Unit 2
Mapping and Function
Contents
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Learning Outcome
3.0 Learning Content
3.1 Mapping
3.2 Functions
3.3 One – One Mapping
3.4 Onto – Mapping
3.5 Composite Mapping
3.6 Inverse Function
4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment
7.0 References/Further Reading
1.0 Introduction
In the previous unit, you studied the concept of set theory. this unit you will study
Mapping and Function. You will also see the important properties of Mapping and
function.
2.0 Learning Outcome
At the end of this unit you should be able to:
1. Apply the concepts of mappings in solving problems;
2. Identify the important properties of mappings (functions);
3. Find product of mapping;
4. Find inverses of functions.
3.0 Learning Content
3.1 Mapping
You will recall that a set is a clearly defined collection of objects, things or numbers.
Given two non-empty sets A and B, if there is a rule, which assigns an element 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴
a unique element𝑦 ∈ 𝐵, then such a rule is called a mapping.
The set A is called the Domain of the mapping while the set B is called the Co-domain
of the mapping.
If the rule which associates each element𝑥 ∈ 𝐴, a unique element 𝑦 ∈ 𝐵 is denoted by
f , the mapping between the set A and the set B can be represented by any of the
following notations:
𝑓
A→ 𝐵
𝑓: 𝐴 ⟶ 𝐵
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦where y is the unique element in B which corresponds to the element x in A.
The element y in B is called the Image of 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴.
A subset of the co-domain, which is a collection of all the images of the elements of
the domain is called the Range.
If 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵is a mapping of the set A into the set B, then the range is usually denoted
by f(A). f(A) is a subset of the co-domain, hence f(A) ⊂ 𝐵.
Example
1. Given that P ={w, x, y, z} and Q = {a, b, f, e, g}. Let the mapping 𝑓: 𝑃 → 𝑄 be
defined by the diagram in fig. 3.1.
𝑓
P → Q
w a
x b
y f
z e
g
Fig. 3.1
The above representation is called an arrow diagram.
As f(w) = b, f(x) = g, f(y) = a and f(z) = b. b is the image of both w and z, g is the image
of x while a is the image of y.
Self-Assessment Exercise 1
1. Given that f(2) = 5, f(3) = 7, f(4) = 9 and f(6) = 13 show the arrow diagram for
the given function.
3.2 Functions
A function is a mapping whose co- domain is the set of numbers.
Consider the mapping in fig 3.3
𝑓
X→ Y
2 5
3 7
4 9
6 13
Fig. 3.3
Both the domain and the co-domain are sets of numbers. The mapping f is a function.
We observe that 5 is the f- image of 2 and we write this as f(2) = 5.
Similarly, we write f(3) =7, f(4) = 9 and f(6) = 13. Can you discover the rule which
associates an element from X, a unique image in the set Y? It appears that when 1 is
added to twice an element in X, it produces the corresponding image in the set Y.
Hence, if 𝑦 ∈ 𝑌is the f- image of 𝑥 ∈ 𝑋, then we can write this as 𝑓: 𝑥 → 2𝑥 + 1 or f(x)
= 2x + 1 or y = 2x + 1.
Self-Assessment Exercise 2
1. Given the arrow diagram above determine the expression for the function 𝑓(𝑥)
3.3 One – One Mapping
Let 𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑌 be the mapping that establishes the correspondence between the sets X
and Y. The mapping f is called a One- one mapping, if different elements in the domain
X contain have different images in the co- domain Y. Thus, 𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑌is one – one
mapping, if f(x1) = f(x2) implies that x1 = x2 or x1 ≠x2 implies that f(x1)≠ f(x2).
Examples
1. The mapping which associates each state in Nigeria with its Governor is a one- one
mapping.
2. The mapping which assigns each University in West Africa with its Vice- Chancellor
is a one- one mapping.
Self-Assessment Exercise 3
1. The arrow diagram below shows an arrow diagram, is the function f, a one –
one mapping function.
3.4 Onto – Mapping
Let 𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑌 be a mapping from the set X to the set Y. The mapping f is called an
Onto- mapping if every elements of the co-domain is an image of at least one element
in the domain.
As every member of the co-domain is an image of at least one member of the domain,
the range of an onto- mapping is equal to the co- domain.
Examples
Let R be a set of all real number and𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 a mapping defined by f(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 +
1. Then
f is not an onto- mapping because the range excludes negative numbers.
Self-Assessment Exercise 4
1. Which of the functions above is an onto mapping function?
3.5 Composite Mapping
Let 𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑍 and 𝑔: 𝑍 → 𝑌be two mappings such that the co- domain of “f” is the
domain of g.
𝑓 𝑔
𝑋→ 𝑍→ 𝑌
P a x
q b
r c y
s d z
Fig. 3.4
The mapping 𝑓takes an element in X and produces an image in Z. the mapping g
takes an element in Z and produces an image in Y. the mapping 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓takes an element
in X and produces an image in Y via Z.
From Fig. 3.4
𝑔 ∘ 𝑓(𝑝) = 𝑔(𝑎) = 𝑥
𝑔 ∘ 𝑓(𝑞) = 𝑔(𝑐) = 𝑥
𝑔 ∘ 𝑓(𝑟) = 𝑔(𝑑) = 𝑦
𝑔 ∘ 𝑓(𝑠) = 𝑔(𝑏) = 𝑧
The mapping 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 is called a composite mapping. It is sometimes written as 𝑔𝑓.
The composite mapping can also be represented vectorially as illustrated in Fig. 3.5.
