Suggested languages for you:

Americas

Europe

|
|

# Bijective Functions

You may have used QR codes for various purposes before. Each QR code contains some information in them and is used to uniquely identify an item or service. Every QR code uniquely identifies one and only one such item/service. Mathematically, the mapping between the QR code and the object that it identifies is an example of a bijective function.

In this section, we will look at the bijective function and understand it in the different forms of function.

## Defining a Bijective Function

Suppose we have two sets, $$A$$ and $$B$$, and a function $$f$$ points from $$A$$ to $$B$$ $$(f:A\to B)$$. If every element in codomain $$B$$ is pointed to by at least one element in domain $$A$$, the function is called a bijective function.

A function $$f:A\to B$$ is bijective if, for every $$y$$ in $$B$$, there is exactly one $$x$$ in $$A$$ such that $$f(x)=y$$.

A bijective function is both injective (one-one function) and surjective (onto function) in nature.

If every element of the range is mapped to exactly one element from the domain is called the injective function. That is, no element of the domain points to more than one element of the range.

In a surjective function, every element of the co-domain is an image of at least one element of the domain.

Injective and Surjective functions, StudySmarter Originals

So, it logically follows that if a function is both injective and surjective in nature, it means that every element of the domain has a unique image in the co-domain, such that all elements of the co-domain are also part of the range (have a corresponding element in the domain). Such a function is called a bijective function.

You can consider a bijective function to be a perfect one-to-one correspondence. Every element in the domain has exactly one corresponding image in the co-domain, and vice-versa.

Bijective function, StudySmarter Originals

Note that the onto function is not bijective, as it needs to be a one-one function to be bijective. Let's take a look at the difference between these two to understand it better.

## Difference between Bijective and Surjective functions

We will see the difference between bijective and surjective functions in the following table.

 Bijective function Surjective function A function $$(f:A\to B)$$ is bijective if, for every $$y$$ in $$B$$, there is exactly one $$x$$ in $$A$$ such that $$f(x)=y$$. A function $$(f:A\to B)$$ is surjective if for every $$y$$ in $$B$$ there is at least one $$x$$ in $$A$$ such that $$f(x)=y$$. A bijective function is both one-one and onto function. A surjective function is onto function. The domain and co-domain have an equal number of elements. A co-domain can be an image for more than one element of the domain. Bijective graphs have exactly one horizontal line intersection in the graph. Surjective graphs have at least one horizontal line intersection in the graph. Example - $$f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}, f(x)=2x$$ Example - $$f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}, f(x)=x^{3}-3x$$

## Composition of Bijective functions

Consider the functions $$f:A\to B , g:B\to C$$. Then the composition of the function $$(g\circ f)(x)=g(f(x))$$ from function $$A$$ to $$C$$. The composition of the bijective function is derived from the composition of injective and surjective functions.

The function $$f:A\to B , g:B\to C$$ are injective function, then the composition $$g\circ f$$ is also injective. Similarly, for the two surjective functions $$f$$ and $$g$$, their composition $$g\circ f$$ is also surjective.

Suppose both $$f:A\to B$$ and $$g:B\to C$$ are bijective. This implies that both $$f$$ and $$g$$ are both injective and surjective as well. The composition of the functions $$g\circ f$$ is both injective and surjective. Hence, the composition of function $$g\circ f$$ is bijective.

Note that if $$g\circ f$$ is bijective, then it can only be possible that $$f$$ is injective and $$g$$ is surjective.

Bijective composition, StudySmarter Originals

## Bijective function graph

We can determine a bijective function based on the plotted graph too. To identify a bijective function graph, we consider a horizontal line test based on injective and surjective functions. For a function to be bijective both the test for injective and surjective should be satisfied.

### Horizontal line test

This test is used to check the injective, surjective, and bijective functions. We determine the type of function based on the number of intersection points with the horizontal line and the given graph.

To check this, draw horizontal lines from different points. If each horizontal line intersects the graph at most one point then, it is an injective function. If the function is surjective, then a horizontal line should intersect at at least one point. So, when checking for bijective function, there should be exactly one intersecting point with a horizontal line.

## Bijective function examples

Show bijection for the function $$f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}, f(x)=x$$.

Solution:

Consider the function $$f(x)=x$$, where the domain and co-domain are the set of all real numbers.

All values in the co-domain correspond to a unique value in the domain. Thus, the function is bijective in nature.

