functions

find the number of surjections from A to B where A={1,2,3,4} and B= {a,b,c} . please explain :)

8 Answers

1357
Manish Shankar ·

a surjection is an onto function

cases .. a is mapped by 2 elements of A.
b by 1 and c by 1

no of ways = 4C22C21C1

now this can be done in three ways.. in the sense that there could be 2 elements pointing to a or to b ro to c

hence 3. 4C22C21C1

1
archana anand ·

if b is mapped by 1 element then it ougth to b 2C1....i guess

1
Shriya ·

i think she is right ..if b is mapped by one element then it should be 2C1 but in that case answer would be 36 which is not even in the options Options are 10,18,14,16

66
kaymant ·

The answer is indeed 36.
In general, if set A has n elements and set B has m elements, where m\leq n, then the number of surjections from A to B is
\sum_{k=0}^m \ (-1)^k\binom{m}{k} (m-k)^n
Here, \binom{m}{k} is the binomial number mCk. For the present case, n=4 and m=3.

62
Lokesh Verma ·

cases .. a is mapped by 2 elements of A.
b by 1 and c by 1

no of ways = 4C22C11C1

now this can be done in three ways.. in the sense that there could be 2 elements pointing to a or to b ro to c

hence 3. 4C22C11C1
= 3.6.2=36

1
archana anand ·

but bhaiya shriya is sayin 36 is not in the option
luk#4

62
Lokesh Verma ·

the answer is no doubt wrong ..

1
archana anand ·

ok thanx

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