Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Relations And Functions

Notes

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Relation is a connection between or among things.

Eg: Father, Mother and Child is a relation, Husband and wife is a relation,
Teacher & Student is a relation.

Every relation has a pattern or property. Also every relation involves

minimum two identities.

Relations in Mathematical World

• Number p is greater than number q.
• Line m is perpendicular to lime n
• Set A is subset of Set B.
• Relation between three sides of Right triangle. (P2 + B2 = H2)

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Function is a Set of action or activity.

E.g.: We can assume police as a function that will arrest a thief & lodge
complain for a victim.

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Consider function like a black box, if you give a input, it will give some output
based on your input.

Note that 2 different input can have same output as well, eg for F(x) = x2 , both
-5 & 5 gives output as 5.
But one input can’t have multiple outputs. E.g.: Input 3 will always give 9 in this
case as output; it can’t give any other output.

Types of Relation
• Empty Relation.
• Universal Relation.
• Trivial relation.
• Reflexive relation.
• Symmetric relation.
• Transitive relations.
• Equivalence relation.

A relation R on a set A is a subset of the Cartesian product AxA.

A relation R between two sets A and B is a subset of Cartesian Product A × B.

Empty Relation
A relation R in a set A is called empty relation, if no element of A is related to
any element of A.

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

R = φ ⊂ A × A.
Eg: Girls school R = {(a, b) : a is brother of b}

Universal Relation
A relation R in a set A is called universal relation, if each element of A is related
to every element of A
R = A × A.
Eg: Girls school R = {(a, b) : Difference between age of a and b is less than 100
years }

Trivial Relations
Both the empty relation and the universal relation are sometimes called trivial
relations.
Reflexive Relations
A relation R in a set A is called reflexive, if (a, a) ∈ R, for every a∈ A
Let’s take set A =(1,4,5}
If Relation R ={(1,1), (4,4),(5,5), ……….}, then relation R is called Reflexive
relation.

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Symmetric Relations
A relation R in set A is called symmetric, if (a1, a2) ∈ R implies (a2, a1)∈ R, for
all a1, a2 ∈ A.
Let’s take set A =(1,4,5}
If Relation R ={(1,4), (4,1),(1,5),(5,1),(4,5),(5,4) ……….}, then relation R is called
Reflexive relation.

E.g.: Height of Boys R = {(a1, a2) : Height of a1 is equal to height of a2 }

Height of a1 is equal to height of a2 à Height of a2 is equal to height of a1
Example of Non-symmetric relation
Height of Boys R = {(a1, a2) : Height of a1 is greater than height of a2 }
Height of a1 is greater than height of a2 XàX Height of a2 is greater than
height of a1

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Transitive relations
A relation R in a set A is called transitive, if (a1, a2) ∈ R and (a2, a3)∈ R implies
that (a1, a3)∈ R, for all a1, a2, a3 ∈ A. E.g.: Height of Boys R = {(a1, a2, a3) :
Height of a1 is equal to height of a2 & Height of a2 is equal to height of a3 à
Height of a1 is equal to height of a3 }
Example of Non-transitive relation: Height of Boys R = {(a1, a2, a3) : Height of
a1 is not equal to height of a2 & Height of a2 is not equal to height of a3 à
Height of a1 is not equal to height of a3 }

Equivalence Relation
A relation R in a set A is said to be an equivalence relation if R is reflexive,
symmetric and transitive
E.g.: Height of Boys R = {(a, a) : Height of a is equal to height of a }
Set of all triangles in plane with R relation in T given by R = {(T1, T2) : T1 is
congruent to T2}.
Numerical:
Show that the relation R in the set {1, 2, 3} given by R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (1,
2), (2, 3)} is reflexive but neither symmetric nor transitive.
Solution:

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Since Relation R has elements {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3)}, so I is Reflexive
Relation R has (1, 2), but, it doesn’t have (2,1), so it is not symmetric
Relation R has (1, 2) & (2, 3), but it doesn’t have (1, 3), so it is not transitive
Numerical:
Determine if relation is reflexive, symmetric and transitive: Relation R in the
set A of human beings in a town at a particular time given by
• R = {(x, y) : x and y work at the same place}
• R = {(x, y) : x is exactly 7 cm taller than y}
Solution:
Lets solve for R = {(x, y) : x and y work at the same place} first.
The relation will have values (x,x), (y,y) also, since x & x will work at same
place. So it is reflexive
If x & y works at same place, then y & x will also work at same place.
This relation R will have values (x,y)(y,x), so it is Transitive too.
If x & y works at same place, also it y & z works at same place, it implies that x
& z works at same place.
Thus relation R will have value (x,y), (y,z), (x,z), so it is transitive too.
Thus it is equivalence relation.
Let’s take case 2: R = {(x, y) : x is exactly 7 cm taller than y}, that is x-y=7
x-x =0, not 7. Thus the relation will not have (x,x), so it is not reflexive
x-y ≠ y-z, so if relation R will have (x,y), it will not have (y,x), so it is not
symmetric.
If x-y=7, & y-z=7, then x-z = 14, not 7.
Thus if relation has (x,y) & (y,z) elements, it will not have (x,z), so it is not
transitive.
Equivalence Class

