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Relations and F unctions

Types
AS K of Functions
What does the word function stand for? By the word function, we understand
CONCE P TS
the responsibility or role one has to play. What is the function of the leaves of
plants – to prepare food for the plant and store them? What is the function of the
roots of plants? They absorb water and other nutrients from the ground and
supply it to the plants and help them stand erect. Can we say that everyone has
different types of functions? Let’s learn about some types of function in
mathematics!

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Introduction Introduction
to Functions to Functions Introduction Introduction Cartesian
-I - II to Relations to Sets Product

Functions
We can define a function as a special relation which maps each element of set A
with one and only one element of set B. Both the sets A and B must be non-
empty. A function defines a particular output for a particular input. Hence, f:
∈
A → B is a function such that for a A there is a unique element b B such ∈
that (a, b) ∈f
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We have already learned about some types of functions like Identity,

Polynomial, Rational, Modulus, Signum, Greatest Integer functions. In this
section, we will learn about other types of function.

One to One Function

A function f: A → B is One to One if for each element of A there is a distinct

element of B. It is also known as Injective. Consider if a1 A and a2 B, f is ∈ ∈
defined as f: A → B such that f (a1) = f (a2)

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Many to One Function

It is a function which maps two or more elements of A to the same element of

set B. Two or more elements of A have the same image in B.
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Onto Function

If there exists a function for which every element of set B there is (are) pre-
image(s) in set A, it is Onto Function. Onto is also referred as Surjective
Function.

One – One and Onto Function

A function, f is One – One and Onto or Bijective if the function f is both One to
One and Onto function. In other words, the function f associates each element
of A with a distinct element of B and every element of B has a pre-image in A.

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Functions

Relations

Other Types of Functions

A function is uniquely represented by its graph which is nothing but a set of all
pairs of x and f(x) as coordinates. Let us get ready to know more about the types
of functions and their graphs.

Identity Function

Let R be the set of real numbers. If the function f: R→R is defined as f(x) = y =
∈
x, for x R, then the function is known as Identity function. The domain and
the range being R. The graph is always a straight line and passes through the
origin.

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Constant Function

If the function f: R→R is defined as f(x) = y = c, for x ∈ R and c is a constant

in R, then such function is known as Constant function. The domain of the
function f is R and its range is a constant, c. Plotting a graph, we find a straight
line parallel to the x-axis.

Polynomial Function

A polynomial function is defined by y =a0 + a1x + a2x2 + … + anxn, where n is

a non-negative integer and a0, a1, a2,…, n R. The highest power in the ∈
expression is the degree of the polynomial function. Polynomial functions are
further classified based on their degrees:

Constant Function: If the degree is zero, the polynomial function is a

constant function (explained above).

Linear Function: The polynomial function with degree one. Such as y = x

+ 1 or y = x or y = 2x – 5 etc. Taking into consideration, y = x – 6. The
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domain and the range are R. The graph is always a straight line.

Quadratic Function: If the degree of the polynomial function is two, then it is a

quadratic function. It is expressed as f(x) = ax2 + bx + c, where a ≠ 0 and a, b, c
are constant & x is a variable. The domain and the range are R. The graphical
representation of a quadratic function say, f(x) = x2 – 4 is

Cubic Function: A cubic polynomial function is a polynomial of degree

three and can be denoted by f(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx +d, where a ≠ 0 and a,
b, c, and d are constant & x is a variable. Graph for f(x) = y = x3 – 5. The
domain and the range are R.

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Rational Function

A rational function is any function which can be represented by a rational

fraction say, f(x)/g(x) in which numerator, f(x) and denominator, g(x) are
polynomial functions of x, where g(x) ≠ 0. Let a function f: R → R is defined
say, f(x) = 1/(x + 2.5). The domain and the range are R. The Graphical
representation shows asymptotes, the curves which seem to touch the axes-
lines.

Modulus Function

The absolute value of any number, c is represented in the form of |c|. If any
function f: R→ R is defined by f(x) = |x|, it is known as Modulus Function. For
each non-negative value of x, f(x) = x and for each negative value of x, f(x) = -
x, i.e.,

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f(x) = {x, if x ≥ 0; – x, if x < 0.

Its graph is given as, where the domain and the range are R.

Signum Function

A function f: R→ R defined by

f(x) = { 1, if x > 0; 0, if x = 0; -1, if x < 0

Signum or the sign function extracts the sign of the real number and is also
known as step function.

Greatest Integer Function

If a function f: R→ R is defined by f(x) = [x], x ∈ X. It round-off to the real

number to the integer less than the number. Suppose, the given interval is in the
form of (k, k+1), the value of greatest integer function is k which is an integer.
For example: [-21] = 21, [5.12] = 5. The graphical representation is
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Solved Example for You

Question 1: Which of the following is a function?

Answer : Figure (iii) is an example of a function. Since the given function maps
every element of A with that of B. In figure (ii), the given function maps one
element of A with two elements of B (one to many). Figure (i) is a violation of
the definition of the function. The given function does not map every element of
A.

Question 2: What is meant by function and what are its types?

Answer: A function refers to a special relation which maps each element of one
set with only one element belonging to another set. The various types of
functions are as follows:
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Many to one function

One to one function

Onto function

One and onto function

Constant function

Identity function

Quadratic function

Polynomial function

Modulus function

Rational function

Signum function

Greatest integer function

Question 3: How does the working of a function take place?

Answer: A function refers to an equation that provides only one answer for y
for every x. There is an assignment of exactly one output to each input of a
specified type by a function.

Question 4: How can one determine if a function is a function?

Answer: One can determine whether an equation is a function by solving for y.

In case of an equation and a specific value for x, there shall be only one
corresponding y-value for that particular x-value.

Question 5: Can we say that a parabola is a function?

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Answer: Only those parabolas which open downwards or upwards are

functions.

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2 responses to “Relations”

1. Al quba says:
March 21, 2021 at 1:28 pm

The example for onto function doesn’t qualify as a function in the first place. Does it??
It is a relation but not a function because a single element in the domain has been mapped to

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12/6/24, 8:30 PM Types of Functions: Classification, One-One, Onto, Videos and Examples

two elements in the co domain. Isn’t it??

Please tell me if I’m correct or not.
It is really confusing.

Reply

Eli Simeon says:

March 23, 2021 at 7:09 am

An onto function exists if and only the co-domain is equal to the range that is every
element in set A (the domain) is mapped to every element in set B (the
range/codomain) i.e without leaving out any element. Irrespective of whether it is a one
to one mapping or not. Therefore it is a function. Put simply, take set A as a set of sons
and set B as a set of fathers, a function requires that every son has one father (which is
normal) yet every father can have more than one son(which is also normal) so if one
element in set A maps to more than one element in set B it is not a function (and we will
need DNA test to know who really is the father) but if more than one element in set A
maps to one element in set B it is still a function (the elements are just brothers). What
and onto function requires is that every father has a son. Sorry if I made it a bit
complicated I feel that if I continue I might make it worse just it study a bit more and from
different sources, videos or books and you will understand it better.

Reply

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