Does this formalism adequately describe functions of one variable?












2












$begingroup$


Let $f$ be a function mapping every element of a set $X$ to a unique element denoted by $f(x)$ in a set $Y$.



Can this statement be effectively formalized by




$forall a (ain X implies f(a) in Y)$




What logical aspects of functionality, if any, would not be captured by this statement.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Do you just mean that $f$ is well-defined (not one-to-many), or that $f$ is a constant function, that is, all elements of $X$ map to the same unique element of $Y$?
    $endgroup$
    – bounceback
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Seems like you're missing the uniqueness of $f(a)$ given $a$.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall It is trivial to show that $forall a (ain X implies f(a)=f(a))$
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Why is that? Why can't I have two different $f(a)$'s, each one making your implication true?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall If $f(a)=b$ and $f(a)=c$, by substitution have $b=c$. Thus $f(a)$ can have only a single value.
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago
















2












$begingroup$


Let $f$ be a function mapping every element of a set $X$ to a unique element denoted by $f(x)$ in a set $Y$.



Can this statement be effectively formalized by




$forall a (ain X implies f(a) in Y)$




What logical aspects of functionality, if any, would not be captured by this statement.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Do you just mean that $f$ is well-defined (not one-to-many), or that $f$ is a constant function, that is, all elements of $X$ map to the same unique element of $Y$?
    $endgroup$
    – bounceback
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Seems like you're missing the uniqueness of $f(a)$ given $a$.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall It is trivial to show that $forall a (ain X implies f(a)=f(a))$
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Why is that? Why can't I have two different $f(a)$'s, each one making your implication true?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall If $f(a)=b$ and $f(a)=c$, by substitution have $b=c$. Thus $f(a)$ can have only a single value.
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago














2












2








2





$begingroup$


Let $f$ be a function mapping every element of a set $X$ to a unique element denoted by $f(x)$ in a set $Y$.



Can this statement be effectively formalized by




$forall a (ain X implies f(a) in Y)$




What logical aspects of functionality, if any, would not be captured by this statement.










share|cite|improve this question











$endgroup$




Let $f$ be a function mapping every element of a set $X$ to a unique element denoted by $f(x)$ in a set $Y$.



Can this statement be effectively formalized by




$forall a (ain X implies f(a) in Y)$




What logical aspects of functionality, if any, would not be captured by this statement.







functions elementary-set-theory logic






share|cite|improve this question















share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question








edited 5 hours ago







Dan Christensen

















asked 6 hours ago









Dan ChristensenDan Christensen

8,63821835




8,63821835












  • $begingroup$
    Do you just mean that $f$ is well-defined (not one-to-many), or that $f$ is a constant function, that is, all elements of $X$ map to the same unique element of $Y$?
    $endgroup$
    – bounceback
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Seems like you're missing the uniqueness of $f(a)$ given $a$.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall It is trivial to show that $forall a (ain X implies f(a)=f(a))$
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Why is that? Why can't I have two different $f(a)$'s, each one making your implication true?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall If $f(a)=b$ and $f(a)=c$, by substitution have $b=c$. Thus $f(a)$ can have only a single value.
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Do you just mean that $f$ is well-defined (not one-to-many), or that $f$ is a constant function, that is, all elements of $X$ map to the same unique element of $Y$?
    $endgroup$
    – bounceback
    6 hours ago






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Seems like you're missing the uniqueness of $f(a)$ given $a$.
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall It is trivial to show that $forall a (ain X implies f(a)=f(a))$
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    6 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Why is that? Why can't I have two different $f(a)$'s, each one making your implication true?
    $endgroup$
    – Randall
    5 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Randall If $f(a)=b$ and $f(a)=c$, by substitution have $b=c$. Thus $f(a)$ can have only a single value.
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago
















$begingroup$
Do you just mean that $f$ is well-defined (not one-to-many), or that $f$ is a constant function, that is, all elements of $X$ map to the same unique element of $Y$?
$endgroup$
– bounceback
6 hours ago




$begingroup$
Do you just mean that $f$ is well-defined (not one-to-many), or that $f$ is a constant function, that is, all elements of $X$ map to the same unique element of $Y$?
$endgroup$
– bounceback
6 hours ago




1




1




$begingroup$
Seems like you're missing the uniqueness of $f(a)$ given $a$.
$endgroup$
– Randall
6 hours ago




$begingroup$
Seems like you're missing the uniqueness of $f(a)$ given $a$.
$endgroup$
– Randall
6 hours ago












$begingroup$
@Randall It is trivial to show that $forall a (ain X implies f(a)=f(a))$
$endgroup$
– Dan Christensen
6 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Randall It is trivial to show that $forall a (ain X implies f(a)=f(a))$
$endgroup$
– Dan Christensen
6 hours ago












