Math Squad

To Infinity and Beyond. Introduction
Review of Set Theory
Functions
Countability
Cardinality
Hilbert's Grand Hotel




To Infinity and Beyond

A Review of Set Theory: Functions

by Maliha Hossain, proud member of the Math Squad




Let $ f $ be a function from set $ A $ to set $ B $.

$ \Leftrightarrow f : A \rightarrow B $

Onto (Surjective)

Definition The function $ f $ is said to be surjective (or to map $ A $ onto $ B $) if $ f(A) = B $; that is, if the range $ F(f) = B $. If $ f $ is a surjective function, we also say that $ f $ is a surjection.

In other words, if for every $ y $ in $ B $, there exists at least one $ x $ in $ A $ such that $ f(x) = y $, then $ f $ is onto $ B $.

e.g. Given that

$ f(x) = x^5, \forall x \in \mathbb{R}, f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} $

then, $ f $ is onto the set R.


e.g. Given that

$ f(x) = x^2, \forall x \in \mathbb{R}, f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} $

then, $ f $ is not onto the set R.

But if we define the domain of $ f $ such that

$ f(x) = x^2, \forall x \in \mathbb{R}, f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow [0,\infty] $

then, $ f $ is not onto.

Figures one and two show some other examples of functions, one of which is onto and one which is not.

$ y = f(x) = x+5x^2+x^3, f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R} $
Fig 1: $ f $ is onto since every value on the $ y $-axis has at least one corresponding value on the $ x $-axis


$ y = f(x) = x^4, f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R} $
Fig 2: $ f $ is not onto since there is no value on the $ x $-axis that can produce a negative real number on the $ y $-axis


One-to-One (Injective)

Definition The function $ f $ is said to be injective (or to be one-one) if whenever $ x_1 $ is not equal to $ x_2 $, then $ f(x_1) $ is not equal to $ f(x_2) $. If $ f $ is an injective function, we also say that $ f $ is a injection.

In other words, if $ x_1 $ and $ x_2 $ are in the domain of $ f $ and if $ f $ is one-to-one if either of the following is true

$ \begin{align} &\bullet x_1 \neq x_2 \Rightarrow f(x_1) \neq f(x_2) \\ &\bullet f(x_1) = f(x_2) \Rightarrow x_1 = x_2 \end{align} $

You may recall the informal method of checking whether functions are one-to-one using the horizontal line test. This is illustrated in the following examples in figures three and four.

$ y = f(x) = x, f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R} $
Fig 3: Any arbitrary horizontal line $ y = c $ intersects the function's graph only once so we can infer that $ f $ is injective.


$ y = f(x) = \sin(x), f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R} $
Fig 3: The $ x $-axis intersects the graph of the function multiple times. It does not pass the horizontal line test. Therefore we can conclude that $ f $ is not injective.


Bijection

Definition If $ f $ is both injective and surjective, then $ f $ is said to be bijective. If $ f $ is bijective, we also say that $ f $ is a bijection


The next section of this tutorial will cover the countability of sets.



References

  • R. G. Bartle, D. R. Sherbert, "Preliminaries" in "An Introduction to Real Analysis", Third Edition, John Wiley and Sons Inc. 2000 ch. 1, sect. 1.1, pp 8.
  • R. Kenney. MA 301. "An Introduction to Proof through Real Analysis", Lecture Notes. Faculty of the Department of Mathematics, Purdue University, Spring 2012



Questions and comments

If you have any questions, comments, etc. please post them below:

  • Comment / question 1



Back to Math Squad page

Alumni Liaison

Ph.D. on Applied Mathematics in Aug 2007. Involved on applications of image super-resolution to electron microscopy

Francisco Blanco-Silva