Is Jon's Definition of Invertibility Correct for Functions Between Sets A and B?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the definition of an invertible function and determining whether a relation on real numbers is reflexive, symmetric, or transitive. For the definition of an invertible function, there must exist a function g for each a and b such that f(a)=b and g(b)=a. The question posed regarding this definition may be reasonable, but it is important to consider the case where f is not onto. For the relation on real numbers, both options given are symmetric, but not transitive.
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Homework Statement



A.) Jon wants to define a function f: A->B as invertible iff for all a in A and all b in B with f(a)=b, there exists a function g:B->A for which g(b)=a.

Is that reasonable?


B.) Determine Whether the relation ~ on the Real Numbers defined by x~y is reflexive, symmetric, or transitive.

1.) x~y iff xy<= 0
2.) x~y iff xy < 0


Homework Equations



None really, except maybe a definition for invertible.

The Attempt at a Solution


this seems to make sense, but it seems odd to answer a math question with a "yes" and move on. Am I missing something about the defininition of invertibility that makes the statement in the question incorrect?

For B, these questions seem really easy, but they also seem to be exactly the same. Both relations seem to be Symmetric only...because x^2 is not less than zero for all real values, and the counterexample x=-1, y=1, z=-1 proves that both aren't transitive. AM i missing something?
 
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  • #2
A) looks a little subtle. Think about it. For one thing the quantifiers smell wrong. You said for all a and b there exists a function g. Jon didn't say that the g should be the same for ALL choices of a and b. Second, worry about the case where f isn't onto (surjective). What is your definition of 'invertible'? B) looks pretty reasonable to me.
 

1. What does "invertible" mean in the context of mathematics?

"Invertible" means that a mathematical object (such as a function or matrix) has a unique inverse that can be used to reverse its effects. In other words, if you apply the inverse to the original object, you will get back the original object.

2. How can you determine if a function is invertible?

A function is invertible if it passes the horizontal line test, meaning that any horizontal line will intersect the graph of the function at most once. Another way to determine invertibility is by checking if the function has a one-to-one correspondence between its domain and range.

3. Can a function be both invertible and not invertible?

No, a function cannot be both invertible and not invertible. A function must either have a unique inverse or not have an inverse at all. If a function has multiple inputs that lead to the same output, it is not invertible.

4. What is the difference between an invertible and non-invertible matrix?

An invertible matrix has a unique inverse that can be used to undo its effects, while a non-invertible matrix does not have a unique inverse. In other words, it is not possible to reverse the effects of a non-invertible matrix.

5. How do relations relate to invertibility?

Relations are sets of ordered pairs that describe the relationship between two sets of data. In the context of invertibility, relations can help determine if a function is invertible by showing the correspondence between its domain and range. If there are multiple inputs that lead to the same output, the function is not invertible.

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