Topology

Composition of functions (Section 8)

√
Page 20 - 1: Given functions g(x) = x2 and h(x) = x, x ≥ 0 construct an
example of a commutative diagram similar to figure 8 .3 i n t he book.

Note: i : A → A is the identity function.

Page 21 - 2: Let f: RxR→R be the function defined by the correspondence

f (x, y) = x2 + y 2 and let g: RxR→R be the function defined by the correspon-
dence g(x, y) = x + y. Let h:R→R by the function defined by the corrsepon-
dence h(x) = x2 . Is the diagram in the book commutative?
For RxR, let x=a, and let y=a+b where a, b ∈ R.
f (a, a + b) = a2 + (a + b)2 = 2a2 + 2ab + b2 .
g(a, a + b) = a + a + b = 2a + b.
h(g(a, a + b)) = h(2a + b) = (2a + b)2 = 4a2 + 4ab + b2 .
f (a, a + b) 6= h(g(a, a + b)) so no, the diagram is not commutative.

Page 21 - 4: Let f:A→B and g:B→C. Prove that for Z ⊂ C, (gf )−1 (Z) =
f −1 (g −1 (Z)).
Let a ∈ (gf )−1 (Z). By definition of inverse then a ∈ X ⊂ A s.t. g(f (a)) ∈ Z. By construction of f, f (a) = b where
b ∈ B, and thus f −1 (b) = a. Further, since g(f (a)) ∈ Z, g(b) = c where c ∈ Z, and thus g −1 (c) = b. f −1 (g −1 (c)) =
f −1 (b) = a, thus a ∈ f −1 (g −1 (Z)), and so (gf )−1 (Z) ⊂ f −1 (g −1 (Z)).
Let a ∈ f −1 (g −1 (Z)). By definition of inverse image then, f (a) ∈ g −1 (Z) and further that g(f (a)) ∈ Z. In other
words gf (a) ∈ Z and thus by the definition of inverse image, a ∈ (gf )−1 (Z), and so f −1 (g −1 (Z)) ⊂ (gf )−1 (Z)