Bijection in a complex number ring

dancergirlie
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Homework Statement


Show that the complex conjugation function f:C----->C (whose rule is f(a+bi)=a-bi) is a bijection


Homework Equations


A function is a bijection if it is both injective and surjective
a function is injective if when f(a)=f(b) then a=b
a function is surjective if for f:B---->C
if c is in C then there exists a b in B such that f(b)=c


The Attempt at a Solution


I get the whole injective part
Let
f(a+bi)=f(c+di)
hence, a-bi=c-di
now suppose that b is unequal to d
so, a-c=(b-d)i
meaning i=(a-c)/(b-d) which is a contradiction, since i is not a real number.
hence, a=c and b=d
meaning, f is injective

My problem is with the surjective part, let me know if this is wrong,
Let f(a+bi)=c+di
then, a-bi=c+di... then i don't know where to go from there
I don't know if this is wrong, any clarification on how to test for surjectivity would be greatly appreciated...
 
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dancergirlie said:

Homework Statement


Show that the complex conjugation function f:C----->C (whose rule is f(a+bi)=a-bi) is a bijection


Homework Equations


A function is a bijection if it is both injective and surjective
a function is injective if when f(a)=f(b) then a=b
a function is surjective if for f:B---->C
if c is in C then there exists a b in B such that f(b)=c


The Attempt at a Solution


I get the whole injective part
Let
f(a+bi)=f(c+di)
hence, a-bi=c-di
now suppose that b is unequal to d
You can prove this by contradiction, but why? If two complex numbers are equal, what must be true for their real parts and their imaginary parts?
dancergirlie said:
so, a-c=(b-d)i
meaning i=(a-c)/(b-d) which is a contradiction, since i is not a real number.
hence, a=c and b=d
meaning, f is injective

My problem is with the surjective part, let me know if this is wrong,
Let f(a+bi)=c+di
then, a-bi=c+di... then i don't know where to go from there
I don't know if this is wrong, any clarification on how to test for surjectivity would be greatly appreciated...

What you want to do is to show that for any complex number z2 in the range of this function, there is a complex number z1 in its domain so that f(z1) = z2. Start with an arbitrary complex number and find the other complex number that this function maps to it.
 
Like Mark suggested.

Let z1=a-bi be any complex number, then for this exists its conjugate z2=a+bi such that
f(z2)=z1.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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