Compute f°g & g°f: Domain & Codomain Explained

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The discussion focuses on computing the compositions of two functions, f and g, where f: ℝxℝ → ℝ and g: ℝ → ℝxℝ, specifically f°g and g°f. The composition g°f is correctly computed as f(g(x)) = f((x,0)) = x, establishing the domain as ℝ and the codomain as ℝ. The conversation highlights confusion around function notation and the concepts of domain and codomain, with a request for clarification on writing and notation. Additionally, it is noted that f is surjective, g is injective, and the composition f°g is bijective, with the latter being identified as the identity function. Understanding these relationships is crucial for grasping function composition in mathematics.
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Homework Statement


Let f: ℝxℝ → ℝ and g: ℝ → ℝxℝ be given by f(x,y) = x and g(x) = (x,0) Compute f°g and g°f (This means for each function find the domain and codomain, and show what each function evaluates at each point in the domain.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


g°f ⇒ f(g(x)) or f(x,y) = x → g(x) = (x,0). Therefore x ∈ ℝ and y ∈ ℝ is the domain and x ∈ ℝ and y ∈ 0 is part of the codomain. When placing x ∈ ℝ and y ∈ ℝ in the function the output will be (x,0) iff (x,y)[/B]
That is for g°f. Not going to spend another 3 minutes typing out f°g because I think it would be a waste of mine and your time. I am just really confused about everything on this section as a whole and hopefully your insights will help. Please ... Please point out anything that you don't like about the way I write or my notation or really anything. Thanks
 
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Austin Chang said:

Homework Statement


Let f: ℝxℝ → ℝ and g: ℝ → ℝxℝ be given by f(x,y) = x and g(x) = (x,0) Compute f°g and g°f (This means for each function find the domain and codomain, and show what each function evaluates at each point in the domain.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


g°f ⇒ f(g(x)) or f(x,y) = x → g(x) = (x,0). Therefore x ∈ ℝ and y ∈ ℝ is the domain and x ∈ ℝ and y ∈ 0 is part of the codomain. When placing x ∈ ℝ and y ∈ ℝ in the function the output will be (x,0) iff (x,y)[/B]
That is for g°f. Not going to spend another 3 minutes typing out f°g because I think it would be a waste of mine and your time. I am just really confused about everything on this section as a whole and hopefully your insights will help. Please ... Please point out anything that you don't like about the way I write or my notation or really anything. Thanks
g°f is often expressed as g(f( argument of f )) in this case the argument of f is an element of ℝ2, often written as an ordered pair .

f(g(x)) gives f°g rather than g° .

g(x) = (x,0) .
Therefore, f(g(x)) = f((x,0)) = x . Your result was correct for f°g, but the intermediate step was wrong.
 
Austin Chang said:
I am just really confused about everything on this section as a whole and hopefully your insights will help. Please ... Please point out anything that you don't like about the way I write or my notation or really anything. Thanks

This may or may not help.

Think of a function as a process that takes an input and changes it to an output according to some rule. And, the composition of two functions is like a mini production line.

For this problem you could imagine that you are ##f## and a friend is ##g##. If I give you an input ##(x, y)## you transform that into an output according to the rules of ##f## and pass the output to your friend. They apply the rules of ##g## to that. And, as there only these two steps in the production line, that's the final output which gets handed back to me.

So, if I give you ##(x,y)## what do I get back from your friend?

That's g°f. Which means ##f## first then ##g##. You'll have to remember this.

We can also set it up the other way round. For f°g, I give ##x## to your friend who does ##g## and passes the result to you, who does ##f## and gives the final output to me.

So, if I give your friend ##x## what do I get back from you.

Finally, I never liked the term codomain. I use the terms domain and range. In any case, these define the input and output for a function. The set of all allowed inputs is the domain. And the set of all possible outputs is the codomain /range.

In this case, ##f## takes ordered pairs of real numbers and outputs a single real number, while ##g## does the opposite.
 
Is this true: f is surjective, g is injective, g°f is neither,f°g is bijective?
 
Austin Chang said:
Is this true: f is surjective, g is injective, g°f is neither,f°g is bijective?
What do you think?
 
Do you want me to explain why i think it is true?
 
Austin Chang said:
Do you want me to explain why i think it is true?

Yes, that's all true. Although, f o g is more than a bijection: It's the identity function.
 
Austin Chang said:
Do you want me to explain why i think it is true?
PeroK said:
Yes, that's all true. Although, f o g is more than a bijection: It's the identity function.
Thank you
 

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