Understanding Set Theory: Query on +, -, *. /

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The discussion focuses on the properties of addition and multiplication in set theory, questioning whether these operations are one-to-one and onto functions. It concludes that multiplication is not a one-to-one function due to multiple pairs yielding the same product, which implies it lacks a true inverse. The conversation also clarifies that division is not the inverse of multiplication, as it does not match the required function type. Furthermore, addition is identified as not being one-to-one, and all four basic arithmetic operations are confirmed to be onto. The complexities of relating multiplication and division are explored, emphasizing that knowing the result does not uniquely determine the operands.
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Hi, I am currently reading something on Set Theory (I am not a student BTW) and I got struck. Please would somebody could give me some advices. Thanks in advance.


Is multiplication a one to one onto function G:NxN->N or G:RxR->R
I guess not. Since G(2,3)=6 and G(1,6)=6. So if not, then does this mean that there exist no inverse G such that G o InverseG = 1?
If so, does this inverseG refer to our usual sense for "division"?

Is the usual additional a one to one onto function F:NxN->N or F:RxR->R


So how do we see the addition and multiplication in the sense of Set Theory?

Does this mean that I have to stick to the symmetry, distributive, .. axioms etc.? If so why symmetry? and why distributive?...
 
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Multiplication is not 1-1, so it has no left inverse. It has many right inverses, but since it has no left inverse, it has no inverse. If G were to have an inverse, it would be a function \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}\times \mathbb{R}. Division, on the other hand, is a (partial) function \mathbb{R} \times \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}, so not only is division not the inverse of multiplication, it isn't even the right type of function.

All four basic arithmetic operations are onto.

Addition is not one-to-one.

I can't make sense of the last four questions.
 
Thanks for your help. Really appreciated.

So, how would we related multiplication and division, particularly if we are doing arithematic, say x*y=z implies x=y/z for z not equal 0.

(ps since I read something saying that think of minus is a reverse process of addition)
 
You are not appreciating the fact that given two numbers such that x+y=z ro xy=z then this in no way determines x or y.
 
You could define a pair of functions, R->R, by fa(b)=ab and ga(b)=b/a for any nonzero number a, and these would be inverses.
 
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