Relations and Functions: Equivalence relation; one-one and onto function.

Question type: (a) Show that a relation is an equivalence relation; (b) A fraction function with a point left out

How to spot it: click to see

(a) Type 3. Show that a relation is an equivalence relation

Spot it: the words "is an equivalence relation", often with "2 divides a−ba - b" or "∣a−b∣|a - b| is even".

Here: The rule is ∣x−y∣|x - y| divisible by pp⁠. For transitive, write x−y=mpx - y = mp and y−z=npy - z = np⁠; adding gives x−z=(m+n)px - z = (m + n)p⁠.

(b) Type 7. A fraction function with a point left out

Spot it: a fraction such as f(x)=x−2x−3f(x) = \frac{x - 2}{x - 3}⁠, with one number taken out of the domain and one out of the codomain.

Here: f(x)=3x+25x−3f(x) = \frac{3x + 2}{5x - 3} leaves out 35\frac35⁠. Cross-multiply to reach −19x1=−19x2-19x_1 = -19x_2⁠. For onto, x=3y+25y−3x = \frac{3y + 2}{5y - 3}⁠, and x=35x = \frac35 would need 10=−910 = -9⁠.

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