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

If R is an equivalence relation on set A, then it decomposes A into pair wise

disjoint subsets. All elements of a subset are related to one another under
equivalence R and no element of a subset is related to an element in any other
subset.
A = A1 + A2 + A3 + A4 .. An
Subsets A1, A2, A3,… An etc are called Equivalence class.
The equivalence relation partitions the set A into mutually exclusive
equivalence classes.
• Let N be set of all natural number. n, m are members of N
• Let R be equivalence relation defined b/w n & m. (m & n leaves same
remainder when divided by 5).
• N = A1 + A2+ A3+ A4+ A5
• A1= {n; n is ∈ N, n leaves remainder 0 on division by 5}
• A2= {n; n is ∈ N, n leaves remainder 1 on division by 5}
• A3= {n; n is ∈ N, n leaves remainder 2 on division by 5}
• A4= {n; n is ∈ N, n leaves remainder 3 on division by 5}
• A5= {n; n is ∈ N, n leaves remainder 4 on division by 5}

Types of Functions
• One-one (or injective)
• Onto (or surjective),
• One-one and onto (or bijective)

Function : one-one (or injective)

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

• A function f : X → Y is defined to be one-one (or injective), if the

images of distinct elements of X under f are distinct, i.e., for every x1, x2
∈ X, f (x1) = f (x2) implies x1 = x2, otherwise many-one.

Function : many-one (Not injective)

• Function that is not one-one is many-one.

Function: onto (or surjective)

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

A function f : X → Y is said to be onto (or surjective), if every element of Y is the

image of some element of X under f, i.e., for every y ∈ Y, there exists an
element x in X such that f (x) = y.

Function :Not onto

Function : one-one and onto (or bijective)

A function f : X → Y is said to be one-one and onto (or bijective), if f is both
one-one and onto.

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Numerical: Let A be the set of all 50 students of Class X in a school. Let f : A

→N be function defined by f (x) = roll number of the student x. Show that f is
one-one but not onto.
Solution: Every student in the class has unique roll number, so it is 1-1.
Only roll number 1-50 is assigned to students. Other roll numbers 51 onwards
are free & don’t point to any student, so it is not onto.

Composition of functions

Let f : A → B and g : B → C be two functions. Then the composition of f and g,

denoted by gof, is defined as the function gof : A → C given by gof (x) = g(f (x)),
∀ x ∈ A.

It can be verified in general that gof is one-one implies that f is one-one.

Similarly, gof is onto implies that g is onto.

Numerical: Let f : {2, 3, 4, 5} → {3, 4, 5, 9} and g : {3, 4, 5, 9} → {7, 11, 15} be

functions defined as f (2) = 3, f (3) = 4, f(4) = f (5) = 5 and g (3) = g (4) = 7 and g
(5) = g (9) = 11. Find gof.
Solution:

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

gof(2) = g(3) = 7
gof(3) = g(4) = 7
gof(4) = g(5) = 11
gof(5) = g(5) = 11
Invertible Functions
A function f : X → Y is defined to be invertible, if there exists a function g : Y →
X such that gof = IX and fog = IY. The function g is called the inverse of f and is
denoted by f –1.
Thus, if f is invertible, then f must be one-one and onto and conversely, if f is
one-one and onto, then f must be invertible
Numerical: Let f : N → Y be a function defined as f (x) = 4x + 3, where, Y = {y ∈
N: y = 4x + 3 for some x ∈ N}. Show that f is invertible. Find the inverse
Solution: In case we need not find inverse, then we can just show that the
functions are one-one & onto. In this case inverse has to be found as well, so
lets find gof & gof, & see if they are equal.
Given that Y = {y ∈ N: y = 4x + 3 for some x ∈ N}.
y = 4x + 3
or x = (y-3)/4
Given, f : N → Y f(x)=y , lets define g:y à N be g(y) =x , or g(y) = (y-3)/4
gof(x) = g(f(x)) = g(4x+3) =( 4x+3-3)/4 = x ---- replacing f(x) with 4x+3 since
f(x) = 4x+3
fog(y) = f(g(y)) = f(x) = y
Since gof = In & fog = In
So f is invertible. Function g is the inverse of f.

