Give an example of a function which is

(i) one - one but not onto


(ii) one - one and onto


(iii) neither one - one nor onto


(iv) onto but not one - one.


(i) one - one but not onto


f(x) = 6x


For One - One


f(x1) = 6x1


f(x2) = 6x2


put f(x1) = f(x2) we get


6x1 = 6x2


Hence, if f(x1) = f(x2) , x1 = x2


Function f is one - one


For Onto


f(x) = 6x


let f(x) = y ,such that yN


6x = y



If y = 1


x =


which is not possible as xN


Hence, f is not onto.


(ii) one - one and onto


f(x) = x5


y = x5



Since the lines do not cut the curve in 2 equal valued points of y, therefore, the function f(x) is one - one.


The range of f(x) = ( - ∞,∞) = R(Codomain)


f(x) is onto


f(x) is one - one and onto.


(iii) neither one - one nor onto


f(x) = x2


for one one:


f(x1) = (x1)2


f(x2) = (x2)2


f(x1) = f(x2)


(x1)2 = (x2)2


x1 = x2 or x1 = - x2


Since x1 does not have a unique image it is not one - one


For onto


f(x) = y


such that yR


x2 = y


x =


If y is negative under root of a negative number is not real


Hence,f(x) is not onto.


f(x) is neither onto nor one - one


(iv) onto but not one - one.


Consider a function f:ZN such that f(x) = |x|.


Since the Z maps to every single element in N twice, this function is onto but not one - one.


Z - integers


N - natural numbers.


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