What does a relation consist of in mathematics?

A relation in mathematics consists of a set of ordered pairs. This means that a relation can be defined as a collection of elements where each element from one set (usually referred to as the domain) is associated with an element from another set (the codomain) through a pairing. For example, if we have a set of students and their corresponding scores, we can represent this relationship in the form of ordered pairs, like (student, score).

The concept of ordered pairs is fundamental in describing how two sets are related to one another. Each ordered pair consists of an input and an output, which allows us to analyze and draw conclusions about the connections between different sets of values.

In comparison to the other options: a single number does not capture the concept of a relation, a measure of central tendency represents the average or typical value of a set, and a polynomial equation describes a mathematical expression rather than a connection between sets. Thus, defining a relation as a set of ordered pairs encapsulates its essential characteristics clearly and accurately.