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Function that preserves distinctness
In mathematics, an injective function (also known as injection, or one-to-one function[1] ) is a function f that maps distinct elements of its domain to distinct elements of its codomain; that is, x1 ≠ x2 implies f(x1) ≠ f(x2) (equivalently by contraposition, f(x1) = f(x2) implies x1 = x2). In other words, every element of the function's codomain is the image of at most one element of its domain.[2] The term one-to-one function must not be confused with one-to-one correspondence that refers to bijective functions, which are functions such that each element in the codomain is an image of exactly one element in the domain.
A homomorphism between algebraic structures is a function that is compatible with the operations of the structures. For all common algebraic structures, and, in particular for vector spaces, an injective homomorphism is also called a monomorphism. However, in the more general context of category theory, the definition of a monomorphism differs from that of an injective homomorphism.[3] This is thus a theorem that they are equivalent for algebraic structures; see Homomorphism § Monomorphism for more details.
A function f {\displaystyle f} that is not injective is sometimes called many-to-one.[2]
An injective function, which is not also surjective.Let f {\displaystyle f} be a function whose domain is a set X . {\displaystyle X.} The function f {\displaystyle f} is said to be injective provided that for all a {\displaystyle a} and b {\displaystyle b} in X , {\displaystyle X,} if f ( a ) = f ( b ) , {\displaystyle f(a)=f(b),} then a = b {\displaystyle a=b} ; that is, f ( a ) = f ( b ) {\displaystyle f(a)=f(b)} implies a = b . {\displaystyle a=b.} Equivalently, if a ≠ b , {\displaystyle a\neq b,} then f ( a ) ≠ f ( b ) {\displaystyle f(a)\neq f(b)} in the contrapositive statement.
Symbolically, ∀ a , b ∈ X , f ( a ) = f ( b ) ⇒ a = b , {\displaystyle \forall a,b\in X,\;\;f(a)=f(b)\Rightarrow a=b,} which is logically equivalent to the contrapositive,[4] ∀ a , b ∈ X , a ≠ b ⇒ f ( a ) ≠ f ( b ) . {\displaystyle \forall a,b\in X,\;\;a\neq b\Rightarrow f(a)\neq f(b).} An injective function (or, more generally, a monomorphism) is often denoted by using the specialized arrows ↣ or ↪ (for example, f : A ↣ B {\displaystyle f:A\rightarrowtail B} or f : A ↪ B {\displaystyle f:A\hookrightarrow B} ), although some authors specifically reserve ↪ for an inclusion map.[5]
For visual examples, readers are directed to the gallery section.
More generally, when X {\displaystyle X} and Y {\displaystyle Y} are both the real line R , {\displaystyle \mathbb {R} ,} then an injective function f : R → R {\displaystyle f:\mathbb {R} \to \mathbb {R} } is one whose graph is never intersected by any horizontal line more than once. This principle is referred to as the horizontal line test.[2]
Injections can be undone[edit]Functions with left inverses are always injections. That is, given f : X → Y , {\displaystyle f:X\to Y,} if there is a function g : Y → X {\displaystyle g:Y\to X} such that for every x ∈ X {\displaystyle x\in X} , g ( f ( x ) ) = x {\displaystyle g(f(x))=x} , then f {\displaystyle f} is injective. The proof is that
f ( a ) = f ( b ) → g ( f ( a ) ) = g ( f ( b ) ) → a = b . {\displaystyle f(a)=f(b)\rightarrow g(f(a))=g(f(b))\rightarrow a=b.}
In this case, g {\displaystyle g} is called a retraction of f . {\displaystyle f.} Conversely, f {\displaystyle f} is called a section of g . {\displaystyle g.}
Conversely, every injection f {\displaystyle f} with a non-empty domain has a left inverse g {\displaystyle g} . It can be defined by choosing an element a {\displaystyle a} in the domain of f {\displaystyle f} and setting g ( y ) {\displaystyle g(y)} to the unique element of the pre-image f − 1 [ y ] {\displaystyle f^{-1}[y]} (if it is non-empty) or to a {\displaystyle a} (otherwise).[6]
The left inverse g {\displaystyle g} is not necessarily an inverse of f , {\displaystyle f,} because the composition in the other order, f ∘ g , {\displaystyle f\circ g,} may differ from the identity on Y . {\displaystyle Y.} In other words, an injective function can be "reversed" by a left inverse, but is not necessarily invertible, which requires that the function is bijective.
