(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
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul Black.
Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:40 2015.
Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "transitive", in
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY)
Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/transitive.html