$begingroup$
Why is that? Why can't I have two different $f(a)$'s, each one making your implication true?
$endgroup$
– Randall
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
Why is that? Why can't I have two different $f(a)$'s, each one making your implication true?
$endgroup$
– Randall
5 hours ago












$begingroup$
@Randall If $f(a)=b$ and $f(a)=c$, by substitution have $b=c$. Thus $f(a)$ can have only a single value.
$endgroup$
– Dan Christensen
5 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Randall If $f(a)=b$ and $f(a)=c$, by substitution have $b=c$. Thus $f(a)$ can have only a single value.
$endgroup$
– Dan Christensen
5 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















3












$begingroup$

Given two non-empty sets $A$ and $B$, we say that the binary relation $fsubset Atimes B$ is a function from $A$ to $B$ if and only if
begin{align*}
(forall ain A)(exists!bin B)quadtext{such that}quad(a,b)in f
end{align*}






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    I am familiar with the that particular formalism.Could you comment on the one I presented here?
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago












  • $begingroup$
    I guess the heading wasn't very clear. I have changed it.
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago



















3












$begingroup$

For a more or less standard FOL, as is typically used to formalize, e.g., ZFC set theory, writing $f(a)$ already implies that $f$ is a function. Your statement would merely add that the image of $X$ is contained in $Y$. If that's all you want, then this is fine.



Fixing $ain X$, if $f$ is a set-theoretic function, as opposed to a logical function symbol, then $f(a)in Y$ would mean something like $exists yin Y.(a,y)in f$. This would imply $f$ is a total relation on $X$, but not that it is functional which would just add that such a $y$ has to be unique. This is the point of Randall's comments. Without the uniqueness constraint, $f$ could readily be a relation that relates $a$ to multiple elements of $Y$. Your argument that you can "trivially" show $f(a)=f(a)$ doesn't work when $f$ is not a function symbol. There is no term $f(a)$ in this context.1 Instead $f(x)=y$ is interpreted as $(x,y)in f$, so in your case you'd get $f(a)=f(a)$ means $(a,f(a))in f$ means $exists b.(a,b)in fland(a,b)in f$ which is, of course, equivalent to just $exists b.(a,b)in f$ which in no way states that that $b$ is unique.



$f$ may still not be a function since we haven't said anything about how it behaves outside of $X$. You can add an additional constraint: $forall a,b.(a,b)in fimplies ain X$ which would say that $f$ is only "defined" on $X$. In APC89's answer, this is accomplished by requiring $fsubset Xtimes Y$.



If you just want to specify that a binary relation $f$ is a function $X$ to $Y$, then APC89's answer provides the more or less standard definition for this, except for the unnecessary insistence that $X$ and $Y$ be non-empty. (Of course, if $Y$ is empty and $X$ is non-empty, there won't actually be any functions from $X$ to $Y$. On the other hand, $X$ being empty causes no problems at all.)



1 If your logic has a definite description quantifier, you could say it is the term $iota b.(a,b)in f$, but this also would require $f$ to separately be shown to be a functional relation for this to give a useful result.






share|cite|improve this answer











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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes









    3












    $begingroup$

    Given two non-empty sets $A$ and $B$, we say that the binary relation $fsubset Atimes B$ is a function from $A$ to $B$ if and only if
    begin{align*}
    (forall ain A)(exists!bin B)quadtext{such that}quad(a,b)in f
    end{align*}






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      I am familiar with the that particular formalism.Could you comment on the one I presented here?
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago












    • $begingroup$
      I guess the heading wasn't very clear. I have changed it.
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago
















    3












    $begingroup$

    Given two non-empty sets $A$ and $B$, we say that the binary relation $fsubset Atimes B$ is a function from $A$ to $B$ if and only if
    begin{align*}
    (forall ain A)(exists!bin B)quadtext{such that}quad(a,b)in f
    end{align*}






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













    • $begingroup$
      I am familiar with the that particular formalism.Could you comment on the one I presented here?
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago












    • $begingroup$
      I guess the heading wasn't very clear. I have changed it.
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago














    3












    3








    3





    $begingroup$

    Given two non-empty sets $A$ and $B$, we say that the binary relation $fsubset Atimes B$ is a function from $A$ to $B$ if and only if
    begin{align*}
    (forall ain A)(exists!bin B)quadtext{such that}quad(a,b)in f
    end{align*}






