# Extended Transitivity

## Theorem

Let $S$ be a set.

Let $\mathcal R$ be a transitive relation on $S$.

Let $\mathcal R^=$ be the reflexive closure of $\mathcal R$.

Let $a, b, c \in S$.

Then:

 $(1):\quad$ $\displaystyle \paren{ a \mathrel {\RR} b } \land \paren { b \mathrel {\RR} c }$ $\implies$ $\displaystyle a \mathrel{\RR} c$ $(2):\quad$ $\displaystyle \paren { a \mathrel{\RR} b } \land \paren { b \mathrel{\RR^=} c }$ $\implies$ $\displaystyle a \mathrel{\RR} c$ $(3):\quad$ $\displaystyle \paren { a \mathrel{\RR^=} b } \land \paren { b \mathrel{\RR} c }$ $\implies$ $\displaystyle a \mathrel{\RR} c$ $(4):\quad$ $\displaystyle \paren { a \mathrel{\RR^=} b } \land \paren { b \mathrel{\RR^=} c }$ $\implies$ $\displaystyle a \mathrel{\RR^=} c$

## Proof

$(1)$ follows from the definition of a transitive relation.

$(4)$ follows from Reflexive Closure of Transitive Relation is Transitive.

Suppose that:

$\paren { a \mathrel{\RR} b } \land \paren { b \mathrel{\RR^=} c }$

By the definition of reflexive closure:

$b \mathrel{\RR} c$ or $b = c$

If $b = c$, then since $a \mathrel{\mathcal R} b$:

$a \mathrel{\RR} c$

If $b \mathrel{\RR} c$ then by transitivity of $\RR$:

$a \mathrel{\RR} c$

Thus $(2)$ holds.

A similar argument proves that $(3)$ holds as well:

Suppose that:

$\paren { a \mathrel{\RR^=} b } \land \paren { b \mathrel{\RR} c }$

By the definition of reflexive closure:

$a \mathrel{\RR} b$ or $a = b$

If $a = b$, then since $b \mathrel{\RR} c$:

$a \mathrel{\RR} c$

If $a \mathrel{\RR} b$ then by transitivity of $\RR$:

$a \mathrel{\RR} c$

Thus $(3)$ holds.

$\blacksquare$