Q.Check the injectivity and surjectivity of the following functions:
Concept understanding — One One Onto
One-One Onto (Bijective) Functions
Picture seating students on chairs so that every student gets a chair, every chair is used, no two students share one and none is left empty. A function that manages this perfect pairing between its domain and codomain is one-one onto, or bijective.
One-one (injective)
f is one-one if different inputs always give different outputs — no two students on one chair. Formally, f(x1)=f(x2)⟹x1=x2 (equivalently x1=x2⟹f(x1)=f(x2)).
f(x)=2x on R is one-one, since 2a=2b⇒a=b. But f(x)=x2 is not: f(2)=f(−2)=4 while 2=−2.
Onto (surjective)
f is onto if every element of the codomain is actually hit — no chair left empty. Formally, for every y in the codomain there is some x with f(x)=y. Here f(x)=2x is onto (take x=y/2), whereas f:R→R, f(x)=x2 is not, since negative values are never outputs.
Both together — bijective
A function that is one-one and onto is bijective: a one-to-one correspondence in which the two sets match up exactly.
One-one and onto are independent properties. f(x)=ex (from R to R) is one-one but not onto; f(x)=x3−x is onto but not one-one. You must verify both.
Why it matters
Only a bijection has a genuine inverse function: because each output comes from exactly one input (one-one) and every codomain element is used (onto), the map can be reversed unambiguously.
f:A→B is bijective ⟺ there is f−1:B→A with f−1(f(x))=x for all x∈A and f(f−1(y))=y for all y∈B.
| Property | Meaning |
|---|---|
| One-one | f(x1)=f(x2)⇒x1=x2 |
| Onto | ∀y∈B, ∃x∈A: f(x)=y |
| Bijective | both hold — a perfect pairing |
One-one onto (bijective) functions are a core topic of the CBSE Class 12 Relations and Functions chapter, since only a bijection guarantees the existence of a genuine inverse function — a result tested through "prove function is one-one onto" style board exam questions. This concept is equally important for JEE Main, where checking injectivity and surjectivity together is a common problem-solving step.
Recall: injective means different inputs give different outputs (f(a)=f(b)⇒a=b); surjective means every element of the codomain is hit.
(i) f:N→N, f(x)=x2 — injective (on positive integers a2=b2⇒a=b); not surjective (2 is not a perfect square).
(ii) f:Z→Z, f(x)=x2 — not injective (f(−2)=f(2)=4); not surjective (−1 has no preimage, squares are ≥0).
(iii) f:R→R, f(x)=x2 — not injective (f(−a)=f(a)); not surjective (−1 has no real preimage).
(iv) f:N→N, f(x)=x3 — injective (a3=b3⇒a=b); not surjective (2 is not a perfect cube).
(v) f:Z→Z, f(x)=x3 — injective (x3 is strictly increasing, so a3=b3⇒a=b); not surjective, because 2 has no integer cube root (13=1, 23=8, nothing gives 2).
- injective, not surjective;
- neither;
- neither;
- injective, not surjective;
- injective, not surjective.
x2 is injective only on N and surjective on none of the three sets; x3 is injective on all three but surjective on none of N,Z (it would be onto only over R).
The whole question turns on one theme: the same formula behaves differently as we change the number system. Injectivity fails for x2 whenever negatives are available (because (−a)2=a2); surjectivity fails whenever the codomain contains values the formula can never produce.
(i) f:N→N, f(x)=x2
- Injective: on natural numbers there are no negatives, so a2=b2⇒a=b. Yes.
- Surjective: an output must be a perfect square, but 2,3,5,… are natural numbers that are not squares. No.
(ii) f:Z→Z, f(x)=x2
- Injective: f(−2)=4=f(2) with −2=2. No.
- Surjective: squares are never negative, so −1 has no preimage. No.
(iii) f:R→R, f(x)=x2
- Injective: f(−a)=f(a) for any a=0. No.
