RELATIONS AND FUNCTIONS

KEY POINTS:

RELATION:
1. If n(A) = p and n(B) = q, then no. of relations from set A to set B are 2pXq
2. If n(A) = 1 then no. of equivalence relations are 1
3. If n(A) = 2 then no. of equivalence relations are 2
4. If n(A) = 3 then no. of equivalence relations are 5
5. If n(A) = 4 then no. of equivalence relations are 15
6. If n(A) = 5 then no. of equivalence relations are 52
𝟐
7. Number of reflexive relations are possible on a set A = 𝟐𝒑 𝒑 .
𝒑𝟐 𝒑
8. Number of symmetric relations are possible on set A = 𝟐 𝟐 .
FUNCTION :
If A and B are two non-empty finite sets containing m and n elements respectively, then
9. No. of functions from A to B = nm
𝒏!
, 𝒊𝒇 𝒏 ≥ 𝒎
10. No. of one-one functions set A to set B are (𝒏 𝒎)!
𝟎, 𝒊𝒇 𝒏 < 𝒎
∑𝒏𝒓 𝟏(−𝟏)𝒏 𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝒎 ≥ 𝒏. n
11. No. of onto functions set A to set B are Pm
𝟎, 𝒊𝒇 𝒎 < 𝒏
m
12. If n = 2 and m ≥ 𝟐, then the no. of onto functions from set A to set B = 2 – 2.
13. If n = 3 and m ≥ 𝟑, then no. of onto functions fro set A to set B are 3m-3(2m- 1).
14. No. of one-one and onto functions ( bijective functions) from set A to set B are
𝒎!, 𝒊𝒇 𝒎 = 𝒏.
𝟎, 𝒊𝒇 𝒎 ≠ 𝒏.
15. No. of one-one and onto functions from set A to A which contains n elements, are 𝒏!.

MCQs Questions
1. The function f : A → B defined by f(x) = 4x + 7, x ∈ R is
(a) one-one (b) Many-one (c) Odd (d) Even
2. The smallest integer function f(x) = [x] is
(a) One-one (b) Many-one (c) Both (a) & (b) (d) None of these
3. The function f : R → R defined by f(x) = 3 – 4x is
(a) Onto (b) Not onto (c) None one-one (d) None of these

4. The number of bijective functions from set A to itself when A contains 106 elements is
(a) 106 (b) (106)2 (c) 106! (d) 2106

5. Let us define a relation R in R as a R b if a ≥ b. Then R is

(a) an equivalence relation (b) reflexive, transitive but not symmetric
(c) symmetric, transitive but not reflexive

(d) neither transitive nor reflexive but symmetric

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6. Let A = {1, 2, 3} and consider the relation R = {(1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), (1, 2), (2, 3), (1, 3)}.
Then R is
(a) reflexive but not symmetric (b) reflexive but not transitive
(c) symmetric and transitive (d) neither symmetric nor transitive

7. Let f : R → R be defined by f(x) = 1/x ∀ x ∈ R. Then f is

(a) one-one (b) onto (c) bijective (d) f is not defined

8. Which of the following functions from Z into Z are bijective?

(a) f(x) = x3 (b) f(x) = x + 2 (c) f(x) = 2x +1 (d) f(x) = x2 + 1

9. Let R be a relation on the set N of natural numbers denoted by nRm ⇔ n is a factor

of m (i.e. n | m). Then, R is
(a) Reflexive and symmetric (b) Transitive and symmetric
(c) Equivalence (d) Reflexive, transitive but not symmetric

10. Let S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and let A = S × S. Define the relation R on A as follows:

(a, b) R (c, d) iff ad = cb. Then, R is
(a) reflexive only (b) Symmetric only
(c) Transitive only (d) Equivalence relation

11. Let R be the relation “is congruent to” on the set of all triangles in a plane is
(a) reflexive (b) symmetric
(c) symmetric and reflexive (d) equivalence

