In mathematics, the symmetric closure of a binary relation
on a set
is the smallest symmetric relation on
is a set of airports and
means "there is a direct flight from airport
", then the symmetric closure of
is the relation "there is a direct flight either from
is the set of humans and
is the relation 'parent of', then the symmetric closure of
is a parent or a child of
The symmetric closure
In other words, the symmetric closure of
with its converse relation,