Q.Prove that the function f:R→R defined by f(x)=2x+5 is one-one.
Concept understanding — One One Function
One-One (Injective) Function
Think of taking attendance by unique roll numbers: call a number and exactly one student responds — never two sharing a number. That is a one-one function: different inputs always land on different outputs.
The idea
A function is a machine turning inputs into outputs. It is one-one (or injective) if it never reuses an output — two different inputs can never produce the same result.
- f(x)=x+1 is one-one: if x1=x2 then x1+1=x2+1.
- g(x)=x2 on R is not one-one, because g(2)=g(−2)=4.
Precise definition
f:A→B is one-one if for all x1,x2∈A,
x1=x2⟹f(x1)=f(x2).
The contrapositive is usually easier in proofs:
f(x1)=f(x2)⟹x1=x2.
"If the outputs are equal, the inputs must have been equal."
How to check
- Horizontal line test (graphs): if any horizontal line meets the graph more than once, the function is not one-one, because that line marks one output shared by several inputs.
- Algebraic test: assume f(x1)=f(x2) and try to deduce x1=x2; succeed and it is one-one, find a counterexample and it is not.
A strictly increasing or strictly decreasing function is automatically one-one. So a decreasing function like f(x)=−x is one-one too — being one-one is about no repeated outputs, not about going up.
Why it matters
Injectivity is what lets a function be reversed: if no output is repeated, each output points back to a single input. This is the first requirement for an inverse — a function must be one-one and onto for its inverse to be a function.
Checking whether a function is one-one (injective), using either the horizontal line test or the algebraic f(x₁) = f(x₂) approach shown here, is a staple question type in the CBSE Class 12 Relations and Functions chapter. "How to check if a function is one-one class 12" is a frequently searched topic, and this same reasoning is tested regularly in JEE Main function-based questions.
Direct method: equal outputs force equal inputs.
f is one-one if f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2. Assume f(x1)=f(x2):
2x1+5=2x2+5 ⇒ 2x1=2x2 ⇒ x1=x2.
Thus the equal outputs force equal inputs.
Since f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2, the function f(x)=2x+5 is one-one.
Assume two inputs give the same output and show directly that the inputs must be equal.
We use the direct method. Recall the definition: a function f is one-one (injective) if
f(x1)=f(x2) ⇒ x1=x2for all x1,x2∈R.
Step 1 — Assume equal outputs.
Let x1,x2∈R be such that f(x1)=f(x2). By the definition of f,
2x1+5=2x2+5.
Step 2 — Subtract 5 from both sides.
2x1=2x2.
Step 3 — Divide both sides by the non-zero number 2.
x1=x2.
Starting from f(x1)=f(x2) we have deduced x1=x2, which is exactly the condition for f to be one-one.
The function f(x)=2x+5 satisfies f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2, hence f is one-one.
Method: Proving a Function is One-One by the Direct (Algebraic) Method
This method applies to any "prove f is one-one" question for a function given by an explicit formula.
Steps
Step 1: State the definition you will use
Recall that f is one-one if f(x1)=f(x2)⟹x1=x2 for all x1,x2 in the domain — this contrapositive form ("equal outputs force equal inputs") is the version you actually prove, since it turns into a chain of algebra.
Step 2: Assume the outputs are equal, for two arbitrary inputs
Let x1,x2 be arbitrary elements of the domain with f(x1)=f(x2). This must be done for general x1,x2 — never for two specific numbers, since that would only check one pair, not prove the property for every pair.
Step 3: Substitute the formula for f and simplify
Write out f(x1)=f(x2) using the actual rule defining f, then use ordinary algebra (adding/subtracting the same quantity from both sides, dividing by a nonzero constant) to isolate x1 and x2.
Step 4: Conclude x1=x2
Once the algebra reduces to x1=x2, state explicitly that this is exactly the definition of one-one, so f is one-one.
Applying to this problem: with f(x)=2x+5, assume 2x1+5=2x2+5, subtract 5 and divide by the nonzero constant 2 to get x1=x2.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Testing with specific numbers instead of general x1,x2
Why it's wrong: Checking that, say, f(1)=f(2) only verifies one pair of inputs — it says nothing about every other pair, so it can never establish that f is one-one for all x1,x2. Correct approach: let x1 and x2 be arbitrary (unspecified) real numbers and show the implication holds symbolically.
Mistake 2: Treating the horizontal-line test as a substitute for the algebraic proof
Why it's wrong: The horizontal-line test is a useful graphical check, but on its own it is not a rigorous proof — the question asks to "prove" f is one-one, which requires the algebraic f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2 argument, not just a visual justification. Correct approach: use the algebraic direct method as the actual proof, and treat any graphical reasoning as intuition only.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(a)=f(b)⇒a=b∀a,b∈A then f:A→B is what type of function?(a) one-one(b) constant(c) onto(d) many one
›Reveal solutionSolution
The statement given is the textbook definition of a one-one (injective) function.
A function f : A → B is called one-one (or injective) if distinct elements of A always map to distinct elements of B — equivalently, if f(a) = f(b) forces a = b (no two different inputs can share an output).
This is precisely the condition stated in the question, so f is one-one.
(Compare: 'onto' concerns whether every element of B has a pre-image; 'many-one' is the opposite of one-one; 'constant' means every input maps to the same single output — none of these match the given condition.)
