Relations and Functions

Question

Show that an onto function f : {1,2,3} → {1, 2, 3} is always one-one.

Answer

If possible, suppose that f is not one-one. Then there exists two elements, say 1 and 2 in the domain whose image in the co-domain is same.
Also, the image of 3 under f can be only one element. Therefore, the range set can have at the most two elements of the co-domain {1, 2, 3}, showing that f is not onto, which is a contradiction.
Hence f must be one-one.

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Some More Questions From Relations and Functions Chapter

Give an example of a relation which is

(i) Symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive.
(ii) Transitive but neither reflexive nor symmetric.
(iii) Reflexive and symmetric but not transitive.
(iv) Reflexive and transitive but not symmetric.
(v) Symmetric and transitive but not reflexive.

Let L be the set of all lines in a plane and R be the relation in L defined as R = {(L1, L2) : L1 is perpendicular to L2}. Show that R is symmetric but neither reflexive nor transitive.

 Determine whether each of the following relations are reflexive, symmetric and transitive :

(i) Relation R in the set A = {1, 2, 3,....., 13, 14} defined as

R = {(x, y) : 3 x – y = 0}

(ii) Relation R in the set N of natural numbers defined as R = {(x, y) : y = x + 5 and x < 4} (iii) Relation R in the set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} as R = {(x,y) : y is divisible by x} (iv) Relation R in the set Z of all integers defined as R = {(x,y) : x – y is an integer}

(v) Relation R in the set A of human beings in a town at a particular time given by
(a)    R = {(x, y) : x and y work at the same place}
(b)    R = {(x,y) : x and y live in the same locality}
(c)    R = {(x, y) : x is exactly 7 cm taller than y}
(d)    R = {(x, y) : x is wife of y}
(e)    R = {(x,y) : x is father of y}

Check whether the relation R defined in the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} as R = {(a, b) : b = a + 1} is reflexive, symmetric or transitive.

Show that the relation R in R defined as R = {(a, b) : a ≤ b}, is reflexive and transitive but not symmetric.

Check whether the relation R in R defined by R = {(a,b) : a ≤ b3} is refleive, symmetric or transitive.

If R and R’ arc reflexive relations on a set then so are R ∪ R’ and R ∩ R’. 

If R and R’ are symmetric relations on a set A, then R ∩ R’ is also a sysmetric relation on A.

Show that the union of two symmetric relations on a set is again a symmetric relation on that set.