List all the functions from the three-element set

In summary, there is a question about listing all the functions from a three-element set to a set with two elements. The answer given in the book is 24, but it seems to be incorrect. The correct answer is 8, as the number of functions is equal to 2^3, or 2 to the power of 3.
  • #1
sampahmel
21
0
Dear all,

List all the functions from the three-element set {1,2,3} to the set {a,b}.

The answer I have is 6 functions. However, the answer given at the back of the book has 24 functions:

Note: In the following functions, I will use (sub 1) denoting subscript 1.



f (sub 1) (1)=a , f (sub 1) (2)=a , f (sub 1) (3)=a
f (sub 2) (1)=a , f (sub 2) (2)=a , f (sub 2) (3)=b
f (sub 3) (1)=a , f (sub 3) (1)=b , f (sub 1) (1)=a
f (sub 4) (1)=a , f (sub 4) (1)=b , f (sub 4) (1)=b
f (sub 5) (1)=b , f (sub 5) (1)=a , f (sub 5) (1)=a
f (sub 6) (1)=b , f (sub 6) (1)=a , f (sub 6) (1)=b
f (sub 7) (1)=b , f (sub 7) (1)=b , f (sub 4) (1)=a
f (sub 8) (1)=b , f (sub 8) (1)=b , f (sub 8) (1)=b
 
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  • #2


I think I did not make myself clear in the above thread.

I would like to know why are there 8 functions?
 
  • #3


There are 8 functions. 8=2^3. If the book says there are 24, it's quite wrong.
 

1. What is a set?

A set is a collection of distinct objects or elements which are considered as a single entity. In mathematics, a set is denoted by curly braces {} and the elements are separated by commas.

2. How many elements can a set have?

A set can have any number of elements, including zero. However, in the context of "list all the functions from the three-element set", the set in question has three elements.

3. What are the three elements in the set?

The three elements in the set can be any distinct objects, but for the purpose of listing all the functions, they are usually represented by numbers or letters. For example, the set {1, 2, 3} can be used as a three-element set.

4. What does "list all the functions from the three-element set" mean?

This phrase means to write down or enumerate all the possible functions that can be derived from the three elements in the set. A function is a mathematical relation that maps each element in the domain (set) to a unique element in the range (set).

5. How many functions can be derived from a three-element set?

The number of functions that can be derived from a three-element set is infinite. This is because each element in the domain can be mapped to any of the elements in the range, including itself. However, if we restrict the functions to be one-to-one (each element in the domain maps to a unique element in the range) and onto (each element in the range has at least one element in the domain that maps to it), then there are exactly 6 possible functions.

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