12. Total number of equivalence relations defined in the set S = {a, b, c} is

(a) 5 (b) 3! (c) 23 (d) 33

13. Let X = {-1, 0, 1}, Y = {0, 2} and a function f : X → Y defined by y = 2x4, is

(a) one-one onto (b) one-one into
(c) many-one onto (d) many-one into

| |
14. Let f : R → R be a function defined by f(x)= then f(x) is
(a) one-one onto (b) one-one but not onto
(c) onto but not one-one (d) None of these

15. Let g(x) = x2 – 4x – 5, then

(a) g is one-one on R (b) g is not one-one on R
(c) g is bijective on R (d) None of these

16. Let A = R – {3}, B = R – {1}. Let f : A → B be defined by f(x)= . Then,

(a) f is bijective (b) f is one-one but not onto
(c) f is onto but not one-one (d) None of these

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17. The mapping f: N → N is given by f(n) = 1 + n2, n ∈ N when N is the set of natural
numbers is
(a) one-one and onto (b) onto but not one-one
(c) one-one but not onto (d) neither one-one nor onto

18. The function f : R → R given by f(x) = x3 – 1 is

(a) a one-one function (b) an onto function
(c) a bijection nP (d) neither one-one nor onto
m

19. Let f : [0, ∞) → [0, 2] be defined by f(x)=2x/1+x, then f is

(a) one-one but not onto (b) onto but not one-one
(c) both one-one and onto (d) neither one-one nor onto

20. If N be the set of all-natural numbers, consider f: N → N such that f(x) = 2x, ∀ x ∈ N,
then f is
(a) one-one onto (b) one-one into
(c) many-one onto (d) None of these

21. Let A = {x: -1 ≤ x ≤ 1} and f: A → A is a function defined by f(x) = x |x| then f is

(a) a bijection (b) injection but not surjection
(c) surjection but not injection (d) neither injection nor surjection
22. Let f: R → R be a function defined by f(x) = x 3 + 4, then f is
(a) injective (b) surjective (c) bijective (d) none of these

23. Let A = {1, 2, 3, ….n} and B = {a, b}. then number of surjections from A to B is :

(a) nP2 (b) 2n – 1 (c) 2n – 2 (d) none of these

24. Set A 3 elements and the set B has 4 elements then number of injections that can be
defined from set A to set B is

(a) 120 (b) 24 (c) 144 (d) 64

25. If A = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {a, b} then the number of onto functions from A to B is

(a) 0 (b) 25 – 1 (c) 25 – 2 (d) none of these

, 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛
26. If f : N → W is defined as f(n) = then f is
0, 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑

(a) injective only (b) surjective only

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(c) a bijection (d) neither surjective nor injective

ASSERTION AND REASONS:

1. ASSERTION(A): Let Z be the set of integers, A function f: Z→ Z defined as f(x) = 3x -5, ∀ x ∈

Z, is a bijective.
REASON(R): A function is a bijective if it is both injective and surjective.
2. ASSERTION(A): Let A = A = {x ∈ R: -1 ≤ x ≤ 1}. If f: A→ A be defined as f(x) = x2, then f
is not onto function.
REASON(R): if y = -1 ∈A, then x = ±√−1 ∉ A.