It is injective because every value of $$x$$ leads to a different value of $$y$$. It is surjective because any possible real number $$r$$ can have a corresponding value $$x$$ such that $$f(x)=r$$.

When a bijective function is drawn on a graph, a horizontal line parallel to the X-axis must intersect the graph at exactly one point (horizontal line test).

The following graph demonstrates this for the function $$f(x)=x$$.

Graph for function $$f(x)=x$$, StudySmarter Originals

Verify if the function $$f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}, f(x)=x^{2}$$ is bijective or not.

Solution:

Here for the given function, the range of the function only includes values $$\ge 0$$. But the co-domain includes all negative real numbers too. And the members of the co-domain can be images of multiple members of the domain, for example $$f(2)=f(-2)=4$$. Hence, the function $$f(x)=x^{2}$$ is not injective. So, $$f(x)=x^{2}$$ is not bijective.

When we draw the function on a graph, we can notice how it fails the horizontal line test as it intersects at two different points.

Non-bijective function graph for $$f(x)=x^{2}$$, StudySmarter Originals

Is the function $$f(x)=2x$$ bijective? Also, show for which domain and co-domain.

Solution:

When we set the domain and co-domain of the function to the set of all real numbers, it was a bijective function.

Hence, for $$f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}, f(x)=2x$$ is bijective.

However, if we restrict the domain and co-domain of the function to the set of all natural numbers, this no longer remains a bijective function. Since the range would include all even numbers but exclude all odd numbers, but they remain part of the co-domain. For example, it is impossible to get $$f(x)=3$$, for any natural number value of $$x$$. Thus, the function is not surjective, and consequently not bijective.

So, $$f:\mathbb{N}\to \mathbb{N}, f(x)=2x$$ is not bijective.

## Bijective Functions - Key takeaways

• A bijective function is both injective and surjective in nature.
• A function $$f:A\to B$$ is bijective if, for every $$y$$ in $$B$$, there is exactly one $$x$$ in $$A$$ such that $$f(x)=y$$.
• A bijective function is one-one and onto function, but an onto function is not a bijective function.
• The composition of bijective functions is again a bijective function.
• For a bijective function, there should be exactly one intersecting point with a horizontal line.

A function that is both injective and surjective is called a bijective function.

To prove that a function is bijective, first prove that it is injective and then prove that it is surjective.

All bijective functions are continuous but not all continuous functions are bijective.

All linear continuous functions are bijective. For example f(x)=2x.

The function f(x)=x is an example of a bijective function as it is both injective and surjective,

## Final Bijective Functions Quiz

Question

Is the mapping from student to roll number a bijective function?

Yes

Show question

Question

Which of the following is true for a bijective function?

It is injective

Show question

Question

What is a bijective function?

A function f : A ⇒ B is bijective if, for every y in B, there is exactly one x in A such that f(x) = y.

Show question

Question

State whether the following statement is true or false:

In a bijective function, the domain and range are identical.

False

Show question

Question

State whether the following statement is true or false:

In a bijective function, the co-domain and range are identical.

True

Show question

Question

As per the horizontal test on bijective function, how many intersecting points with the horizontal line should occur?

Exactly one

Show question

Question

Is the following function bijective:

f(x)=2x³

Yes

Show question

Question

Is the following function bijective:

f(x)=2x³, the domain and co-domain are the set of all natural numbers

No

Show question

Question

Is the following function bijective:

f(x)=5x, the domain and co-domain are the set of all real numbers

Yes

Show question

Question

Is the following function bijective:

f(x)=x, the domain and co-domain are the set of all natural numbers

Yes

Show question

Question

Is the following function bijective:

f(x)=-7x³

Yes

Show question

Question

Is the following function bijective:

f(x)=-x

Yes

Show question

Question

Is the following function bijective:

f(x)=42x²

No

Show question

Question

Is the composition of a bijective function also a bijective function?

No

Show question

60%

of the users don't pass the Bijective Functions quiz! Will you pass the quiz?

Start Quiz

## Study Plan

Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan.

## Quizzes

Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes.

## Flashcards

Create and find flashcards in record time.

## Notes

Create beautiful notes faster than ever before.

## Study Sets

Have all your study materials in one place.

## Documents

Upload unlimited documents and save them online.

## Study Analytics

Identify your study strength and weaknesses.

## Weekly Goals

Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them.

## Smart Reminders

Stop procrastinating with our study reminders.

## Rewards

Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying.

## Magic Marker

Create flashcards in notes completely automatically.

## Smart Formatting

Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates.