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    Into Function and Bijective Function: Definition & Differences

    Into Function and Bijective Function: Definition & Differences

    Komal MiglaniUpdated on 02 Jul 2025, 08:08 PM IST

    Functions can be defined as the relation between two sets where every element in one set has a unique element in another. A bijective functions are one of an important topic in set theory and Mathematics. These concepts are used in various fields like calculus, physics, engineering etc.

    Into Function and Bijective Function: Definition & Differences
    Into Function and Bijective Function: Definition & Differences

    In this article, we will cover the concepts of bijective function. This concept falls under the broader category of sets relation and function, a crucial Chapter in class 11 Mathematics. It is not only essential for board exams but also for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main), and other entrance exams such as SRMJEE, BITSAT, WBJEE, BCECE, and more. Over the last ten years of the JEE Main exam (from 2013 to 2023), a total of seven questions have been asked on this concept, including one in 2019, one in 2021, one in 2022, and four in 2023.

    Function

    $A$ and $B$ are two non-empty sets, then a relation from $A$ to $B$ is said to be a function if each element $x$ in $A$ is assigned a unique element $f(x)$ in $B$, and it is written as

    $f: A ➝ B$ and read as $f$ is mapping from $ A$ to $B.$

    Domain of a function

    All possible values of $x$ for $f(x)$ is defined $(f(x)$ is a real number) is known as a domain.
    If a function is defined from $A$ to $B$ i.e. f: $A \rightarrow B$, then all the elements of $\operatorname{set} A$ is called the Domain of the function.

    Co-domain of a function

    If a function is defined from $A$ to $B$ i.e. $f: A \rightarrow B$, then set $B$ is called the Co-domain of the function.

    Range of a function

    It is defined as all the values that the function assumes or in other words we can also say the output of the given function. It is also known as the image set of the function.

    Injective function(one-one function)

    A function $f: A \rightarrow B$ is called one - one function if distinct elements of $A$ have distinct images in $B$.

    Eg. $f: X \longrightarrow Y$, function given by $y=f(x)=x$, and
    $X=\{-2,2,4,6\}$ and $Y=\{-2,2,4,6\}$

    Surjective Function(onto function)

    A function $f: A \rightarrow B$ is said to be onto function if the range of $f$ is equal to the co-domain of $f$.

    Eg.

    $\mathrm{X}=\left\{\mathrm{x}_1, \mathrm{x}_2, \mathrm{x}_3, \mathrm{x}_4\right\}$ and $\mathrm{Y}=\left\{\mathrm{y}_1, \mathrm{y}_2, \mathrm{y}_3\right\}$

    $
    f: X \rightarrow Y
    $

    Bijective Function

    A function $f: X \rightarrow Y$ is said to be bijective, if $f$ is both one-one and onto (both injective and surjective)

    Eg.
    Consider, $\mathrm{X}_1=\{1,2,3\}$ and $\mathrm{X}_2=\{\mathrm{x}, \mathrm{y}, \mathrm{z}\}$

    $
    f: X_1 \rightarrow X_2
    $

    The function f is a injective function as the every distinct elements in $X_1$ has unique images in $X_2$ and a surjective function as every elemt in $X_2$ has a pre-image in $X_1$.

    The number of bijective functions

    If $\mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x})$ is bijective, and the function is from a finite set A to a finite set B , then $n(A)=n(B)=m($ Say $)$ And, the number of Bijective functions $=\mathrm{m}$ !

    While mapping the two functions, i.e., the mapping between $A$ and $B$ (where $B$ need not be different from $A$) to be a bijection,

    • each element of $A$ must be paired with at least one element of $B$,
    • no element of $A$ may be paired with more than one element of $B$,
    • each element of B must be paired with at least one element of $A$, and
    • no element of B may be paired with more than one element of $A$.

