Question:medium

Let f be the subset of Z x Z defined by f = {(ab, a+b): a, b ∈ Z}. Is f a function from Z to Z? Justify your answer.

Updated On: Jan 27, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Given:

f ⊆ Z × Z defined by

f = { (ab, a + b) : a, b ∈ Z }


Step 1: Recall definition of a function

A relation f from Z to Z is a function if
for every element in the first component, there is one and only one corresponding element in the second component.


Step 2: Check uniqueness of image

Here, the first component is ab and the second component is a + b.

Consider the element 0 in Z.

If a = 0, b = 2:
ab = 0, a + b = 2
So, (0, 2) ∈ f

If a = 1, b = 0:
ab = 0, a + b = 1
So, (0, 1) ∈ f

Thus, the same first element 0 has two different images, 1 and 2.


Step 3: Conclusion

Since one element of Z has more than one image in Z,

the relation f does not satisfy the definition of a function.


Final Answer:

f is not a function from Z to Z,
because the same first element can correspond to different second elements.

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