/** Constructor for use by subclasses. */
  protected Equivalence() {}

  /**
   * Returns {@code true} if the given objects are considered equivalent.
   *
   * <p>This method describes an <i>equivalence relation</i> on object references, meaning that for
   * all references {@code x}, {@code y}, and {@code z} (any of which may be null):
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code equivalent(x, x)} is true (<i>reflexive</i> property)

{
  /** Constructor for use by subclasses. */
  protected Equivalence() {}

  /**
   * Returns {@code true} if the given objects are considered equivalent.
   *
   * <p>This method describes an <i>equivalence relation</i> on object references, meaning that for
   * all references {@code x}, {@code y}, and {@code z} (any of which may be null):
   *
   * <ul>
   *   <li>{@code equivalent(x, x)} is true (<i>reflexive</i> property)