Injections may be made invertible[edit]In fact, to turn an injective function f : X → Y {\displaystyle f:X\to Y} into a bijective (hence invertible) function, it suffices to replace its codomain Y {\displaystyle Y} by its actual image J = f ( X ) . {\displaystyle J=f(X).} That is, let g : X → J {\displaystyle g:X\to J} such that g ( x ) = f ( x ) {\displaystyle g(x)=f(x)} for all x ∈ X {\displaystyle x\in X} ; then g {\displaystyle g} is bijective. Indeed, f {\displaystyle f} can be factored as In J , Y ∘ g , {\displaystyle \operatorname {In} _{J,Y}\circ g,} where In J , Y {\displaystyle \operatorname {In} _{J,Y}} is the inclusion function from J {\displaystyle J} into Y . {\displaystyle Y.}
More generally, injective partial functions are called partial bijections.
The composition of two injective functions is injective.A proof that a function f {\displaystyle f} is injective depends on how the function is presented and what properties the function holds. For functions that are given by some formula there is a basic idea. We use the definition of injectivity, namely that if f ( x ) = f ( y ) , {\displaystyle f(x)=f(y),} then x = y . {\displaystyle x=y.} [7]
Here is an example: f ( x ) = 2 x + 3 {\displaystyle f(x)=2x+3}
Proof: Let f : X → Y . {\displaystyle f:X\to Y.} Suppose f ( x ) = f ( y ) . {\displaystyle f(x)=f(y).} So 2 x + 3 = 2 y + 3 {\displaystyle 2x+3=2y+3} implies 2 x = 2 y , {\displaystyle 2x=2y,} which implies x = y . {\displaystyle x=y.} Therefore, it follows from the definition that f {\displaystyle f} is injective.
There are multiple other methods of proving that a function is injective. For example, in calculus if f {\displaystyle f} is a differentiable function defined on some interval, then it is sufficient to show that the derivative is always positive or always negative on that interval. In linear algebra, if f {\displaystyle f} is a linear transformation it is sufficient to show that the kernel of f {\displaystyle f} contains only the zero vector. If f {\displaystyle f} is a function with finite domain it is sufficient to look through the list of images of each domain element and check that no image occurs twice on the list.
A graphical approach for a real-valued function f {\displaystyle f} of a real variable x {\displaystyle x} is the horizontal line test. If every horizontal line intersects the curve of f ( x ) {\displaystyle f(x)} in at most one point, then f {\displaystyle f} is injective or one-to-one.
An injective non-surjective function (injection, not a bijection)
An injective surjective function (bijection)
A non-injective surjective function (surjection, not a bijection)
A non-injective non-surjective function (also not a bijection)
Not an injective function. Here
X 1 {\displaystyle X_{1}}and
X 2 {\displaystyle X_{2}}are subsets of
X , Y 1 {\displaystyle X,Y_{1}}and
Y 2 {\displaystyle Y_{2}}are subsets of
Y {\displaystyle Y}: for two regions where the function is not injective because more than one domain
elementcan map to a single range element. That is, it is possible for
more than one x {\displaystyle x}in
X {\displaystyle X}to map to the
same y {\displaystyle y}in
Y . {\displaystyle Y.}Making functions injective. The previous function
f : X → Y {\displaystyle f:X\to Y}can be reduced to one or more injective functions (say)
f : X 1 → Y 1 {\displaystyle f:X_{1}\to Y_{1}}and
f : X 2 → Y 2 , {\displaystyle f:X_{2}\to Y_{2},}shown by solid curves (long-dash parts of initial curve are not mapped to anymore). Notice how the rule
f {\displaystyle f}has not changed – only the domain and range.
X 1 {\displaystyle X_{1}}and
X 2 {\displaystyle X_{2}}are subsets of
X , Y 1 {\displaystyle X,Y_{1}}and
Y 2 {\displaystyle Y_{2}}are subsets of
Y {\displaystyle Y}: for two regions where the initial function can be made injective so that one domain element can map to a single range element. That is, only one
x {\displaystyle x}in
X {\displaystyle X}maps to one
y {\displaystyle y}in
Y . {\displaystyle Y.}Injective functions. Diagramatic interpretation in the
Cartesian plane, defined by the
mapping f : X → Y , {\displaystyle f:X\to Y,}where
y = f ( x ) , {\displaystyle y=f(x),} X = {\displaystyle X=} domain of function,
Y = {\displaystyle Y=} range of function, and
im ( f ) {\displaystyle \operatorname {im} (f)}denotes image of
f . {\displaystyle f.}Every one
x {\displaystyle x}in
X {\displaystyle X}maps to exactly one unique
y {\displaystyle y}in
Y . {\displaystyle Y.}The circled parts of the axes represent domain and range sets— in accordance with the standard diagrams above
Look up
injectivein Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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