Sets, Onto and 1-1 Functions

Onto and 1-1 Functions

Let the domain of f be S1, while the range is S2. f is 1-1, or injective, if no member of S2 appears more than once. Such a function is invertible, since its ordered pairs, when reversed, satisfy the definition of a function. This "inverse" function is also 1-1.

F is onto, or surjective, if every member of S2 appears at least once. For every b in S2 there is a in S1 such that F(a) = b. When describing such a function, an important letter is substituted: Instead of "into", we write: f maps S1 onto S2.

A bijective function is both 1-1 and onto.

A permutation is a bijection from a set S onto itself. When S is finite, this is a rearrangement of the n elements, as expected.