- Surjective: x2≥0 always, so no negative real (e.g. −1) is an output. No.
(iv) f:N→N, f(x)=x3
- Injective: x3 is strictly increasing on N, so a3=b3⇒a=b. Yes.
- Surjective: an output must be a perfect cube; 2 is not a cube of any natural number. No.
(v) f:Z→Z, f(x)=x3
- Injective: x3 is strictly increasing on Z (a<b⇒a3<b3), so a3=b3⇒a=b. Yes.
- Surjective: we would need every integer to be a perfect cube. But 2 is not: 13=1 and 23=8, so no integer cubes to 2. No.
Over R the cube function is surjective because every real has a real cube root. But the cube root of an integer need not be an integer, so over Z surjectivity fails — do not confuse the two.
- injective, not surjective;
- neither injective nor surjective;
- neither injective nor surjective;
- injective, not surjective;
- injective, not surjective.
Method: Same formula, different number system — deciding one-one and onto
When one power formula is tested over N, Z, R, the answer changes with the set. Two facts settle every case.
Steps
Step 1: Injectivity depends on whether negatives are available
An even power (x2) satisfies f(−a)=f(a), so it is NOT one-one on any set containing negatives (Z, R) but IS one-one on N. An odd power (x3) is strictly increasing, hence one-one on every set.
Step 2: Surjectivity depends on whether every codomain value is actually produced
Ask: is every element of the codomain an output? On N or Z, x2 and x3 miss non-squares / non-cubes (e.g. 2), so they are not onto; x2 also misses all negatives.
Step 3: Report each case as the pair (injective?, surjective?)
Run Steps 1–2 for each domain/codomain separately; never assume the verdict carries over from one number system to another.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Believing x2 is one-one because "squaring is a normal function".
Why it's wrong: whenever negatives are available (Z, R), f(−a)=f(a) breaks injectivity; it is one-one only on N. Correct approach: check whether the domain contains negatives before deciding.
Mistake 2: Assuming x3 is onto on Z because it is onto on R.
Why it's wrong: over R every value has a real cube root, but the cube root of an integer need not be an integer (e.g. 2 is not a perfect cube). Correct approach: judge surjectivity in the actual codomain, not by analogy to R.
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-A1 markMCQQ.The function f:R→R defined by f(x)=x2+1x∀x∈R is (A) One-one and onto (B) Onto but not one-one (C) Neither one-one nor onto (D) One-one but not onto
›Reveal solutionSolution
f(x)=x2+1x is neither one-one nor onto: it takes repeated values because it is not monotonic, and its range is the bounded interval [−1/2,1/2], not all of R. The correct option is (C).
Checking one-one (injectivity)
f′(x)=(x2+1)2(x2+1)−x(2x)=(x2+1)21−x2
This is positive on (−1,1) and negative on (−∞,−1)∪(1,∞), so f increases then decreases — it is not monotonic on R, and since its two turning points f(−1)=−21 and f(1)=21 are different heights, values between them are attained twice.
To confirm algebraically: solving f(x)=y gives yx2−x+y=0. For 0<∣y∣<21, the discriminant 1−4y2>0, so there are two distinct real roots x1,x2 (with x1x2=1, i.e. x2=1/x1). So f repeats values — not one-one.
Checking onto (surjectivity)
The same equation yx2−x+y=0 has a real solution only when the discriminant 1−4y2≥0, i.e. ∣y∣≤21. So the range of f is [−21,21], a proper subset of the codomain R — not onto.
Watch outA function whose derivative is positive on part of its domain is not automatically globally one-one — check whether it changes sign elsewhere, and whether the resulting turning points sit at different heights (which forces repeated values).
TipFor a continuous function on R, the range is always an interval bounded by its global maximum and minimum — find those first to test surjectivity.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C): neither one-one nor onto.
