8/31/22, 11:02 PM Discrete Mathematics - Functions

Discrete Mathematics - Functions

Discrete Math For Computer Science

20 Lectures 1.5 hours

 Lukáš Vyhnálek

More Detail

A Function assigns to each element of a set, exactly one element of a related set. Functions find
their application in various fields like representation of the computational complexity of algorithms,
counting objects, study of sequences and strings, to name a few. The third and final chapter of this
part highlights the important aspects of functions.

Function - Definition
A function or mapping (Defined as f : X → Y ) is a relationship from elements of one set X to
elements of another set Y (X and Y are non-empty sets). X is called Domain and Y is called
Codomain of function ‘f’.

Function ‘f’ is a relation on X and Y such that for each x ∈ X , there exists a unique y ∈ Y

such that (x, y) ∈ R . ‘x’ is called pre-image and ‘y’ is called image of function f.

A function can be one to one or many to one but not one to many.

Injective / One-to-one function

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8/31/22, 11:02 PM Discrete Mathematics - Functions

A function f : A → B is injective or one-to-one function if for every b ∈ B , there exists at

most one a ∈ A such that f (s) = t .

This means a function f is injective if a1 ≠ a2 implies f (a1) ≠ f (a2) .

Example

f : N → N , f (x) = 5x is injective.

f : N → N , f (x) = x
2
is injective.

f : R → R, f (x) = x
2
is not injective as (−x)
2
= x
2

Surjective / Onto function

every b ∈ B , there exists some a ∈ A such that f (a) = b . This means that for any y in B,

there exists some x in A such that y = f (x) .

Example

f : N → N , f (x) = x + 2 is surjective.

f : R → R, f (x) = x
2
is not surjective since we cannot find a real number whose square

is negative.

Bijective / One-to-one Correspondent

and surjective.

Problem
Prove that a function f : R → R defined by f (x) = 2x– 3 is a bijective function.

Explanation − We have to prove this function is both injective and surjective.

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If f (x1 ) = f (x2 ) , then 2x1 – 3 = 2x2 – 3 and it implies that x1 = x2 .

Hence, f is injective.

Here, 2x– 3 = y

So, x = (y + 5)/3 which belongs to R and f (x) = y .

Hence, f is surjective.

Since f is both surjective and injective, we can say f is bijective.

Inverse of a Function
The inverse of a one-to-one corresponding function f : A → B , is the function g : B → A ,

holding the following property −

f (x) = y ⇔ g(y) = x

The function f is called invertible, if its inverse function g exists.

Example

A Function f : Z → Z , f (x) = x + 5 , is invertible since it has the inverse function

g : Z → Z , g(x) = x − 5 .

A Function f : Z → Z , f (x) = x
2
is not invertiable since this is not one-to-one as

(−x)
2
= x
2
.

Composition of Functions
Two functions f : A → B and g : B → C can be composed to give a composition gof .

This is a function from A to C defined by (gof )(x) = g(f (x))

Example
Let f (x) = x + 2 and g(x) = 2x + 1 , find (f og)(x) and (gof )(x) .

Solution

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8/31/22, 11:02 PM Discrete Mathematics - Functions

(f og)(x) = f (g(x)) = f (2x + 1) = 2x + 1 + 2 = 2x + 3

(gof )(x) = g(f (x)) = g(x + 2) = 2(x + 2) + 1 = 2x + 5

Hence, (f og)(x) ≠ (gof )(x)

Some Facts about Composition

If f and g are one-to-one then the function (gof ) is also one-to-one.

If f and g are onto then the function (gof ) is also onto.

Composition always holds associative property but does not hold commutative property.

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