    Difference between Injective, Surjective, and Bijective Function

    S.No

    Injective Function

    Surjective Function

    Bijective Function

    1A function that always maps the distinct element of its domain to the distinct element of its codomainA function that maps one or more elements of $A$ to the same element of $B$A function that is both injective and surjective
    2It is also known as one-to-one functionIt is also known as onto functionIt is also known as one-to-one correspondence
    3Injective FunctionSurjective FunctionBijective Function

    Some examples of Bijective functions are:

    • Linear functions: $f(x) = x, g(x) = x + 10, h(x) = 5x – 5$, etc.
    • Polynomial Functions: $f(x) = x^3, g(x) = x^3 – 1 $
    • Exponential functions: $f(x) = e^x, where f : R → (0, \infty)$
    • Absolute Value Function: $f(x) = x|x|$
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    Properties

    • Inverse Exists: A bijective function has an inverse function that undoes the mapping, taking an element from the codomain back to an element in the domain.
    • Unique Inverse: The inverse of a bijective function is unique, meaning there is only one function that reverses the mapping.
    • Preservation of Composition: If you compose a bijective function with another function, the composition is also bijective.

    How to Identify a Bijective Functions?

    To figure out if a function is bijective, there is a 2 step process to identify:

    1. Injective function
    2. Surjective function

    If the give function is both injective and surjective, then it is a bijective function.

    Recommended Video Based on Into and Bijective Functions

    Solved Examples Based On the Into and Bijective Functions

    Example 1: Let $f: N \rightarrow Y$ be a function defined as $f(x)=4 x+3$ where $Y=\{y \in N: y=4 x+3$ for some $x \in y\}$. Show that $f$ is invertible and its inverse is?

    Solution:
    As we learned in
    Bijective Function -
    The function that is both one-on-one and onto is the Bijective Function.

    $
    f(x)=4 x+3
    $


    Let $y=4 x+3$

    $
    \frac{y-3}{4}=x=g(y)
    $

    Example 2: If $n(A)=3$ and $n(B)=5$. How many bijective functions are possible from $A$ to $B$ ?
    Solution:

    If $n(A)=n(B)=m$, then the number of bijective functions from $A$ to $B=m!$.
    Here, $n(A) \neq n(B)$
    So, bijective functions are not possible.
    Hence, the answer is 0 .

    Example 3: Which of the following function is a bijective function?

    1) $f(x)=\frac{x^2-4}{x-2}$

    2) $f(x)=x^2$

    3) $f_3(x)=3 x+4$

    4) $f_4(x)=\frac{x^2-1}{x+1}$

    Solution:

    $f_1(x)$ is not defined for $\mathrm{x}=2$, and it does not have 4 in its range, so into and thus not bijective $f_4(x)$ is not defined for $\mathrm{x}=-1$, and does not have -2 in its range, so not bijective $f_3(x)=3 \mathrm{x}+4$ is defined for $\mathrm{x} \in \mathrm{R}$ and it is a one-one and onto function: bijective function $f_2(x)$ is not a one - one function

    Hence, the answer is the option 3.

    Example 4: If $n(A)=4$ and $n(B)=4$. Then how many bijective functions can be formed from $A$ to $B$ ?
    1) $24$
    2) $6$
    3) $120$
    4) $0$

    Solution:

    As we have learned
    Number of Bijective Function
    If $\mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x})$ is a bijection, then $n(A)=n(B)=m($ Say $)$
    And the number of Bijective functions $=m$ !
    Here, number of bijective function $=4!=24$
    Hence, the answer is the option 1.

    Example 5: If set $A$ has $5$ elements and set $B$ has $3$ elements. How many bijective function can be formed from $A$ to $B$ ?

    1) $120x$
    2) $6$
    3) $0$
    4) $24$

    Solution:

    As we have learned

    Number of Bijective Function
    If $\mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x})$ is bijective then $n(A)=n(B)=m($ Say $)$
    And the number of Bijective functions $=m$ !

    Here

    There can be no bijective function from $A$ to $B$ since number of elements should be same for both the sets to form a bijective function

    Hence, the answer is the option 3.


    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the co-domain of a function?
    A:

     If a function is defined from $A$ to $B$ i.e. $f: A⇾B$, then set $B$ is called the Co-domain of the function.

    Q: What is an onto function?
    A:

    A function $f: A \rightarrow B$ is said to be onto function if the range of $f$ is equal to the co-domain of $f$.

    Q: What is a bijective function?
    A:

    A function $f : X \rightarrow Y$ is said to be bijective, if $f$ is both one-one and onto (meaning it is both injective and surjective)

    Q: What is the domain of a function?
    A:

    All possible values of $x$ for $f(x)$ is defined ($f(x)$ is a real number) is known as a domain.

    Q: What is a function?
    A:

    Functions are one of the basic concepts in mathematics that have numerous applications in the real world.

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