Q.Let be the set of natural numbers and the relation be defined on such that . What is the domain, codomain and range of ? Is this relation a function?
The relation pairs each natural number with its double . Its domain is , codomain is , range is the set of even natural numbers, and is a function because every has exactly one .
Why an arrow diagram makes this crystal clear
A relation on is just a set of ordered pairs. The rule here is simple: take any natural number , and pair it with . If you picture arrows shooting from each to its , you immediately see:
- Every in gets one and only one arrow leaving it — that’s the hallmark of a function.
- The arrows land only on even numbers (since doubling any natural gives an even number).
- No arrow lands on an odd number, so the range is a proper subset of the codomain.
Let’s pin down the exact sets.
Step-by-step reasoning
1. Domain — where the arrows start
The domain is the set of all first elements of the ordered pairs in . The rule is defined for every . So every natural number appears as a first coordinate.
Domain .
2. Codomain — the declared “target” set
The problem states that is defined on , meaning both and come from . The codomain is simply the set in which the second coordinates are allowed to live — here it’s itself.
Codomain .
3. Range — where the arrows actually land
The range is the set of all second coordinates that actually occur. Since and , the possible values are — all even natural numbers. No odd number ever appears as a .
Range .
A common mistake is to say the range equals the codomain. Here the codomain is all naturals, but the range is only the evens. They are not the same — the range is a proper subset of the codomain.
4. Is a function?
A relation is a function if every element of the domain is related to exactly one element of the codomain. For each , the rule gives one and only one . No maps to two different ’s, and no is left unmapped.
Yes, is a function. In fact, it’s the function defined by .
You can also check the vertical line test on a graph of points — each vertical line (each ) hits exactly one point. That’s the graphical version of the function definition.
The domain is , the codomain is , the range is the set of even natural numbers , and is a function.
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