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

g:y à N be g(y) = (y-3)/4

Theorem 1 : If f : X → Y, g : Y → Z and h : Z → S are functions, then ho(gof ) =
(hog) o f.
Numerical: Consider f : N → N, g : N → N and h : N → R defined as f (x) = 2x, g
(y) = 3y + 4 and h (z) = sin z, ∀ x, y and z in N. Show that ho(gof ) = (hog) of.
Solution: LHS = ho(gof ) = ho(g(fx)) = ho(g(2x) ) = h(3*2x + 4) = h( 6x+ 4) =
sin ( 6x+4)
RHS = (hog) of = Hog(f(x)) = hog(2x) =h(g(2x)) = h(3*2x + 4) = h( 6x+ 4) = sin (
6x+4)
Thus LHS = RHS

Theorem 2: Let f : X → Y and g : Y → Z be two invertible functions. Then gof is

also invertible with (gof)–1 = f –1og–1
Numerical: Consider f : {1, 2, 3} → {a, b, c} and g : {a, b, c} → {apple, ball, cat}
defined as f (1) = a, f (2) = b, f (3) = c, g(a) = apple, g(b) = ball and g(c) = cat.
Show that f, g and gof are invertible. Find out f –1, g–1 and (gof)–1 and show that
(gof) –1 = f –1o g–1.
Solution: All F, G & gof are 1:1 & onto, so they are all invertible.

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Notice that (gof) –1 = f –1o g–1

Binary operations
Addition, multiplication, subtraction and division are examples of binary
operation, as ‘binary’ means two.
General binary operation is nothing but association of any pair of elements a, b
from X to another element of X.
A binary operation ∗ on a set A is a function ∗ : A × A → A. We denote ∗ (a, b)
by a ∗ b.

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Numerical: Show that subtraction and division are not binary operations on N ,
while addition & multiplication are binary operation on N. N * N à N
Solution:
Case 1: Addition. let’s see if N +N à N. Addition of two natural numbers gives
natural number. So this is true.
Case 2: Subtraction, let’s see if N -N à N. Subtraction of two natural numbers
need not be a natural number. Eg: 1 -5 = -4, which is not a Natural number.
Case 3: Multiplication. let’s see if N X N à N. Multiplication of two natural
numbers gives natural number. So this is true.
Case 4: Division, let’s see if N /N à N. Division of two natural numbers need
not be a natural number. Eg: 2/5 = 2/5, which is not a Natural number.

Commutative binary operation

A binary operation ∗ on the set X is called commutative, if a ∗ b = b ∗ a, for
every a, b ∈ X
Numerical: Show that ∗ : R × R→R defined by a ∗ b = a + 2b is not
commutative.
Solution: For commutative property to hold true a ∗ b = b ∗ a
LHS = a ∗ b = a + 2b
ROHS = b * a = b + 2a
Since LHS ≠ RSH, so commutative property is not true in this case
Associative Binary operation
Binary operation ∗ : A × A → A is said to be associative if (a ∗ b) ∗ c = a ∗ (b ∗ c),
∀ a, b, c, ∈ A.
Numerical: Show that ∗ : R × R → R given by a ∗ b → a + 2b is not associative.
Solution: For this function to be associative, (a ∗ b) ∗ c = a ∗ (b ∗ c),
LHS = (a ∗ b) ∗ c = (a+2b) * c = a + 2b + 2c

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

RHS = a ∗ (b ∗ c) = a * (b + 2c) = a + 2b + 4c
Since LHS ≠ RSH, so associative property is not true in this case
Identity Binary Operation
Given a binary operation ∗ : A × A → A, an element e ∈ A, if it exists, is called
identity for the operation ∗, if a ∗ e = a = e ∗ a, ∀ a ∈ A.
Numerical: Show that zero is the identity for addition on R and 1 is the identity
for multiplication on R. But there is no identity element for the operations – : R
× R → R and ÷ : R∗ × R∗ → R∗.
Solution: 0 + a = a+ 0 = a, so 0 is identity for addition operation in R
1 * a = a * 1 = a, so 1 is the identity for multiplication operation in R
There is no element e in R, such that a-e = e-a =a, so there is no identity for
subtraction operation in R
Similarly, There is no element e in R, such that a/e = e/a =a, so there is no
identity for division operation in R

Note: Zero is identity for the addition operation on R but it is not identity for
the addition operation on N, as 0 ∉ N. In fact the addition operation on N does
not have any identity.
Invertible Binary operation
Given a binary operation ∗ : A × A → A with the identity element e in A, an
element a ∈ A is said to be invertible with respect to the operation ∗, if there
exists an element b in A such that a ∗ b = e = b ∗ a and b is called the inverse of
a and is denoted by a–1.
Numerical: Show that – a is the inverse of a for the addition operation ‘+’ on R
and 1/ a is the inverse of a ≠ 0 for the multiplication operation ‘×’ on R.
Solution: -a + a = 0 = a + (-a) , so –a is inverse of a, where a ∈ R
1/a * a = 1 = a * 1/a where a ∈ {R-0}, for a=0 , this will not hold true

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Class 12 Mathematics | Relations And Functions | Notes

Thus -a is additive inverse of a & 1/a is multiplicative inverse of a.

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