Compose Functions: True/False?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the properties of function composition, specifically regarding the truth of various statements about injective, surjective, and bijective functions. It is established that if functions f and g are injective, surjective, or bijective, then their composition g∘f retains these properties. However, the statement "If A=B=C, then f∘g=g∘f" is clarified as false, emphasizing that equality of sets does not guarantee commutativity in function composition. The distinction between the codomain and the range of functions is crucial in understanding why the last statement does not hold.

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  • Understanding of injective, surjective, and bijective functions
  • Knowledge of function composition and notation (f∘g)
  • Familiarity with set theory concepts, particularly equality of sets
  • Basic principles of mathematical logic and proof techniques
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lemonthree
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Which of the following are true? Select all options. Assume that f:A→B and g:B→C.

If f and g are injective, then so is g∘f
If f and g are surjective, then so is g∘f
If f and g are bijective, then so is g∘f
If g∘f is bijective, then so are both f and g
If g∘f is bijective, then so is either f or g
If A=B=C, then f∘g=g∘f.

The first 3 options are true while the next 2 options are false. The only question I have here is regarding the last option "If A=B=C, then f∘g=g∘f."

Why can't it be true? If A = B = C, and they are all equal sets, we know that f:A→B and g:B→C.
So in essence, isn't f∘g=g∘f?
f∘g= f(g(x)) = f(C) = f(A) = B
While g∘f = g(f(x)) = g(B) = C
But A = B = C so they are all equal.
Range = codomain = domain anyway.
 
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lemonthree said:
The only question I have here is regarding the last option "If A=B=C, then f∘g=g∘f."
Then it makes sense to post only that question.
lemonthree said:
Why can't it be true?
The question is not whether $f\circ g=g\circ f$ can be true, it's whether it must be true under the given assumptions.
lemonthree said:
If A = B = C, and they are all equal sets, we know that f:A→B and g:B→C.
More than that, we are given that $f:A\to B$ and $g:B\to C$ even if $A=B=C$ does not hold.

(A relevant joke. A tourist asks a local: "If I go down this street, will there be a railway station? The local replies, "The station will be there even if you don't go down that street".)

lemonthree said:
f∘g= f(g(x)) = f(C)
$f(g(x))$ cannot equal $f(C)$ because the former is an element of the codomain of $f$ while $f(C)$, if defined, is a subset of the codomain of $f$. In any case, equality of two functions $h_1$ and $h_2$ means that $h_1(x)=h_2(x)$ for every $x$ in the domain of $h_1$ and $h_2$ and not just that the domain and codomain of $h_1$ and $h_2$ are the same.
 

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