Q.Let A={1,2,3}, B={a,b,c,d} and f={(1,a),(2,b),(3,c)} is a function from A to B, show that f is one-one function.
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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 …
A function is one-one when distinct inputs always map to distinct outputs, so checking whether the three given images are all different settles the question. …
A function is one-one (injective) if distinct inputs always give distinct outputs; here all three images are different.
Given A={1,2,3}, B={a,b,c,d}, and f={(1,a),(2,b),(3,c)}.
A function f:A→B is one-one if f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2 for all x1,x2∈A; equivalently, no two distinct elements of A map to the same element of B.
Here: f(1)=a, f(2)=b, f(3)=c.
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- 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.
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- 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).
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- 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.
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- 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.
…
- 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).
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- 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 …
- 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.
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- 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
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- 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 precis …
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