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intransitive relation
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intransitive relation

logic
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In logic, an intransitive relation is one that does not hold between a and c if it also holds between a and b, and between b and c. This means that if a relation applies from a to b and from b to c, it cannot apply from a to c.

An example of an intransitive relation is "is the biological daughter of." If Mary is the daughter of Jane, and Jane is the daughter of Alice, Mary cannot be the daughter of Alice. Another example is "is the square of". This is contrasted with transitive relations, such as "is equal to" or "is greater than," where if the relation holds between a and b, and b and c, it also holds between a and c.12

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. transitive law
  2. relation
  3. philosophy of logic - Computers
  4. logical relation

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