First hour: Injective, Surjective, Bijective,

and Inverse functions

Injective Functions
Introduction
A function is injective (one to one) if each
element in (domain) is mapped onto exactly one
element in (co-domain).

X Y
Graphical Exploration
Consider the function defined as:

(Check Desmos for graph)

A function will be injective if any horizontal line drawn
cuts the graph of the function at most once.
So here is injective.

Consider the , is it injective? Yes, it is!

(See Desmos graph)
Algebraic Exploration
If a function is injective, then given ,

Prove that is injective, where .

Solution
Let

and

(adding one to both sides)

(dividing both sides by 2)
So is injective.

Show that is injective.

Surjective Functions
Introduction
A function is said to be surjective (onto) if and
only if every element in Y (co-domain) has at least one
pre-image in X (domain). That is, the range and co-
domain are identical.
Graphical Exploration
A function will be surjective if any horizontal cuts the
graph of the function at least once.

Consider the functions below, and determine if they are

surjective:
 (yes!)
 (it depends)
Algebraic Exploration
Consider the function
We say that is surjective if given an element, b, in Y,
there is exists an element in X, a, such that .
Given , where , show that is
surjective.
Solution
Let and let ,
We will now make x the subject:

Now, if , then is surjective:

So is surjective.
Bijective Functions
Introduction
A bijective function is one that is both injective and
surjective.
Graphical Exploration
If a function is bijective, then any horizontal line drawn
will cut its graph exactly once.
Algebraic Exploration
Here, we show that the function is injective algebraically,
and then show that it is surjective algebraic.
Consider the functions below, are they bijective?


Consider , we need to show that it is
injective and surjective.
Solution

So is injective.

Now,

Hence, is also surjective and so is bijective.

Inverse Functions
Introduction
Given the function , its inverse .
Furthermore, a function will only have an inverse if it is
bijective.
Graphical Exploration
The graph of the inverse of a function is found by
reflecting the function in the line .
Consider the function . By observing its graph,
what would its inverse graph look like?

Original graph
Turned Sideways to sketch inverse
Reset orientation after sketching inverse…
Algebraic Exploration
To find the inverse of a function, we:
1. Equate the function to .
2. Interchange and .
3. Make the subject.
4. Replace with if necessary.
Past Paper Questions
Second hour: Modulus function
Introduction

Properties

Graphical Exploration

Algebraic Exploration

Equations and inequalities

Past Paper Questions