Inverse of the function and find if is surjective/injective

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining whether the function $$f(x)=\frac{3x-2}{x+2}$$ is surjective or injective, as well as finding its inverse. Participants explore the mathematical properties of the function, including its behavior in terms of injectivity and surjectivity.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express uncertainty about how to find the inverse of the function.
  • One participant proposes that to find the inverse, one should exchange the roles of x and y and solve for y.
  • Another participant states that the function is injective because each element in the codomain has at most one original, but it is not surjective since not every element has at least one original.
  • Some participants challenge the correctness of the calculated inverse, suggesting that it differs from results obtained through computational tools.
  • There is a discussion about the mathematical proof of injectivity and surjectivity, with participants providing different approaches and reasoning.
  • One participant asserts that the inverse provided by another is incorrect, leading to a debate about the validity of the inverses presented.
  • Some participants express a desire for formal mathematical proofs to support their claims regarding the properties of the function.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correctness of the inverse function. There are competing views regarding the injectivity and surjectivity of the function, with some agreeing on injectivity but disagreeing on surjectivity.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for formal proofs and calculations to substantiate their claims, indicating that some assumptions or steps may be missing or unresolved.

theakdad
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For the given function i have to find if is surjective/injective and find the inverse of the function:

$$f(x)=\frac{3x-2}{x+2}$$

I now that for inverse i have to express $x$ somehow,but i don't know how to do it...
Thank you for the help!
 
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wishmaster said:
For the given function i have to find if is surjective/injective and find the inverse of the function:

$$f(x)=\frac{3x-2}{x+2}$$

I now that for inverse i have to express $x$ somehow,but i don't know how to do it...
Thank you for the help!
Let y = f(x) so you have
$$y=\frac{3x-2}{x+2}$$

To find the inverse exchange the roles of x and y:
$$x=\frac{3y-2}{y+2}$$

Now solve for y.

-Dan
 
What about surjective and injective?
 
wishmaster said:
What about surjective and injective?

You will need the inverse to answer those questions.

Does every value in the codomain have at least one original?
Does every value in the codomain have at most one original?
 
I understand this,but how to prove it mathematicly?
 
wishmaster said:
I understand this,but how to prove it mathematicly?

Can you write down the inverse function first?
 
I like Serena said:
Can you write down the inverse function first?

I have calculated that inverse is : $$-\frac{2-2x}{x-3}$$
 
wishmaster said:
I have calculated that inverse is : $$-\frac{2-2x}{x-3}$$

Good.
So pick any element in $\mathbb R$.
Your formula gives a unique original of that value for the original function f.
There is 1 exception: the value 3 does not have an original.

So each element in the codomain $\mathbb R$ of f has either 1 or 0 originals.
As such the function f is injective, since each element has at most 1 original.
But the function f is not surjective, since not every element has at least 1 original.
Therefore, f is not bijective either.

If we restrict the codomain to $\mathbb R \backslash \{ 3 \}$, it is both surjective and bijective.
 
I like Serena said:
Good.
So pick any element in $\mathbb R$.
Your formula gives a unique original of that value for the original function f.
There is 1 exception: the value 3 does not have an original.

So each element in the codomain $\mathbb R$ of f has either 1 or 0 originals.
As such the function f is injective, since each element has at most 1 original.
But the function f is not surjective, since not every element has at least 1 original.
Therefore, f is not bijective either.

If we restrict the codomain to $\mathbb R \backslash \{ 3 \}$, it is both surjective and bijective.

Thank you very much! But how do i prove this mathematicly? This is theory,i have to calculate it somehow...
 
  • #10
wishmaster said:
Thank you very much! But how do i prove this mathematicly? This is theory,i have to calculate it somehow...

First off, I just noticed that your inverse is incorrect.
If you have $$y=f(x)=\frac{3x-2}{x+2}$$, then $$x = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$.Anyway, I guess you want it a bit more formal?Well, $f(x)=3$ has no solution, which we can see from the formula $$x = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$, which we deduced from $f(x)=y$, therefore f is not surjective (proof by counter example).Then suppose f is not injective, then there are $x_1, x_2, y \in \mathbb R$, with $x_1 \ne x_2$, such that $y=f(x_1)=f(x_2)$.
That means that $$x_1 = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$, but also that $$x_2 = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$.
These are both the same value, which is a contradiction.
Therefore f is injective (proof by contradiction).
 
