Why Is the Definition of Injectivity Formulated This Way?

  • Thread starter Thread starter studious
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Definition
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the definition of injectivity in functions, specifically questioning why it is stated as "a!=b implies f(a)!=f(b)" and "f(a)=f(b) implies a=b," rather than as biconditional statements. The concern is that the definition could be simplified to include "a!=b if and only if f(a)!=f(b)." However, it is clarified that the relationship "if a=b then f(a)=f(b)" is inherent to the definition of a function itself, making the biconditional unnecessary for injectivity. The logic behind the definition emphasizes that injectivity focuses on the implications rather than equivalences, as the latter are already established by the nature of functions. Overall, the definition of injectivity is designed to highlight the unique mapping of distinct elements in the domain to distinct elements in the codomain.
studious
Messages
17
Reaction score
0
I have a concern about the definition of injectivity:

f:U->V; f is injective, for a,b in U

1. a!=b implies f(a)!=f(b)
2. f(a)=f(b) implies a=b

Why isn't the definition:
3. a!=b if and only if f(a)!=f(b)
similarly,
4. a=b if and only if f(a)=f(b)


From 1, if a!=b implies f(a)!=f(b); consider a=b; certainly f(a)=f(b); so why isn't it that a!=b if and only if f(a)!=f(b).

What is the logic behind the definition of injectivity?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
studious said:
I have a concern about the definition of injectivity:

f:U->V; f is injective, for a,b in U

1. a!=b implies f(a)!=f(b)
2. f(a)=f(b) implies a=b

Why isn't the definition:
3. a!=b if and only if f(a)!=f(b)
similarly,
4. a=b if and only if f(a)=f(b)


From 1, if a!=b implies f(a)!=f(b); consider a=b; certainly f(a)=f(b); so why isn't it that a!=b if and only if f(a)!=f(b).

What is the logic behind the definition of injectivity?
Since "if a= b then f(a)= f(b)" is part of the definition of "function", it not necessary to include it in the definition of "injective function".
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I was reading documentation about the soundness and completeness of logic formal systems. Consider the following $$\vdash_S \phi$$ where ##S## is the proof-system making part the formal system and ##\phi## is a wff (well formed formula) of the formal language. Note the blank on left of the turnstile symbol ##\vdash_S##, as far as I can tell it actually represents the empty set. So what does it mean ? I guess it actually means ##\phi## is a theorem of the formal system, i.e. there is a...

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
7
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Back
Top