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-E1 markMCQQ.A function f from the set of natural numbers to integers defined by f(n)={2n−1, when n is odd −2n, when n is even is (A) neither one-one nor onto (B) one-one but not onto (C) onto but not one-one (D) one-one and onto
›Reveal solutionSolution
The function maps odds to non‑negative integers and evens to negative integers, creating a perfect pairing between ℕ and ℤ. It is both one‑one and onto, so the correct option is (D).
We need to decide whether f:N→Z given by
f(n)={2n−1,−2n,n odd,n even
is injective (one‑one) and/or surjective (onto).
The key idea: the function “splits” the natural numbers into two tracks — odds go to non‑negative integers (including 0), evens go to negative integers. If we list the outputs in order of n, we get 0,−1,1,−2,2,−3,3,… — exactly the integers, each appearing exactly once. That suggests a bijection.
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Check one‑one (injectivity)
Suppose f(a)=f(b). We must show a=b.
- If both a,b are odd: 2a−1=2b−1⇒a=b.
- If both a,b are even: −2a=−2b⇒a=b.
- If one is odd and the other even: Then one output is non‑negative (odd case) and the other is negative (even case). They cannot be equal because a non‑negative number equals a negative number only if both are 0. But the odd case gives 0 only when n=1; the even case gives 0 only when n=0, and 0 is not a natural number. So this case never happens. Hence f is one‑one.
-
Check onto (surjectivity)
We need every integer k to be hit by some n∈N.
- If k≥0: set n=2k+1 (odd). Then f(n)=2(2k+1)−1=k.
- If k<0: write k=−m with m>0. Set n=2m (even). Then f(n)=−22m=−m=k. Every integer appears, so f is onto.
-
Conclusion
Since f is both one‑one and onto, it is a bijection from N to Z.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that because the codomain is ℤ (infinite in both directions) and the domain is ℕ (only one direction), a bijection is impossible. But ℕ and ℤ have the same cardinality — this function explicitly constructs the pairing.
TipWriting the first few pairs (n,f(n)) makes the pattern obvious:
n:1,2,3,4,5,6,7,…
f(n):0,−1,1,−2,2,−3,3,…
Each integer appears exactly once — a clear bijection.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D).
ANSWER: D
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- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-M1 markMCQQ.Let M be the set of all 2×2 matrices with entries from the set R of real numbers. Then the function f:M→R defined by f(A)=∣A∣ for every A∈M is (A) neither one-one nor onto (B) one-one but not onto (C) onto but not one-one (D) one-one and onto
›Reveal solutionSolution
The function is the determinant, which is many-to-one (different matrices can have the same determinant) and surjective onto R (every real number is a determinant of some 2×2 matrix). So it is onto but not one-one — option (C).
Concept & Intuition
We are asked about the function f(A)=∣A∣, where ∣A∣ denotes the determinant of the 2×2 matrix A. The domain is all 2×2 real matrices, and the codomain is all real numbers.
- One‑one (injective) means: if f(A)=f(B) then A=B. But many different matrices can have the same determinant — for instance, swapping rows changes the sign of the determinant, but the matrices are different. So it’s unlikely to be one‑one.
- Onto (surjective) means: every real number r appears as the determinant of some 2×2 matrix. Since we can easily build a matrix whose determinant is any given r, this should be true.
Let’s check both properties carefully.
-
Check one‑one (injectivity)
Suppose A=(1001) and B=(20021).
Then ∣A∣=1 and ∣B∣=2⋅21−0=1.
So f(A)=f(B) but A=B. Hence f is not one‑one.
(In fact, infinitely many matrices share the same determinant — any matrix with determinant 1, for example.)
-
Check onto (surjectivity)
Take any real number r. We need a 2×2 matrix A with ∣A∣=r.
A simple choice: A=(r001). Then ∣A∣=r⋅1−0=r.
This works for every r∈R. So every real number is attained — f is onto.
-
Conclusion
Since f is onto but not one‑one, the correct classification is (C).