  • #11
I like Serena said:
First off, I just noticed that your inverse is incorrect.
If you have $$y=f(x)=\frac{3x-2}{x+2}$$, then $$x = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$.Anyway, I guess you want it a bit more formal?Well, $f(x)=3$ has no solution, which we can see from the formula $$x = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$, which we deduced from $f(x)=y$, therefore f is not surjective (proof by counter example).Then suppose f is not injective, then there are $x_1, x_2, y \in \mathbb R$, with $x_1 \ne x_2$, such that $y=f(x_1)=f(x_2)$.
That means that $$x_1 = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$, but also that $$x_2 = -\frac{2y+2}{y-3}$$.
These are both the same value, which is a contradiction.
Therefore f is injective (proof by contradiction).

i don't know...seems inverse is correct,checked by many programs...

Yes,i want it formal,and you have given me a great answer,for what I am very thankful!
 
  • #12
wishmaster said:
i don't know...seems inverse is correct,checked by many programs...

Yes,i want it formal,and you have given me a great answer,for what I am very thankful!

Here's Wolfram's result: solve x for y=(3x-2)/(x+2) - Wolfram|Alpha Results
 
  • #14
wishmaster said:
I have calculated that inverse is : $$-\frac{2-2x}{x-3}$$

wishmaster said:

Wolfram's result from your link is:
$$- \frac{2(x+1)}{x-3}$$
Note that it is not what you originally gave.
There's a difference with a minus sign.
Ah well.
Anyway,it doesn't matter,i did my work,and i got 100%,which i could not get without your help! Thanks!

Good! :)
 
  • #15
I like Serena said:
Wolfram's result from your link is:
$$- \frac{2(x+1)}{x-3}$$
Note that it is not what you originally gave.
There's a difference with a minus sign.
Ah well.
Good! :)
Im not as close so smart as you,but arent those results the same?

Yes,good for me! (Tongueout)
 
  • #16
wishmaster said:
Im not as close so smart as you,but arent those results the same?

I'm afraid not.
Let me try and show it:
\begin{array}{}
- \frac{2(x+1)}{x-3}
& =- \frac{2+2x}{x-3} & \qquad (1)\\
&= \frac{-(2+2x)}{x-3} \\
&= \frac{-2-2x}{x-3} & \qquad (2) \\
&\ne -\frac{2-2x}{x-3} & \qquad (\text{your version})
\end{array}
I'm trying to show here that (1) and (2) are proper alternate forms of the inverse.
However, (your version) is different from either of them.
 
  • #17
I like Serena said:
I'm afraid not.
Let me try and show it:
\begin{array}{}
- \frac{2(x+1)}{x-3}
& =- \frac{2+2x}{x-3} & \qquad (1)\\
&= \frac{-(2+2x)}{x-3} \\
&= \frac{-2-2x}{x-3} & \qquad (2) \\
&\ne -\frac{2-2x}{x-3} & \qquad (\text{your version})
\end{array}
I'm trying to show here that (1) and (2) are proper alternate forms of the inverse.
However, (your version) is different from either of them.

Isnt $$-\frac{1}{3}$$ or $$\frac{-1}{3}$$ the same thing?
But yes,i believe it was my mistake,i don't want to be a smart guy here,just want to learn proper math ;)
 
  • #18
wishmaster said:
Isnt $$-\frac{1}{3}$$ or $$\frac{-1}{3}$$ the same thing?
But yes,i believe it was my mistake,i don't want to be a smart guy here,just want to learn proper math ;)

Yes, that is the same thing.

However, $$-\frac{1+1}{3}=- \frac 2 3$$ and $$\frac{-1+1}{3} = 0$$ are not the same thing.
 
  • #19
I like Serena said:
I'm afraid not.
Let me try and show it:
\begin{array}{}
- \frac{2(x+1)}{x-3}
& =- \frac{2+2x}{x-3} & \qquad (1)\\
&= \frac{-(2+2x)}{x-3} \\
&= \frac{-2-2x}{x-3} & \qquad (2) \\
&\ne -\frac{2-2x}{x-3} & \qquad (\text{your version})
\end{array}
I'm trying to show here that (1) and (2) are proper alternate forms of the inverse.
However, (your version) is different from either of them.
look like this:
$$-\frac{2-2x}{x-3} =\frac{-(2-2x)}{x-3} $$
so $$-\frac{1}{3}=\frac{-(1)}{3}$$
does this make it easy to see?

Regards,
$$|\pi\rangle$$
 

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