Descriptive questions:
1. Determine the relation on a set A = {1, 2, 3, ……….14} defined as R = {(x, y): 3x – y =
0} is reflexive, symmetric and transitive.
2. Show that the relation R on the set R of all real numbers, defined as
R = {(a, b): a≤ 𝑏 } is neither reflexive nor symmetric nor transitive.
3. Show that the relation R on the set A = {x∈ 𝑍: 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 12} = {0,1,2, … … … .12}, 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝑅 =
{(𝑎, 𝑏): |𝑎 − 𝑏|𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 4} is an equivalence relation. Find the set of all elements related
to 1.
4. Find the maximum number of equivalence relations on the set A = {1, 2, 3}?
5. Let R be the relation defined on the set of natural number N as R = {(x, y) : 𝑥 ∈ 𝑁, 𝑦 ∈ 𝑁
and 2x + y = 24}. Then, find the domain and range of the relation R. also, find whether R
is an equivalence relation or not.
6. Let N denotes the set of all natural numbers and R be the relation on N X N defined by (a,
b) ∈ 𝑅 (c, d) if ad(b + c) = bc(a + d). prove that R is an equivalence relation.
7. Let A = {x∈ 𝑍 ∶ 0 ≤ 12}. Shoe that R = {(a, b): a, b ∈ 𝐴, |a – b| is divisible by 4} is an
equivalence relation. Find the set of all elements related to 1. Also, write the equivalence
class [2].
8. Find the domain of the function f(x) = √64 − 𝑥 .
9. If f : R → 𝑅 be a function defined by f(x) = 4x3 + 7, then show that f is a bijection.
10. Consider f: R+→ [−5, ∞) given by f(x) = 9x2 + 6x – 5, show that f is both one-one and
onto.
11. If A = {1, 2, 3,…………, n} and B = {a, b}. then find the number of surjections from A
to B.
12. Show that the function f : R → 𝑅 defined by f(x) = is one-one but not onto.
13. State whether the function f : N→ 𝑁 given by f(x) = 5x is injective, surjective or both.
14. Let a function f : R → 𝑅 be defined by f(x) = cosx, ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅. Show that f is neither one-
one nor onto.
15. Let f : R → 𝑅 be the function defined by f(x) = ∀ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅. Then find the range of the
function f.
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑
16. Let f : N→ 𝑁 be defined as f(n) = for all n ∈ 𝑁.
, 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛
find whether the function f is bijective or not.

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17. Let A = {1, 2, 3, ……9} and R be the relation defined on A X A by (a, b) R (c, d), iff a +
d = b + c. prove that R is an equivalence relation. Also find the equivalence class [(2, 5)].
18. Let N be the set of natural numbers and R be the relation on N X N defined by (a, b) R (c,
d) iff ad = bc for all a, b, c, d ∈ N. Show that R is an equivalence relation.
19. Let Q be the set of rational numbers and R be the relation on Q defined by R = {(x, y) : x.
y ∈ Q, x2 + y2 = 5}.
20. Let A = R-[2] and B = R-[1]. Show that the function 𝑓: 𝐴 → 𝐵 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑓(𝑥) =
.
is bijective.
21. Find the number of one-one functions from set A = {1, 2, 3} to itself.
22. Consider the function 𝑓: 𝑅 − − → 𝑅 − { }given by
𝑓(𝑥) = . 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑖𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒.
23. State the reason for the relation R in the set {1, 2, 3} given by R = {(1, 2), (2,1)} not to be
transitive.
24. Check whether the relation R defined on the set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} as
R = {(a, b): b = a + 1} is reflexive, symmetric or transitive.
25. Show that the relation R on IR defined as R = {(a, b) : (a ≤ b)}, is reflexive and transitive
but not symmetric.
26. Prove that the function, f: N → N is defined by f(x) = x2 + x + 1 is one-one but not onto.
27. If f: W → W is defined as f(x) = x – 1, if x is odd and f(x) = x + 1, if x is even. Show that f is
bijective.
28. Consider f: R+ → [4, ∞) given by f(x) = x2 + 4. Show that f is bijective.
29. Show that f: N → N, given by

is bijective (both one-one and onto).

30. Let R is the equivalence relation in the set A = {0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5} given by R = {(a, b) : 2
divides (a – b)}. Write the equivalence class [0].

31. If R = {(x, y): x + 2y = 8} is a relation on N, then write the range of R.

32. If A = {1, 2, 3}, S = {4, 5,6, 7} and f = {(1, 4), (2, 5), (3, 6)} is a function from A to B.
State whether f is one-one or not. (All India 2011)

33. State the reason for the relation R in the set {1, 2, 3} given by R = {(1, 2), (2,1)} not
to be transitive.

34. 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 bijective.

35. Show that the relation R on IR defined as R = {(a, b) : (a ≤ b)}, is reflexive and
transitive but not symmetric.

36. Prove that the function, f : N → N is defined by f(x) = x2 + x + 1 is one-one but not
onto.

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37. Let f: N → N be a function defined as f(x) – 9x2 + 6x – 5. Show that f: N → S,
where S is the range of f, is bijective.

38. Check whether the relation S in the set of real numbers R defined by S = {(a, b) :
where a – b + √2 is an irrational number} is reflexive, symmetric or transitive.