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    Given two non-empty sets $A$ and $B$, we say that the binary relation $fsubset Atimes B$ is a function from $A$ to $B$ if and only if
    begin{align*}
    (forall ain A)(exists!bin B)quadtext{such that}quad(a,b)in f
    end{align*}







    share|cite|improve this answer












    share|cite|improve this answer



    share|cite|improve this answer










    answered 6 hours ago









    APC89APC89

    2,443420




    2,443420












    • $begingroup$
      I am familiar with the that particular formalism.Could you comment on the one I presented here?
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago












    • $begingroup$
      I guess the heading wasn't very clear. I have changed it.
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago


















    • $begingroup$
      I am familiar with the that particular formalism.Could you comment on the one I presented here?
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago












    • $begingroup$
      I guess the heading wasn't very clear. I have changed it.
      $endgroup$
      – Dan Christensen
      5 hours ago
















    $begingroup$
    I am familiar with the that particular formalism.Could you comment on the one I presented here?
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago






    $begingroup$
    I am familiar with the that particular formalism.Could you comment on the one I presented here?
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago














    $begingroup$
    I guess the heading wasn't very clear. I have changed it.
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    I guess the heading wasn't very clear. I have changed it.
    $endgroup$
    – Dan Christensen
    5 hours ago











    3












    $begingroup$

    For a more or less standard FOL, as is typically used to formalize, e.g., ZFC set theory, writing $f(a)$ already implies that $f$ is a function. Your statement would merely add that the image of $X$ is contained in $Y$. If that's all you want, then this is fine.



    Fixing $ain X$, if $f$ is a set-theoretic function, as opposed to a logical function symbol, then $f(a)in Y$ would mean something like $exists yin Y.(a,y)in f$. This would imply $f$ is a total relation on $X$, but not that it is functional which would just add that such a $y$ has to be unique. This is the point of Randall's comments. Without the uniqueness constraint, $f$ could readily be a relation that relates $a$ to multiple elements of $Y$. Your argument that you can "trivially" show $f(a)=f(a)$ doesn't work when $f$ is not a function symbol. There is no term $f(a)$ in this context.1 Instead $f(x)=y$ is interpreted as $(x,y)in f$, so in your case you'd get $f(a)=f(a)$ means $(a,f(a))in f$ means $exists b.(a,b)in fland(a,b)in f$ which is, of course, equivalent to just $exists b.(a,b)in f$ which in no way states that that $b$ is unique.



    $f$ may still not be a function since we haven't said anything about how it behaves outside of $X$. You can add an additional constraint: $forall a,b.(a,b)in fimplies ain X$ which would say that $f$ is only "defined" on $X$. In APC89's answer, this is accomplished by requiring $fsubset Xtimes Y$.



    If you just want to specify that a binary relation $f$ is a function $X$ to $Y$, then APC89's answer provides the more or less standard definition for this, except for the unnecessary insistence that $X$ and $Y$ be non-empty. (Of course, if $Y$ is empty and $X$ is non-empty, there won't actually be any functions from $X$ to $Y$. On the other hand, $X$ being empty causes no problems at all.)



    1 If your logic has a definite description quantifier, you could say it is the term $iota b.(a,b)in f$, but this also would require $f$ to separately be shown to be a functional relation for this to give a useful result.






    share|cite|improve this answer











    $endgroup$


















      3












      $begingroup$

      For a more or less standard FOL, as is typically used to formalize, e.g., ZFC set theory, writing $f(a)$ already implies that $f$ is a function. Your statement would merely add that the image of $X$ is contained in $Y$. If that's all you want, then this is fine.



      Fixing $ain X$, if $f$ is a set-theoretic function, as opposed to a logical function symbol, then $f(a)in Y$ would mean something like $exists yin Y.(a,y)in f$. This would imply $f$ is a total relation on $X$, but not that it is functional which would just add that such a $y$ has to be unique. This is the point of Randall's comments. Without the uniqueness constraint, $f$ could readily be a relation that relates $a$ to multiple elements of $Y$. Your argument that you can "trivially" show $f(a)=f(a)$ doesn't work when $f$ is not a function symbol. There is no term $f(a)$ in this context.1 Instead $f(x)=y$ is interpreted as $(x,y)in f$, so in your case you'd get $f(a)=f(a)$ means $(a,f(a))in f$ means $exists b.(a,b)in fland(a,b)in f$ which is, of course, equivalent to just $exists b.(a,b)in f$ which in no way states that that $b$ is unique.



      $f$ may still not be a function since we haven't said anything about how it behaves outside of $X$. You can add an additional constraint: $forall a,b.(a,b)in fimplies ain X$ which would say that $f$ is only "defined" on $X$. In APC89's answer, this is accomplished by requiring $fsubset Xtimes Y$.



