# prove

• September 7th 2008, 11:14 AM
mandy123
prove
Assume that alpha: S-T, and beta: T-U, and gamma: T-U. Prove the following statement

If beta of alpha is invertible, then beta is onto and alpha is one-to-one
• September 7th 2008, 01:45 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by mandy123
Assume that alpha: S-T, and beta: T-U, and gamma: T-U. Prove the following statement

If beta of alpha is invertible, then beta is onto and alpha is one-to-one

i might as well give a full solution. the proof for this is all over the internet and is in most textbooks that deal with functions indepth. it might as well be on here...or ami just re-inventing the wheel? ...or maybe bored.

Proof:
We proceed using a direct proof. Assume $\beta \circ \alpha$ is invertible. Then $\beta \circ \alpha$ is one-to-one and onto (there is a theorem that tells us this, it should be in your text).

We show $\beta$ is onto: Let $z \in U$. Since $\beta \circ \alpha$ is onto, there exists $x \in S$ such that $(\beta \circ \alpha)(x) = z$. But that means $\beta (\alpha (x)) = z$ with $\alpha (x) \in T$. Thus $\beta$ is onto.

We show $\alpha$ is one-to-one: Assume $x_1, x_2 \in S$ with $\alpha (x_1) = \alpha (x_2)$. Then $\beta (\alpha (x_1)) = \beta (\alpha (x_2))$, or in other words, $(\beta \circ \alpha)(x_1) = (\beta \circ \alpha)(x_2)$. But $\beta \circ \alpha$ is one-to-one, so $(\beta \circ \alpha)(x_1) = (\beta \circ \alpha)(x_2) \implies x_1 = x_2$. Hence, $\alpha$ is one-to-one

QED