39. Let A = R – {5} and B = R – {1}. Consider the function f: A → B, defined by

f(x) = . Show that f is one-one and onto.

40. Population Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analysing or

otherwise disseminating demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a
specific time, of all persons in a country or a well- defined part of a country.
Citizens are given a unique enrolment number after entering all particulars. A
family had three members denoted by the set A = {1, 2, 3} and let the set of
enrolment numbers be given by B= {4, 5, 6, 7}.

f = {(1, 4), (2, 5), (3, 6)} be a function from A to B. state whether f is one- one or
not.

41. The Earth has 24 time zones, defined by dividing the Earth into 24 equal
longitudinal segments. These are the regions on Earth that have the same
standard time. For example, USA and India fall in different time zones, but Sri
Lanka and India are in the same time zone.

A relation R is defined on the set U = {all people on the Earth} such that R = {(x, y):
the time difference between the time zones x and y reside in is 6 hours}.

(A) Check whether the relation R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive.

(B) Is relation R an equivalence relation?

42. A function f: R - {-1, 1} →R is defined by: f(x) = .

(a) Check if f is one-one. (b) Check if f is onto.

43. A class teacher wants to make different groups of students so that they can be
given different tasks of enlightening other about the effects of poor AQI (air
quality index) level. Students are making groups with friends but the teacher said
not like this, we will make a group of students with roll number in such a way that
the difference of roll number is divisible by 3.

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 Based on the given information, write the answers of the following questions:

(a) Name the properties which whole group should satisfy to get divided into
different groups (equivalence classes).

(b) Provide the relation for the roll number of students in the group of students
with roll number 5.

(c) Which roll number students will be in the group of students with roll number 5
if there are 30 students in the class?

(d) Which roll number students will be in the group of students with roll number 2,
if there are 20 students in the class?

44. Let A = R – {3} and B = R – {1}. Consider the function f: A → B, defined by

f(x) = . Check whether the function is bijective or not.

45. Prove that the function, f: R → R is defined by f(x) = 4x3 -5 ∀ x ∈ R is one-one and
onto.

46. Let R be the relation defined as a set N of natural numbers such that R = {(x, y):xy
is a square of a natural number, x, y ∈N}. determine if the relation R is an
equivalence relation.

47. A student wants to pair up natural numbers in such a way that they satisfy the
equation 2x + y = 41, x, y ∈N. find the domain and range of the relation, check if the
relation thus formed is reflexive, symmetric and transitive. Hence state whether it is
an equivalence relation or not.

Case based

1. A class room teacher is keen to asses the leaning of her students the concept of
“relations” taught to them. She writes the following five relations each defined in
the set A = {1, 2, 3};

R1= {(2, 3), (3, 2)}

R2= {(1, 2), (1, 3), (3, 2)}

R3= {(1, 2), (2, 1), (1, 1)}

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 R4= {(1, 1), (1, 2), (3, 3), (2, 2)}

R5= {(1, 1), (1, 2), (3, 3), (2, 2), (2, 1), (2, 3), (3, 2)}.

The students are asked to answer the following questions about the above
relations:

(i) Identify the relation in which, it is reflexive, transitive but not symmetric.

(ii) Identify the relation in which are reflexive but neither reflexive nor
transitive.

(iii) Identify the relation in which, it is reflexive, symmetric but not transitive.

(iv) What pairs should be added to the relation R2 to make it is an equivalence

relation?

2. Let A be the set of 30 students of class 12 in a school. Let f: A → N is a set of

natural numbers such that function f(x) = roll number of student x.

On the basis of given information, answer the following questions

(i) Is f a bijective function?

(ii) Give reasons to support your answer to (i).

(iii) Let R be a relation defined by the teacher to plan the seating plan
arrangement of students in pairs, where R = {(x, y): x, y are roll numbers
of students such that y = 3x} list the elements of R. is the relation R
reflexive, symmetric and transitive?

(iv) Let R be a relation defined by R = {(x, y): x, y are roll numbers of students
such that y = x3}. List the elements of R. is R a function?

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