Two mathematical objects a and b are called "equal up to an equivalence relation R"
- if a and b are related by R, that is,
- if aRb holds, that is,
- if the equivalence classes of a and b with respect to R are equal.
This figure of speech is mostly used in connection with expressions derived from equality, such as uniqueness or count.For example, "x is unique up to R" means that all objects x under consideration are in the same equivalence class with respect to the relation R.