Lesson 9: One-to-One functions

Learning Outcome(s): At the end of the lesson, the learner is able to represent
reallife situations using one-to-one functions.

Lesson Outline:

1. One-to-one functions

2. Examples of real-life situations represented by one-to-one functions.

3. Horizontal line test.

Definition: The function is one-to-one if for any x1, x2 in the domain of f, then

f(x1)  f(x2). That is, the same -value is never paired with two different

-values.

In Examples 1-5, determine whether the given relation is a function. If it is a

function,

determine whether it is one-to-one or not.

Example 1. The relation pairing an SSS member to his or her SSS number

Solution. Each SSS member is assigned to a unique SSS number. Thus, the

relation is a function. Further, two different members cannot be assigned the same

SSS number. Thus, the function is one-to-one.

Example 2. The relation pairing a real number to its square.

Solution. Each real number has a unique perfect square. Thus, the relation is a

function. However, two different real numbers such as 2 and –2 may have the same

square. Thus, the function is not one-to-one.

Example 3. The relation pairing an airport to its airport code

Airport codes are three letter codes used to uniquely identify airports around the
world and prominently displayed on checked-in bags to denote the destination of

these bags. Here are some examples of airport codes:

 MNL – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (All terminals)

 CEB – Mactan-Cebu International Airport

 DVO – Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao)

 JFK – John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York City

 CDG – Charles de Gaulle International Airport (Paris, France)

Solution. Since each airport has a unique airport code, then the relation is a

function. Also, since no two airports share the same airport code, then the function
is

one-to-one.

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Example 4. The relation pairing a person to his or her citizenship.

Solution. The relation is not a function because a person can have dual citizenship

(i.e., citizenship is not unique).

Example 5. The relation pairing a distance d (in kilometers) traveled along a given

jeepney route to the jeepney fare for traveling that distance.

Solution. The relation is a function since each distance traveled along a given

jeepney route has an official fare. In fact, as shown in Lesson 1, the jeepney fare
may be represented by a piecewise function, as shown below:

Note that is the floor or greatest integer function applied to .

However, the function is not one-to-one because different distances (e.g., 2, 3 or 4

kilometers) are charged the same rate (P8.00). That is, because

, then F is not one-to-one.

A simple way to determine if a given graph is that of a one-to-one function is by

using

the Horizontal Line Test.

Horizontal Line Test. A function is one-to-one if each horizontal line does not

intersect the graph at more than one point.

A graph showing the plot of fails the horizontal line test because some

lines intersect the graph at more than one point.

The Vertical and Horizontal Line Tests. All functions satisfy the vertical line test.

All one-to-one functions satisfy both the vertical and horizontal line tests.

Solved Examples

1. Which of the following are one-to-one functions?

(a) Books to authors

(b) SIM cards to cell phone numbers

(c) True or False questions to answers

Solution.
Only b is a one-to-one function. Books can have multiple authors that wrote the

book. A true or false question has only one answer so it is a function but a “True”

answer can correspond to multiple questions.