✓Final answer(a) one-one.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.If f:R→R is a function defined by f(x)=x2, ∀x∈R, then show that f is not one-one.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Exhibit a counterexample: two distinct inputs with the same image.
A function f is one-one (injective) if f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2. To show f(x)=x2 is not one-one, we produce two distinct inputs with equal outputs.
Take x1=1 and x2=−1. These are distinct: 1=−1. But
f(1)=12=1,f(−1)=(−1)2=1,
so f(1)=f(−1).
Thus distinct elements 1 and −1 map to the same image 1, contradicting injectivity.
✓Final answerf is not one-one, because −1=1 yet f(−1)=f(1)=1.
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Assertion (A): The function f:Z→Z, given by f(x)=2x is one-one. Reason (R): Function f is not onto.(a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.(b) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.(c) A is correct but R is incorrect.(d) Both A and R are incorrect.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Check A (is f one-one?) and R (is f onto?) independently, then judge whether R explains A.
Checking Assertion (A): f:Z→Z, f(x)=2x. If f(x1)=f(x2), then 2x1=2x2⇒x1=x2. So f is one-one. A is TRUE.
Checking Reason (R): The range of f is {…,−4,−2,0,2,4,…}, i.e. only even integers. Odd integers in the codomain Z (e.g. 1) have no pre-image. So f is not onto. R is TRUE.
Does R explain A? One-one-ness of a function depends on injectivity of the mapping rule, while onto-ness (or lack of it) is a separate, unrelated property about the range not covering the codomain. The fact that f is not onto has nothing to do with why f is one-one. So R, though true, is NOT the correct explanation of A.
✓Final answerOption (ii): Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.
- CBSE 2024Set A1 markQ.Write True or False: A function f:X→Y is one-one if f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2 ∀ x1,x2∈X.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The stated condition is the wrong implication — it should read f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2.
The correct definition of a one-one (injective) function is: f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2 for all x1,x2∈X (equal outputs force equal inputs). The statement given says f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2, which is the opposite condition and is not the definition of one-one.
✓Final answerFalse.
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Show that the function f:R→R given by f(x)=x3 is injective, where R is the set of real numbers. OR Show that the modulus function f:R→R given by f(x)=∣x∣ is not one-one, where R is the set of real numbers.
›Reveal solutionSolution
For injectivity, show f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2 using uniqueness of real cube roots.
Let f(x)=x3 and suppose f(x1)=f(x2) for x1,x2∈R. Then
x13=x23⇒x13−x23=0⇒(x1−x2)(x12+x1x2+x22)=0.
The quadratic factor x12+x1x2+x22=(x1+2x2)2+43x22≥0, and it is zero only when x1=x2=0. In every case we are forced to x1=x2. Hence f is one-one (injective).
✓Final answerf(x)=x3 is injective on R.
Alternative (Or):
Exhibit two different inputs with the same image.
Let f(x)=∣x∣. Take x=−1 and x=1:
f(−1)=∣−1∣=1,f(1)=∣1∣=1.
So f(−1)=f(1) although −1=1. Two distinct elements have the same image.
✓Final answerf(x)=∣x∣ is not one-one, since f(−1)=f(1)=1 but −1=1.
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Is the function defined by f(x)=x2 in f:R→N many-one? Give reason.
›Reveal solutionSolution
A function is many-one if two different inputs give the same output; f(x)=x2 does this.
A function f is one-one (injective) if distinct elements of the domain always map to distinct elements of the codomain; otherwise it is many-one.
Take x1=1 and x2=−1 in R. Then
f(1)=12=1,f(−1)=(−1)2=1
So x1=x2 but f(x1)=f(x2). Hence f is not one-one, i.e. it is a many-one function.
✓Final answerYes, f(x)=x2 is many-one, since f(1)=f(−1)=1 — two distinct domain elements map to the same image.
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markQ.If the function f:R→R is defined as f(x)=x2+1, then f−1(17)= ____. Choices given: [ϕ, ±4, ±3, ±2]
›Reveal solutionSolution
f−1(17) means: find all x with f(x)=17.
f(x)=x2+1=17⇒x2=16⇒x=±4.
✓Final answerx=±4.
- CBSE 2021Set NC1 markQ.If f:R→R is a function defined by f(x)=x2, ∀x∈R, then show that f is not one-one.
›Reveal solutionSolution
To show f is not one-one (not injective), it suffices to exhibit two distinct inputs with the same output.
Given f:R→R, f(x)=x2 for all x∈R.
A function is one-one if f(x1)=f(x2)⟹x1=x2 for all x1,x2 in the domain. We look for a counterexample.
Take x1=1 and x2=−1. These are distinct: 1=−1.
Compute:
f(1)=12=1,f(−1)=(−1)2=1
So f(1)=f(−1)=1 even though 1=−1.
Since two distinct elements of the domain map to the same image, f does not satisfy the one-one condition.
✓Final answerf(1)=f(−1)=1 with 1=−1, so f is not one-one.
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2∀x1,x2∈A, then what type of a function is f:A→B?(a) One - one(b) Constant(c) Onto(d) Many one
›Reveal solutionSolution
The function is one-one (injective).
A function f is one-one (injective) if distinct inputs give distinct outputs, equivalently f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2. This is precisely the stated condition, so f is a one-one function.
✓Final answer(a) One-one.
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