      If you just want to specify that a binary relation $f$ is a function $X$ to $Y$, then APC89's answer provides the more or less standard definition for this, except for the unnecessary insistence that $X$ and $Y$ be non-empty. (Of course, if $Y$ is empty and $X$ is non-empty, there won't actually be any functions from $X$ to $Y$. On the other hand, $X$ being empty causes no problems at all.)



      1 If your logic has a definite description quantifier, you could say it is the term $iota b.(a,b)in f$, but this also would require $f$ to separately be shown to be a functional relation for this to give a useful result.






      share|cite|improve this answer











      $endgroup$
















        3












        3








        3





        $begingroup$

        For a more or less standard FOL, as is typically used to formalize, e.g., ZFC set theory, writing $f(a)$ already implies that $f$ is a function. Your statement would merely add that the image of $X$ is contained in $Y$. If that's all you want, then this is fine.



        Fixing $ain X$, if $f$ is a set-theoretic function, as opposed to a logical function symbol, then $f(a)in Y$ would mean something like $exists yin Y.(a,y)in f$. This would imply $f$ is a total relation on $X$, but not that it is functional which would just add that such a $y$ has to be unique. This is the point of Randall's comments. Without the uniqueness constraint, $f$ could readily be a relation that relates $a$ to multiple elements of $Y$. Your argument that you can "trivially" show $f(a)=f(a)$ doesn't work when $f$ is not a function symbol. There is no term $f(a)$ in this context.1 Instead $f(x)=y$ is interpreted as $(x,y)in f$, so in your case you'd get $f(a)=f(a)$ means $(a,f(a))in f$ means $exists b.(a,b)in fland(a,b)in f$ which is, of course, equivalent to just $exists b.(a,b)in f$ which in no way states that that $b$ is unique.



        $f$ may still not be a function since we haven't said anything about how it behaves outside of $X$. You can add an additional constraint: $forall a,b.(a,b)in fimplies ain X$ which would say that $f$ is only "defined" on $X$. In APC89's answer, this is accomplished by requiring $fsubset Xtimes Y$.



        If you just want to specify that a binary relation $f$ is a function $X$ to $Y$, then APC89's answer provides the more or less standard definition for this, except for the unnecessary insistence that $X$ and $Y$ be non-empty. (Of course, if $Y$ is empty and $X$ is non-empty, there won't actually be any functions from $X$ to $Y$. On the other hand, $X$ being empty causes no problems at all.)



        1 If your logic has a definite description quantifier, you could say it is the term $iota b.(a,b)in f$, but this also would require $f$ to separately be shown to be a functional relation for this to give a useful result.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$



        For a more or less standard FOL, as is typically used to formalize, e.g., ZFC set theory, writing $f(a)$ already implies that $f$ is a function. Your statement would merely add that the image of $X$ is contained in $Y$. If that's all you want, then this is fine.



        Fixing $ain X$, if $f$ is a set-theoretic function, as opposed to a logical function symbol, then $f(a)in Y$ would mean something like $exists yin Y.(a,y)in f$. This would imply $f$ is a total relation on $X$, but not that it is functional which would just add that such a $y$ has to be unique. This is the point of Randall's comments. Without the uniqueness constraint, $f$ could readily be a relation that relates $a$ to multiple elements of $Y$. Your argument that you can "trivially" show $f(a)=f(a)$ doesn't work when $f$ is not a function symbol. There is no term $f(a)$ in this context.1 Instead $f(x)=y$ is interpreted as $(x,y)in f$, so in your case you'd get $f(a)=f(a)$ means $(a,f(a))in f$ means $exists b.(a,b)in fland(a,b)in f$ which is, of course, equivalent to just $exists b.(a,b)in f$ which in no way states that that $b$ is unique.



        $f$ may still not be a function since we haven't said anything about how it behaves outside of $X$. You can add an additional constraint: $forall a,b.(a,b)in fimplies ain X$ which would say that $f$ is only "defined" on $X$. In APC89's answer, this is accomplished by requiring $fsubset Xtimes Y$.



        If you just want to specify that a binary relation $f$ is a function $X$ to $Y$, then APC89's answer provides the more or less standard definition for this, except for the unnecessary insistence that $X$ and $Y$ be non-empty. (Of course, if $Y$ is empty and $X$ is non-empty, there won't actually be any functions from $X$ to $Y$. On the other hand, $X$ being empty causes no problems at all.)



        1 If your logic has a definite description quantifier, you could say it is the term $iota b.(a,b)in f$, but this also would require $f$ to separately be shown to be a functional relation for this to give a useful result.







        share|cite|improve this answer














        share|cite|improve this answer



        share|cite|improve this answer








        edited 4 hours ago

























        answered 4 hours ago









        Derek ElkinsDerek Elkins

        17k11437




        17k11437






























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