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I have noticed a certain analogy between subgroups of a group $G$ and equivalence relations on a set $X$. I would like to know if there's an explanation for this analogy or a common generalization of the two facts I have in mind.

Here are the facts.

Fact 1. Let $G$ be a group. Then we can multiply subsets of $G$ in a standard way. For two subgroups $R$ and $S$ of $G$, the product $RS$ is a subgroup of $G$ iff $RS=SR$. If that is the case, $RS=SR$ is the join of $R$ and $S$ in the lattice of subgroups of $G$.

Fact 2. Let $X$ be a set. Then we can compose binary relations on $X$ in a standard way. For two equivalence relations $\rho$ and $\sigma$, the composition $\rho\circ\sigma$ is an equivalence relation on $X$ iff $\rho\circ\sigma=\sigma\circ\rho$. If that is the case, $\rho\circ\sigma=\sigma\circ\rho$ is the join of $\rho$ and $\sigma$ in the lattice of equivalence relations on $X$.

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    Not a complete explanation, but: if $G$ is a group and $S$ a subset of $G$, we can associate to $S$ the relation $R_S$ defined by $$x R_S y \Leftrightarrow \exists s \in S : y = xs.$$ The composition of these relations describes composition of subsets.2012-06-07
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    A useful word is "congruence relation". A congruence relation is an equivalence relation that respects the operations of your structure: in this case, that $a \equiv b$ and $c \equiv d$ imply $ac \equiv bd$.2012-06-07
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    @QiaochuYuan Thanks! I've checked that it gives a monomorphism $\phi:(2^G,\cdot)\to(2^{G\times G},\circ),$ which also respects $\cap$ and $\cup$. Is $\phi(2^G)$ exactly the set $I_r$ of all right invariant binary relations on $G$? I've checked that $\phi(2^G)\subseteq I_r$, but I can't prove the other inclusion.2012-06-07

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