Why is x^2 not bijective when defined with a domain including 0?

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The discussion centers on the concept of bijectivity in functions, particularly focusing on the function x^2. It is clarified that a function must be bijective to possess an inverse, and while x^2 is not bijective over any interval that includes zero due to its non-increasing nature at that point, it can be bijective when restricted to positive or negative domains. Specifically, for x ≥ 0, the inverse is f^{-1}(y) = √y, and for x ≤ 0, it is f^{-1}(y) = -√y, but these inverses only apply to non-negative outputs. The confusion arises from the definition of bijectivity, as x^2 is continuous and strictly increasing only in the interval [0, ∞), making it bijective at that boundary point. Ultimately, the key takeaway is that while x^2 can have an inverse, it is not bijective when the domain includes zero.
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If a function is bijective, then its inverse exists. Is there any example that inverse of a function exists but the original function is not bijective?
 
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A function has to be bijective in order to have an inverse.
 
A function can be locally bijective, so it's inverse exists only in some finite interval.

For example x^{2} is not a bijective in any interval containing x=0 (since f'(0)=0) but if you restrict yourself to x>0, then you off course have the inverse
f(x)=\sqrt{x} or in x<0 the inverse is f(x)=-\sqrt{x}.
 
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Another example. f(x)= ex, as a function from R to R, is not surjective, so not and does not have an inverse. In particular, there is no f-1(-1). But if I consider it as a function from R to R+, the positive real numbers, then it is bijective and f-1(x)= ln(x).

A function, from A to B, has an inverse if and only if it is bijective.
 
Thanks a lot! It may be a typo in my textbook.

elibj123 said:
A function can be locally bijective, so it's inverse exists only in some finite interval.

For example x^{2} is not a bijective in any interval containing x=0 (since f'(0)=0) but if you restrict yourself to x>0, then you off course have the inverse
f(x)=\sqrt{x} or in x<0 the inverse is f(x)=-\sqrt{-x}.

However, why is x^2 not bijective if we define the domain containing zero(like x=>0)? It is a continuous function so isn't it bijective at this interval though being not strictly increasing? Thanks
 
f(x) = x2 on [0, infinity) is strictly increasing. If a and b are any two numbers in this interval such that a < b, then f(a) < f(b).
 
hangover said:
Thanks a lot! It may be a typo in my textbook.
However, why is x^2 not bijective if we define the domain containing zero(like x=>0)? It is a continuous function so isn't it bijective at this interval though being not strictly increasing? Thanks
I had a little confusion in defining the inverse sorry.

For x\geq 0 the inverse of y=x^{2} is x=f^{-1}(y)=\sqrt{y}For x\leq 0 the inverse of y=x^{2} is x=f^{-1}(y)=-\sqrt{y}

Notice of course that the inverse is defined only over y\geq 0, since the range of x^2 is only the non-negative real numbers.

Also, the interval where the function can be define as a bijection may inclue x=0, but only as a boundary point.
 
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