Watch outA common mistake is to think that because the determinant is a single number, the function might be one‑one. But the determinant collapses many matrices to the same number — it’s a many‑to‑one map.
TipTo test surjectivity quickly, use diagonal matrices: (r001) gives determinant r for any r. To test injectivity, just find two different matrices with the same determinant — the identity and a scaling by 2 and 1/2 works.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-M1 markMCQQ.Let f:R→R be a function defined by f=ex+e−xe∣x∣−e−x then (A) f is an injection but not a surjection function (B) f is a surjection but not an injection function (C) f is neither an injection nor a surjection (D) f is injection and surjection
›Reveal solutionSolution
The function is not injective (it is even for positive and negative inputs) and not surjective (its range is a proper subset of R), so the correct option is (C).
We are given
f(x)=ex+e−xe∣x∣−e−x,f:R→R.
We need to decide whether f is injective (one-to-one), surjective (onto), both, or neither.
Concept and intuition
The absolute value in the numerator makes the function behave differently for x≥0 and x<0.
- For x≥0, ∣x∣=x, so the numerator becomes ex−e−x, which is 2sinhx. The denominator is ex+e−x=2coshx. So for x≥0, f(x)=tanhx.
- For x<0, ∣x∣=−x, so the numerator becomes e−x−e−x=0. Hence for x<0, f(x)=0.
Thus the function is constant (0) on all negative numbers, and equals tanhx on [0,∞).
This immediately suggests:
- Not injective: many different x<0 give the same output 0, and also f(0)=0 as well.
- Not surjective: tanhx only takes values in [0,1) for x≥0, and 0 for x<0, so the range is [0,1), not all of R.
Step-by-step reasoning
- Simplify the expression piecewise For x≥0: ∣x∣=x, so
f(x)=ex+e−xex−e−x=tanhx.
For x<0: ∣x∣=−x, so
f(x)=ex+e−xe−x−e−x=0.
-
Check injectivity
A function is injective if f(a)=f(b) implies a=b.
Take a=−1 and b=−2: both are <0, so f(−1)=0 and f(−2)=0, but −1=−2.
Also f(0)=tanh0=0, so f(0)=f(−1) yet 0=−1.
Hence f is not injective.
-
Check surjectivity
A function is surjective if every real number appears as an output.
For x≥0, f(x)=tanhx ranges from 0 (at x=0) to 1 (as x→∞, tanhx→1−). So outputs from [0,1) are covered.
For x<0, output is exactly 0.
Thus the range of f is [0,1).
Numbers like −1, 2, or 100 are never attained.
Hence f is not surjective.
-
Conclusion
Since f is neither injective nor surjective, the correct choice is (C).
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that ∣x∣ changes the expression for negative x, leading one to think f(x)=tanhx for all x. That would incorrectly suggest injectivity and surjectivity (since tanh is bijective onto (−1,1)). But the absolute value breaks that.
TipWhenever you see ∣x∣ in a function definition, always split into x≥0 and x<0 cases. The piecewise form often reveals symmetry or constant regions.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.The exponential function f:R→R given by f(x)=ex is (A) injective and surjective (B) neither injective nor surjective (C) injective but not surjective (D) surjective but not injective
›Reveal solutionSolution
f(x)=ex:R→R is injective but not surjective.
Since f′(x)=ex>0 everywhere, f is strictly increasing, so distinct inputs give distinct outputs — it is injective (one-one). However, ex>0 for all x, so the range is (0,∞), which is a proper subset of the codomain R (e.g. −1 is never attained). Thus f is not surjective (onto).
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — injective but not surjective
- KCET 2019Set A-11 markMCQQ.If A={x∣x∈N,x≤5}, B={x∣x∈Z,x2−5x+6=0}, then the number of onto functions from A to B is (A) 2 (B) 23 (C) 30 (D) 32
›Reveal solutionSolution
List the two sets (∣A∣=5, ∣B∣=2), then subtract from the 25 total functions the two that are not onto.
