Heard the saying - What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas? Sets of measure zero are kind of like that.
For example, say f(x),g(x) are functions that are equal to each other in measurable space E, except on a subset N. Say a given measure on ``disagreeable'' space N is equal to zero. Now N is like Las Vegas and we are given license to forget about what happens in this space N and assert that f(x)=g(x) a.e where a.e stands for almost everwhere. To be more precise (just to prevent extra point from being leaked out of your exam paper!), we need to state f(x)=g(x) a.e[μ]. That is we need to specify which measure.
Mathematically,
where x∈N. The above criteria specifies the points of N. Here f ~ g and it is not too difficult to prove that this is an equivalence relation.
Reflexive property: Clearly f ~ f. The disagreeable set N in this case is a null set and measure of null set is 0. f=f on the whole set.
Symmetric: Clearly f ~ g also means that set of disagreeable space remains same when we switch f to the right.
Reflexive: Say f ~ g and let N1 be the disagreeable set. Say g ~ h and let N2 be the disagreeable set, then N1∪N2 where f,g,h are not equal to each other. Hence f ~ h.
Note all the above statements were made based on a property that f=g. Generally, we don't have to be specific about a property. Above assertions and proofs hold in a more abstract sense, that is for any property P.