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Questions tagged [functions]

For elementary questions about functions, notation, properties, and operations such as function composition. Consider also using the (graphing-functions) tag.

4 votes
3 answers
453 views

Infinite series, injective function and rearrangement inequality

Let $f:\mathbb{N^*}\to\mathbb{N^*}$ an injective function. Show that the following infinite series $$\sum_{i=1}^{\infty}\frac{f(n)}{n^2}$$ is divergent. I am supposed to deal with this using the ...
PaulDirac's user avatar
  • 879
4 votes
2 answers
3k views

What are the strategies I can use to prove $f^{-1}(S \cap T) = f^{-1}(S) \cap f^{-1}(T)$?

$f^{-1}(S \cap T) = f^{-1}(S) \cap f^{-1}(T)$ I think I have to show that the LHS is a subset of the RHS and the RHS is a subset of the LHS, but I don't know how to do this exactly.
George Milton's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
26k views

If a function is undefined at a point, is it also discontinuous at that point?

I posted a solution here with an illustration (see below) and commented that the function was discontinuous at $x=1$, where it is undefined. Someone told me, no, it is undefined but continuous. Now ...
MathAdam's user avatar
  • 3,369
2 votes
1 answer
650 views

BMO1 2009/10 Q5 functional equation: $f(x)f(y) = f(x + y) + xy$

Find all functions $f$, defined on the real numbers and taking real values, which satisfy the equation $f(x)f(y) = f(x + y) + xy$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. I worked out $f(0)=1$, and $f(-1)f(...
MadChickenMan's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Proof of $f^{-1}(B_{1}\setminus B_{2}) = f^{-1}(B_{1})\setminus f^{-1}(B_{2})$

I want to prove the following equation: $$ f^{-1}(B_{1}\setminus B_{2}) = f^{-1}(B_{1})\setminus f^{-1}(B_{2}) $$ Is this a valid proof? I am not sure, because at one point I am looking at $f(x) \in ...
craaaft's user avatar
  • 743
31 votes
3 answers
4k views

Does there exist a continuous function from [0,1] to R that has uncountably many local maxima?

Does there exist a continuous function from $[0,1]$ to $R$ that has uncountably many strict local maxima?
math_lover's user avatar
  • 5,824
27 votes
4 answers
13k views

Are there parabolic and elliptical functions analogous to the circular and hyperbolic functions $\sinh$, $\cosh$, and $\tanh$?

Are there parabolic and elliptical functions analogous to the circular and hyperbolic functions $\sinh, \cosh$, and $\tanh$? Also, in matters of conic sections, are there other properties such that it ...
zundarz's user avatar
  • 689
27 votes
2 answers
71k views

Proof of properties of injective and surjective functions.

I'd like to see if these proofs are correct/have them critiqued. Let $g: A \to B$ and $f: B \to C$ be functions. Then: (a) If $g$ and $f$ are one-to-one, then $f \circ g$ is one-to-one. (b) If ...
emka's user avatar
  • 6,534
12 votes
2 answers
4k views

Continuous unbounded but integrable functions

Many tricky exercises concern the quest for functions that satisfy particular conditions. For example, let us consider the spaces $C_p( \mathbb R), 1 \leq p < \infty$, of continuous functions on $\...
user91126's user avatar
  • 2,336
10 votes
6 answers
21k views

Prove: Any open interval has the same cardinality of $\Bbb R$ (without using trigonometric functions)

I want to prove that every open interval has the same cardinality of $\Bbb R$. The question is: Is it enough to prove that any open interval is uncountable? If I prove it, can I say that this interval ...
Alex Turner's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
15k views

If $f(f(x))=x^2-x+1$, what is $f(0)$?

Suppose that $f\colon\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ without any further restriction. If $f(f(x))=x^2-x+1$, how can one find $f(0)$? Thanks in advance.
Mathmath's user avatar
  • 540
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

Composition of 2 involutions

How can we prove that any bijection on any set is a composition of 2 involutions ? Since involutions are bijections mapping elements of a set to elements of the same set, I find it weird that this ...
TedMosby's user avatar
  • 503
7 votes
3 answers
11k views

Maps - question about $f(A \cup B)=f(A) \cup f(B)$ and $ f(A \cap B)=f(A) \cap f(B)$

I am struggling to prove this map statement on sets. The statement is: Let $f:X \rightarrow Y$ be a map. i) $\forall_{A,B \subset X}: f(A \cup B)=f(A) \cup f(B)$ ii) $\forall_{A,B \subset X}: f(...
doniyor's user avatar
  • 3,720
7 votes
3 answers
14k views

Demonstrate that if $f$ is surjective then $X = f(f^{-1}(X))$

I haven't been able to do this exercise: Let $f: A \rightarrow B$ be any function. $f^{-1}(X)$ is the inverse image of $X$. Demonstrate that if $f$ is surjective then $X = f(f^{-1}(X))$ where $X \...
Saturn's user avatar
  • 7,211
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Let $f: \mathbb N \rightarrow \mathbb N$ are increasing function such that $f\left(f(n)\right)=3n$. Find $f(2017)$ [duplicate]

