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