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Sets, Relations and Functions

GATE CSE 2014 Set 3 · Q49

MCQ2 marksMedium

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Consider the set of all functions f ⁣:{0,1,…,2014}→{0,1,…,2014}f\colon \{0, 1, \dots, 2014\} \to \{0, 1, \dots, 2014\} such that f(f(i))=if(f(i)) = i, for all 0≤i≤20140 \le i \le 2014. Consider the following statements: P.P. For each such function it must be the case that for every ii, f(i)=if(i) = i. Q.Q. For each such function it must be the case that for some ii, f(i)=if(i) = i. R.R. Each such function must be onto. Which one of the following is CORRECT?

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Solution

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Official answer: B) Only Q and R are true

Sets, Relations and Functions

Let S={0,1,…,2014}S = \{0, 1, \dots, 2014\}. The number of elements in SS is ∣S∣=2015|S| = 2015, which is odd.

  1. Statement RR: Since f(f(i))=if(f(i)) = i, ff is its own inverse (f=f−1f = f^{-1}). Thus, ff is a bijection, which means ff is both one-to-one (injective) and onto (surjective). Therefore, statement RR is true.

  2. Statement QQ: Since ff is an involution on a finite set, its cycle decomposition consists only of fixed points (1-cycles) and transpositions (2-cycles). Let kk be the number of 2-cycles and mm be the number of fixed points (elements where f(i)=if(i) = i). Then:

    2k+m=20152k + m = 2015

    Since 2k2k is even and 20152015 is odd, mm must be an odd integer, which means m≥1m \ge 1. Hence, there must exist at least one ii such that f(i)=if(i) = i. Therefore, statement QQ is true.

  3. Statement PP: PP claims that all elements must be fixed points (m=2015m = 2015). We can construct a valid function ff with f(0)=1f(0) = 1, f(1)=0f(1) = 0, and f(i)=if(i) = i for all i≥2i \ge 2. In this case, f(f(i))=if(f(i)) = i holds for all ii, but $f(0)

e 0$. Thus, statement PP is false.

Hence, Only QQ and RR are true, which corresponds to option (B).

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This Sets, Relations and Functions previous year question is Q49 of the GATE CSE 2014 Set 3 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Sets, Relations and Functions in Engineering Mathematics, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Sets, Relations and Functions in GATE CSE

Sets, Relations and Functions has 5 GATE CSE PYQs across 5 papers from 2014 to 2024. This is the only 2-mark MCQ among them, and it is the only one in GATE CSE 2014 Set 3.

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GateAI solution cardGATE CSE 2014 Set 3 · Q49 · MCQ

Consider the set of all functions f {0, 1, , 2014} → {0, 1, , 2014} such that f(f(i)) = i, for all 0 ≤ i ≤ 2014. Consider the following statements: P. For each such function it must be the case that for every i, f(i) = i. Q. For each such function it must be the case that for some i, f(i) = i. R. Each such function must be onto. Which one of the following is CORRECT?

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Independent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.