Step 1 — Identify set A.
A={x∣x∈N, x≤5}={1,2,3,4,5} ⇒ ∣A∣=5.
Step 2 — Identify set B.
x2−5x+6=0 ⇒ (x−2)(x−3)=0 ⇒ x=2,3.
Both are integers, so they qualify for x∈Z:
B={2,3} ⇒ ∣B∣=2.
Step 3 — Count all functions A→B.
Each of the 5 elements of A can be sent independently to either of the 2 elements of B:
total functions=25=32.
Step 4 — Remove the ones that are not onto.
A function is onto (surjective) if every element of B is the image of at least one element of A. A function A→B with ∣B∣=2 fails to be onto exactly when it misses one of the two elements — i.e. when it is constant. There are exactly 2 such constant functions (everything ↦2, and everything ↦3). Hence
onto functions=25−2=32−2=30.
(This is the inclusion–exclusion formula ∑k=0n(−1)k(kn)(n−k)m with n=2, m=5: 25−2⋅15=30.)
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) — 30.
ANSWER: C
- KCET 2019Set A-11 markMCQQ.On the set of positive rationals, a binary operation ∗ is defined by a∗b=52ab. If 2∗x=3−1 then x= (A) 61 (B) 125 (C) 52 (D) 48125
›Reveal solutionSolution
3−1 means the inverse of 3 under the operation ∗: find the identity e=25, then 3−1=1225, and solve 2∗x=1225.
- Find the identity element e. It must satisfy a∗e=a for all positive rationals a:
52ae=a⟹52e=1⟹e=25
(Check: e∗a=52ea=a too, so ∗ is commutative and e=25 is the two-sided identity.)
- Find 3−1, the inverse of 3 under ∗. It satisfies 3∗3−1=e:
52⋅3⋅3−1=25⟹56⋅3−1=25⟹3−1=1225
- Solve 2∗x=3−1.
52⋅2⋅x=1225⟹54x=1225⟹x=45⋅1225=48125
- Why not 125? That is what you get by mis-reading 3−1 as the ordinary reciprocal 31 (54x=31⇒x=125). In the binary-operation context the notation 3−1 denotes the inverse with respect to ∗, which is why 48125 is offered — and it is the consistent reading.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) — 48125.
ANSWER: D
- KCET 2018Set A-11 markMCQQ.If P(n): "22n−1 is divisible by k for all n∈N" is true, then the value of 'k' is (A) 6 (B) 3 (C) 7 (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
22n−1=4n−1 is divisible by 3 for every natural number n (e.g. n=1 gives 3, n=2 gives 15). The only option that divides every term is k=3, option (B).
"P(n) is true for all n∈N" means the divisibility must hold for every natural number, so k must divide 22n−1 for all n. We find such a k by testing small cases and then confirming in general.
-
Test n=1.
22(1)−1=4−1=3. So k must divide 3; the only option that does is k=3. (Immediately, k=2, 6 and 7 fail, since none divides 3.)
-
Test n=2 as a check.
22(2)−1=16−1=15, and 3∣15. So k=3 still works.
-
Confirm for all n.
Since 22n=4n and 4≡1(mod3), we have 4n≡1n=1(mod3), so
4n−1≡0(mod3)
for every n. Thus 3 divides 22n−1 for all natural numbers n.
Watch out6 is a tempting distractor, but 22n−1 is always odd (e.g. n=1 gives 3), so it is never divisible by 2, and hence never by 6. Only 3 works for all n.
TipThe modular shortcut 4≡1(mod3)⇒4n≡1(mod3) gives the answer instantly, without induction. This kind of divisibility argument is standard in NCERT Class 11 Mathematical Induction and in KCET previous-year papers.
✓Final answerThe value of k is 3, which corresponds to option (B).
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