Y
X
Z
f
Fig. 3.5
Example
Let 𝑓: 𝑋 → 𝑌 and 𝑔: 𝑌 → 𝑍 be mappings on the set of real numbers defined by:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1 and 𝑔(𝑦) = (𝑦 + 1)2 , find 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓.
Solution
𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 = 𝑔𝑓(𝑥)
= 𝑔(𝑥 + 1)
= [(𝑥 + 1) + 1]2
= (𝑥 + 2)2
= 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4
Let 𝑓, 𝑔, and ℎ be mappings on the set of real numbers defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 +
1, 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 3 and ℎ(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2. Show that (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔) ∘ ℎ = 𝑓 ∘ (𝑔 ∘ ℎ).
Solution
(𝑓 ∘ 𝑔) ∘ ℎ = 𝑓𝑔[3𝑥 + 2]
= 𝑓[(3𝑥 + 2)2 − 3]
= 𝑓[9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 1]
= 2(9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 1) + 1
= 18𝑥 2 + 24𝑥 + 3
𝑓 ∘ (𝑔 ∘ ℎ) = 2(𝑔 ∘ ℎ) + 1
= 2[𝑔[ℎ(𝑥)]] + 1
= 2[𝑔(3𝑥 + 2)] + 1
= 2[(3𝑥 + 2)2 − 3] + 1
= 2[9𝑥 2 = 12𝑥 + 1] + 1
= 18𝑥 2 + 24𝑥 + 3
∴ (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔) ∘ ℎ = 𝑓 ∘ (𝑔 ∘ ℎ)
Self-Assessment Exercise(s) 5
1. For f(x) = 2x + 3 and g(x) = -x 2 + 1, find the composite function defined by (f o g)(x)
2. f(x) = SQRT(x + 2) and g(x) = ln (1 - x 2) Find the composite function defined by
(g o f)(x) and describe its domain.
3.6 Inverse Function
Consider the function 𝑓: 𝑥 → 2𝑥 + 3 on the set A = {-2, 1, 3} into the set B = {-1, 5, 9}
illustrated in Fig. 3.6 below
𝑓
𝐴→ 𝐵
- 9
2 5
1 -
3 1
Fig. 3.6
The function f takes an element from the set A to produce a unique image in the set
B. Alternatively, the function f can be defined as the set {(-2,-1), (1, 5), (3, 9)} i.e. f =
{(-2,-1), (1, 5), (3, 9)}. Suppose we consider the relation, which reverses the operation
of associating an element from the set A, a unique element in the set B. Let this relation
be g. The relation g associates with every element in B a unique element in A.
The relation g can be defined as the set of the ordered pairs g = {(-2,-1), (1, 5), (3, 9)}
𝑔
𝐵→ 𝐴
9 -
2
5
1
-
Fig. 3.7
The relation g is a mapping and it is called the inverse of the function f and it is usually
denoted by𝑓 −1 .
Example
1
The function f over the set of real numbers is defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 𝑥 − 3.
Find 𝑓 −1 (𝑥).
Solution
1
Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3
2
1
𝑦+3= 𝑥
2
2(𝑦 + 3) = 𝑥
∴ 𝑥 = 𝑓 −1 (𝑦) = 2(𝑦 + 3)
replacing 𝑦 by 𝑥
𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 2(𝑥 + 3)
Self-Assessment Exercise(s) 6
1. Given the functions below find their inverse function
a. f(x) = (x + 1)/(x - 2)
b. f(x) = e x - 1 + 3
2. Given the inverse function f 1 x 2x 3 find the function f(x)
4.0 Conclusion
In this unit you have studied mapping, function, one- one mapping, onto mapping,
composite mapping and inverse functions.
5.0 Summary
1. Given two non-empty sets A and B, if there is a rule, which assigns an element 𝑥 ∈
𝐴 a unique element𝑦 ∈ 𝐵, then such a rule is called a mapping.
2. Given the mapping 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵, the set A is called the Domain, while the set B is called
the Co-domain.
3. A subset of the co-domain, which is a collection of all the images of the elements of
the domain is called the Range.
4. The mapping 𝑔 ∘ 𝑓 is called a composite mapping. It is sometimes written as 𝑔𝑓.
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment
1. Determine the domain D of the mapping 𝑔: 𝑥 → 2𝑥 2 -1, if R =
{1, 7, 17} is the range and g is defined on D.
1. 𝑓: 𝑥 → 2𝑥 +
3 is a mapping defined on the set R of real numbers. Determine the pre-images of:
(a)1 (b) -1 (c) 7 (d) -5
3+𝑥
2. Given the mapping 𝑔: 𝑥 → 2𝑥−1 , determine:
1 1
(a) g(0) (b) g(1) (c) g(-1) (d) g( ) (e) g(- )
3 2
for what value of x is the mapping not defined? Hence or otherwise the largest
domain of g.
3. Determine the inverse function in each of the following:
1
(𝑎)𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 (𝑏)𝑔(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 1)3 (𝑐)ℎ(𝑥) = 4𝑥 − 5 (𝑑)𝑟(𝑥)
𝑥+3
= (𝑥 ≠ -4)
𝑥+4
7.0 References/Further Reading
Odili G. A. (2000), Algebra for Colleges and Universities: An Integrated Approach. Anachuna
Educational Books.
Akinnola V. J., Mohammed J., Aiyesimi Y. M., Akinwande N. I., and Ogunfiditimi E.
O.(2005), College Algebra and Trigonometry. Y- Books.
Tuttuh-Adegun, Sivasubramniam S., Adekoge R. (2003) Further Mathematics Project 2. NPS
Educational.
Tuttuh-Adegun, Sivasubramniam S., Adekoge R. (2008) Further Mathematics Project 1. NPS
Educational.