Prove Inverse of Bijection function

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around proving that the inverse of a bijective function is also bijective. The original poster presents an attempt to establish this by demonstrating that the inverse function is both one-to-one and onto, given that the original function is bijective.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the definitions of bijection and surjection, questioning the original poster's reasoning and the definitions used. There are discussions about the necessary conditions for a function to be one-to-one and onto, with suggestions to clarify the proof structure.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's proof attempts and definitions. There is an exchange of ideas regarding the correct interpretation of surjective functions, and some participants express skepticism about the definitions being used.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the definitions of bijection and surjection, with some participants challenging the original poster's understanding of these concepts. The conversation reflects a mix of attempts to clarify definitions and provide constructive feedback on the proof approach.

TheLegace
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Homework Statement



Suppose f is bijection. Prove that f⁻¹. is bijection.

Homework Equations



A bijection of a function occurs when f is one to one and onto.
I think the proof would involve showing f⁻¹. is bijective, by showing f⁻¹ is onto, and one to one, since f is bijective it is invertible.

The Attempt at a Solution



To start:

Since f is invertible/bijective
f⁻¹ is one-to-one:
f:A→B
f⁻¹:B→A

f(a)=b then f⁻¹(b)=a
if f(a)=b f(a)=b' then b=b'
So f⁻¹ is one-to-one

f⁻¹ is onto:
*for f to be onto:
f:A→B
∀a∈A,∃b∈B f(a)=b
*
f⁻¹:B→A
∀b∈B,∃a∈A f(b)=a
So f⁻¹ is onto.

Therefore f⁻¹ is bijective.
Would this be correct?
Thank You Very Much.
 
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TheLegace said:

Homework Statement



Suppose f is bijection. Prove that f⁻¹. is bijection.

Homework Equations



A bijection of a function occurs when f is one to one and onto.
I think the proof would involve showing f⁻¹. is bijective, by showing f⁻¹ is onto, and one to one, since f is bijective it is invertible.

The Attempt at a Solution



To start:

Since f is invertible/bijective
f⁻¹ is one-to-one:
f:A→B
f⁻¹:B→A

f(a)=b then f⁻¹(b)=a
if f(a)=b f(a)=b' then b=b'
So f⁻¹ is one-to-one
Yes, if f(a)= b and f(a)= b' then b= b'. But that is true of any function, not just one-to-one functions so it does NOT show that f-1 is one-to-one. You need to start from "if f-1(a)= f-1(b)" and finish "therefore a= b". I would recommend taking f of both sides.

f⁻¹ is onto:
*for f to be onto:
f:A→B
∀a∈A,∃b∈B f(a)=b
*
f⁻¹:B→A
∀b∈B,∃a∈A f(b)=a
So f⁻¹ is onto.
There are some "special" symbols in there I can't see but I think you are saying \all b\in B, \exist a in A f(b)= a. Again, that is true of any function from B to A and has nothing to do with "onto". You need to start "If a\in A" and end "therefore \exist b\in B such that f-1(b)= a". That is, you have to start with a member of A and find a member of B so that is true. There is an obvious way to do that.

Therefore f⁻¹ is bijective.
Would this be correct?
Thank You Very Much.
 
HallsofIvy said:
Yes, if f(a)= b and f(a)= b' then b= b'. But that is true of any function, not just one-to-one functions so it does NOT show that f-1 is one-to-one. You need to start from "if f-1(a)= f-1(b)" and finish "therefore a= b". I would recommend taking f of both sides.

f⁻¹ is onto:
*for f to be onto:
f:A→B
∀a∈A,∃b∈B f(a)=b
*
f⁻¹:B→A
∀b∈B,∃a∈A f(b)=a
So f⁻¹ is onto.
There are some "special" symbols in there I can't see but I think you are saying \all b\in B, \exist a in A f(b)= a. Again, that is true of any function from B to A and has nothing to do with "onto". You need to start "If a\in A" and end "therefore \exist b\in B such that f-1(b)= a". That is, you have to start with a member of A and find a member of B so that is true. There is an obvious way to do that.

The way onto is defined in my text and class is through quantification. For f, for every a in set A, there is some b in set B such that f(a)=b.
For the inverse for every b in B there is an element a in A, which defines the mapping of onto function.

Thank you for the input, I appreciate it.

TheLegace.
 
I very much doubt that the book you use defines a surjection like that, but if it does it's simply wrong. The definition of a surjection is that \forall b \in B \;\; \exists a \in A , \text{such that} f(a)=b. In words this means that a function's values span its whole codomain.

Example:
<br /> f:[0,1] \rightarrow \{1,0\}, f(x)=1<br />

Using your definition of a surjection would allow you to conclude that this function, f, is a surjection. Seeing as for all values of x \in [0,1] there is an y \in \{0,1\} namely 1. Yet 0 never is reached for any x \in [0,1] thus it cannot be a surjection.
Now let's use the correct definition of a surjection. For y=1 there is always an x \in [0,1] such that f(x)=1, namely all values within [0,1]. But for y=0 there is not a single value for x \in [0,1] such that f(x)=0. So there exist an y \in \{0,1\} such that f(x) \neq y, namely y=0. Therefore this function is not a surjection.
 
Last edited:
Cyosis said:
I very much doubt that the book you use defines a surjection like that, but if it does it's simply wrong. The definition of a surjection is that \forall b \in B \;\; \exists a \in A , \text{such that} f(a)=b. In words this means that a function's values span its whole codomain.

Example:
<br /> f:[0,1] \rightarrow \{1,0\}, f(x)=1<br />

Using your definition of a surjection would allow you to conclude that this function, f, is a surjection. Seeing as for all values of x \in [0,1] there is an y \in \{0,1\} namely 1. Yet 0 never is reached for any x \in [0,1] thus it cannot be a surjection.
Now let's use the correct definition of a surjection. For y=1 there is always an x \in [0,1] such that f(x)=1, namely all values within [0,1]. But for y=0 there is not a single value for x \in [0,1] such that f(x)=0. So there exist an y \in \{0,1\} such that f(x) \neq y, namely y=0. Therefore this function is not a surjection.

Oh my apologies I made a mistake, you are right, I am working on some inverse function stuff and typing functions gets me confused very easily. But thank you.
 

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