Let $f: \mathbb N \rightarrow \mathbb N$ are increasing function such that $$f\left(f(n)\right)=3n$$ for any positive integer $n$. Find $f(2017)$ My work so far: 1) If $m\not=n$ then $f(m)\...
Roman83's user avatar
  • 17.9k
6 votes
1 answer
564 views

Variable or constant, and Dependence among variables

I've been working with symbolic Mathematics for a very long time, but I still have many small questions relating to the idea of a 'constant' and the idea of change with respect to variables, and their ...
user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
9k views

Inverse function of $x^x$

How can I find the inverse function of $f(x) = x^x$? I cannot seem to find the inverse of this function, or any function in which there is both an $x$ in the exponent as well as the base. I have tried ...
bnosnehpets's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
611 views

Graph Transformation

Knowing dealing with graph transformations come handy MANY times. I searched on google to get a comprehensive graph transformation list but couldn't find one. Some good while back I learned them all ...
InanimateBeing's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
5k views

Finding the range of $f(x) = 1/((x-1)(x-2))$

I want to find the range of the following function $$f(x) = \frac{1}{(x-1)(x-2)} $$ Is there any way to find the range of the above function? I have found one idea. But that is too critical. Please ...
Way to infinity's user avatar
32 votes
7 answers
6k views

Some confusion about what a function "really is".

Despite my username, my background is mostly in functional analysis where (at least to my understanding), a function $f$ is considered as a mathematical object in its own right distinctly different ...
TheLaughingAlgebrist's user avatar
29 votes
4 answers
50k views

Show that Function Compositions Are Associative

My intent is to show that a composition of bijections is also a bijection by showing the existence of an inverse. But my approach requires the associativity of function composition. Let $f: X \...
Andy Tam's user avatar
  • 3,367
15 votes
4 answers
6k views

Proof of linear independence of $e^{at}$

Given $\left\{ a_{i}\right\} _{i=0}^{n}\subset\mathbb{R}$ which are distinct, show that $\left\{ e^{a_{i}t}\right\} \subset C^{0}\left(\mathbb{R},\mathbb{R}\right)$, form a linearly independent set ...
Tim Green's user avatar
  • 315
14 votes
5 answers
13k views

Why aren't the graphs of $\sin(\arcsin x)$ and $\arcsin(\sin x)$ the same?

(source for above graph) (source for above graph) Both functions simplify to x, but why aren't the graphs the same?
Curious's user avatar
  • 467
13 votes
4 answers
11k views

Number of non-decreasing functions?

Let $A = \{1,2,3,\dots,10\}$ and $B = \{1,2,3,\dots,20\}$. Find the number of non-decreasing functions from $A$ to $B$. What I tried: Number of non-decreasing functions = (Total functions) - (Number ...
Sudhanshu's user avatar
  • 1,567
13 votes
6 answers
13k views

Equation for a smooth staircase function

I am looking for a smooth staircase equation $f(h,w,x)$ that is a function of the step height $h$, step width $w$ in the range $x$. I cannot use the unit step or other similar functions since they ...
user1420's user avatar
  • 165
12 votes
2 answers
33k views

Example of a function continuous at only one point. [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Find a function $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ that is continuous at precisely one point? I want to know some example of a continuous function which is continuous at exactly ...
Vishal's user avatar
  • 215
10 votes
4 answers
6k views

Pull back image of maximal ideal under surjective ring homomorphism is maximal

Let $f :R \to S$ be a surjective ring homomorphism , $M$ be a maximal ideal of $S$ , I am writing a proof showing $f^{-1}(M)$ is a maximal ideal of $R$ , Please verify whether it is correct or not . ...
Souvik Dey's user avatar
  • 8,387
9 votes
5 answers
1k views

Can the Identity Map be a repeated composition one other function?

Consider the mapping $f:x\to\frac{1}{x}, (x\ne0)$. It is trivial to see that $f(f(x))=x$. My question is whether or not there exists a continuous map $g$ such that $g(g(g(x)))\equiv g^{3}(x)=x$? ...
preferred_anon's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
24k views

Proving that $C$ is a subset of $f^{-1}[f(C)]$

More homework help. Given the function $f:A \to B$. Let $C$ be a subset of $A$ and let $D$ be a subset of $B$. Prove that: $C$ is a subset of $f^{-1}[f(C)]$ So I have to show that every element ...
Ben Anderson's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
8k views

Why is there no continuous square root function on $\mathbb{C}$?

I know that what taking square roots for reals, we can choose the standard square root in such a way that the square root function is continuous, with respect to the metric. Why is that not the case ...
Botts's user avatar
  • 81

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