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1. One-to-many rules, many-to-one and one-to-one

functions
One-to-many rules
Recall from Section 2.1 that a rule for a function must produce a single output for a given input.
Not all rules satisfy this criterion. For example, the rule ‘take the square root of the input’ cannot be
a rule for a function because for a given input there are two outputs; an input of 4 produces outputs
of 2 and 2. Figure 10 shows two ways in which we can picture this situation, the first being a block
diagram, and the second using two sets representing input and output values and the relationship
between them.

e square ro
2 input take th ot output
take the square root
4 of the input
−2 2
√ 4
x −2
take the square root
x of the input √
− x

Figure 10: This rule cannot be a function - it is a one-to-many rule

Such a rule is described as a one-to-many rule. This means that one input produces more than
one output. This is obvious from inspecting the sets in Figure 10.
p
The graph of the rule ‘take ± x’ can be drawn by constructing a table of values:
Table 4

x 0 1 p2 p3 4
p
y=± x 0 ±1 ± 2 ± 3 ±2

The graph is shown in Figure 11(a). For each value of x there are two corresponding values of y.
Plotting a graph of a one-to-many rule will result in a curve through which a vertical line can be
drawn which cuts the curve more than once as you can see. The vertical line cuts the curve more
than once because there is more than one y value for each x value.

y y

x x

(a) (b)
Figure 11

HELM (2015): 21
Section 2.3: One-to-One and Inverse Functions
By describing a rule more carefully it is possible to make sure a single output results from a single
input, thereby defining a valid rule for a function. For example, the rule ‘take the positive square
root of the input’ is a valid function rule because a given input produces a single output. The graph
of this function is displayed in Figure 11(b).

Many-to-one and one-to-one functions

Consider the function y(x) = x2 . An input of x = 3 produces an output of 9. Similarly, an input of
3 also produces an output of 9. In general, a function for which di↵erent inputs can produce the
same output is called a many-to-one function. This is represented pictorially in Figure 12 from
which it is clear why we call this a many-to-one function.

input y = x2
output

−3
9
3

Figure 12: This represents a many-to-one function

Note that whilst this is many-to-one it is still a function since any chosen input value has only one
arrow emerging from it. Thus there is a single output for each input.
It is possible to decide if a function is many-to-one by examining its graph. Consider the graph of
y = x2 shown in Figure 13.

y
y = x2

x
−3 3

Figure 13: The function y = x2 is a many-to-one function

We see that a horizontal line drawn on the graph cuts it more than once. This means that two (or
more) di↵erent inputs have yielded the same output and so the function is many-to-one.
If a function is not many-to-one then it is said to be one-to-one. This means that each di↵erent
input to the function yields a di↵erent output.

Consider the function y(x) = x3 which is shown in Figure 14. A horizontal line drawn on this graph
will intersect the curve only once. This means that each input value of x yields a di↵erent output
value for y.

22 HELM (2015):
Workbook 2: Basic Functions
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y y = x3
10

x
−5 5

−10

Figure 14: The function y(x) = x3 is a one-to-one function

Tas k
Study the graphs shown in Figure 15. Decide which, if any, are graphs of functions.
For those which are, state if the function is one-to-one or many-to-one.

y y
a) y b) c)

x x
x

Figure 15

Your solution

Answer
(a) not a function, (b) one-to-one function, (c) many-to-one function

2. Inverse of a function
We have seen that a function can be regarded as taking an input, x, and processing it in some way
to produce a single output f (x) as shown in Figure 16(a). A natural question to ask is whether we
can find another function that will reverse the process. In other words, can we find a function that
will start with f (x) and process it to produce x again? This idea is also shown in Figure 16(b). If we
can find such a function it is called the inverse function to f (x) and is given the symbol f 1 (x).
Do not confuse the ‘ 1’ with an index, or power. Here the superscript is used purely as the notation
for the inverse function. Note that the composite function f 1 (f (x)) = x as shown in Figure 17.

HELM (2015): 23
Section 2.3: One-to-One and Inverse Functions
 f

x process f (x) (a)

f −1

f (x) reverse process x (b)

Figure 16: The second block reverse the process in the first

f f −1
f (x)
x process reverse process x

1
Figure 17: f reverses the process in f

Example 6
Find the inverse function to f (x) = 3x 8.

Solution
1
The given function takes an input, x and produces an output 3x 8. The inverse function, f ,
must take an input 3x 8 and give an output x. That is
1
f (3x 8) = x
If we introduce a new variable z = 3x 8, and transpose this for x to give
z+8 1z+8
x= then f (z) =
3 3
1 1
So the rule for f is add 8 to the input and divide the result by 3. Writing f with x as its
argument gives
1 x+8
f (x) =
3
This is the inverse function.

24 HELM (2015):
Workbook 2: Basic Functions
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Not all functions possess an inverse function. In fact, only one-to-one functions do so. If a function
is many-to-one the process to reverse it would require many outputs from one input contradicting
the definition of a function.

Tas k
Find the inverse of the function f (x) = 7 3x, using the fact that the inverse
function must take an input 7 3x and produce an output x. So f 1 (7 3x) = x

Introduce a new variable z so that z = 7 3x and transpose this to find x. Hence write down the
inverse function:
Your solution

Answer
1 7 z 1 7 x
f (z) = . With x as its argument the inverse function is f (x) = .
3 3

Exercises
1. Explain why a one-to-many rule cannot be a function.
2. Illustrate why y = x4 is a many-to-one function by providing a suitable example.
3. By sketching a graph of y = 3x 1 show that this is a one-to-one function.
4. Explain why a many-to-one function does not have an inverse function. Give an example.
5. Find the inverse of each of the following functions:
1
(a) f (x) = 4x + 7, (b) f (x) = x, (c) f (x) = 23x, (d) f (x) = .
x+1
Answers
1 x 7 1 1 x 1 1 x
5. (a) f (x) = , (b) f (x) = x, (c) f (x) = , (d) f (x) = .
4 23 x

HELM (2015): 25
Section 2.3: One-to-One and Inverse Functions