Lecture: 01
Basic Concept of Function
Constant: It is a symbol which retains the same value throughout a set of mathematical
operations. Constant are of two types: Absolute and arbitrary.
Constant of the type 15, 7, -100 etc. do not change whatever we may perform are known as
absolute constants whereas m and c in the equation y = mx + c of a straight line are arbitrary
constants as these remain fixed for a particular straight line but vary from straight line to
straight line.
Variable: A variable is a quantity which is capable of taking various numerical values.
Variables are of two types: Dependent and Independent. 1
Consider the equation y = log e x in which x can take any value, but for each value of x ,
there exist a value of y . Here x is called independent variable and y whose value depends
upon that of x is called dependent variable.
Relation:
Let A and B be two non-empty sets. If each element of A is related to one or more elements
of B, then it is called a Relation.
Example:
y 2 = x is a relation.
For, x = 1, 4, 9,............. we get y = ±1, ± 2, ± 3,............
i.e. ( x, y) = (1,1), (1, − 1), (4, 2), (4,−2), (9, 3), (9,−3),...............
x y
1
1
-1
2
4
-2
9 3
-3
Function:
Let A and B be two non-empty sets. If each element of A is related to unique element of B,
then it is called a function from the set A to B. It is defined by, f : A → B .
Domain: The set A is called the domain of the function.
Range: The set of the images of the elements of the set A is called the range of the function.
Example:
Shirin Sultana, Lecturer (Mathematics), Dept. of Natural Sciences,
Daffodil International University.
University.
Page 1 of 3
Lecture: 01
y = x 2 is a function.
For, x = ±1, ± 2, ± 3, ± 4, ± 5,............ we get y = 1, 4, 9,16, 25,.............
i.e. ( x, y ) = (1,1), (−1,1), (2, 4), (−2, 4), (3, 9), (−3, 9), (4,16), (−4,16), (5, 25), (−5,25),...............
Since we get unique y for x, so it is a function.
Note:
1. y 2 = x is not a function since we do not get unique y for x . But we have observed
that y 2 = x is a relation.
2. Every function is a relation but every relation is not a function.
2
One-one function (Injective):
Let f : A → B be a function. If distinct element of A has distinct images in B then the
function is called one-one function.
Onto function (Surjective):
Let f : A → B be a function. If all elements of the set B are images of the elements of A then
the function is called onto function.
One-to-one correspondence (Bijection):
The function f : A → B is a one to one correspondence, if it is both one-to-one and onto.
Example:
Let f be the function from {a, b, c, d } to {1, 2, 3} defined by f (a) = 3, f (b) = 2, f (c) = 1 and f (d ) = 3.
Is f an onto or one - one function ?
Solution:
Since all three elements of the codomain are images of elements in the domain we see that f
is onto. But f does not take on different values at the four elements of its domain. a and d both
have same image 3. So f is not one-one.
a 1
b
2
c
3
d
Figure: An onto function but not one-one
Shirin Sultana, Lecturer (Mathematics), Dept. of Natural Sciences,
Daffodil International University.
University.
Page 2 of 3
Lecture: 01
Some figures to distinguish different types of function:
1 a 1
a
2 b
b 2
3 c
c 3 3
4 d
Figure (a): One-one but not onto Figure (b):Onto but not one-one
a 1
a 1
b 2
b 2
c 3
c 3
d 4
d 4
Figure (d): Neither one-one
Figure (c): One-one and onto
nor and onto
a 1
b 2
3
c
4
Figure (e): Not a function
Shirin Sultana, Lecturer (Mathematics), Dept. of Natural Sciences,
Daffodil International University.
University.
Page 3 of 3
