1
$\begingroup$

$f:Z \rightarrow Z$

$f(x) = x-5$ , when $x$ is odd

$f(x) = x+3$ , when $x$ is even

It seems that it is not onto, because not all integers are covered, but how do you show this?

  • 2
    Following on mathguy's comment: if X is odd, what is $f^{-1}(X)?$ and if X is even, what is $f^{-1}(X)$>2012-11-09

1 Answers 1

2

This is indeed onto,

Pick any $a\in\mathbb{Z}$.

if $a$ is odd we know that $a - 3$ is even (since $a - 2$ is clearly odd) so $f(a - 3) = a$.

if $a$ is even we know that $a + 5$ is odd (since $a + 4$ is clearly even) so $f(a + 5) = a$.

This function is also one to one, and I leave this partially to you, to see this note that for odd $x$, $f(x)$ only hits even numbers and never hits the same number twice. And for even $x$ this only hits odd numbers.