Determine whether f is a function from the set of all bit strings to the set of integers. Qustion:

Fletcher Hays

Fletcher Hays

Answered question

2022-06-16

Determine whether f is a function from the set of all bit strings to the set of integers.
Qustion: Determine whether f is a function from the set of all bit strings to the set of integers if
(a) f(S) is the position of a 0 bit in S.
(b) f(S) is the number of 1 bits in S.
(c) f(S) is the smallest integer i such that the ith bit of S is 1 and f ( S ) = 0 when S is the empty string, the string with no bits.
I did managed to solve this, but the similar solutions for all three questions make me quite unsure about my responses.
The following are my approaches:
(a) f(S) is either a surjective or onto function, as there always is an integer matching with the location of 0 in a bit string, and 0s may have same locations despite the overall bit string being different. Though, it's unsure whether all integers will having a matching value. It is still a function as it is a surjection.
(b) f(S) is either a surjective or onto function, as there always is an integer matching with the number of 1 bits in a bit string, and different bit strings may share the same number of 1 bits. Though, is unsure whether all integers will have a matching value. It is still a function as it is a surjection.
(c) f(S) is either a surjective or onto function, as there always is an integer matching with the "earliest" location of 1 bit in a string, and different bit strings may contain the "earliest" 1 bit on the same location. Though, it is unsure whether all integers will have a matching value. It is still a function as it is a surjection.
All questions seem to have similar responses with a slightly different supporting reason. Did I make a correct approach? What is the proper way of solution, and how should I correct my errors?

Answer & Explanation

kpgt1z

kpgt1z

Beginner2022-06-17Added 23 answers

Step 1
No, in (a), f is not a function. We expect a function f : A B to be a subset of A × B (also known as a relation between A and B) that satisfies two conditions:
1. For all a A, there exists some b B such that ( a , b ) f (f has full domain).
2. For all a A, if ( a , b ) f and ( a , b ) f, then b = b (f is well-defined, also known as the vertical line test in the context of real functions).
When both the above conditions hold, we can use function notation. Instead of writing ( a , b ) f, we can write f ( a ) = b instead. The first condition means that f(a) always means something when a lies in the domain A. The second condition means that f(a) means only one thing, so it's valid to conclude that if f ( a ) = b and f ( a ) = b , then b and b′ are the same thing.
In part (a), you do not have a well-defined function from the set of bitstrings (let's assume they are finite in length, just for the sake of clarity) to the set of integers. Indeed, both conditions are violated. Condition 1 is violated, as f(1111) has no value; 0 does not appear in any position of 1111, so f(1111) has no value according to the given definition.
Condition 2 is violated too, as f(010) has multiple values. We would have f ( 010 ) = 1 and f ( 010 ) = 3. Both 1 and 3 are positions in 010 that contain 0s, so the definition given of f does not produce a unique value. Our f is not well-defined.
Step 2
Either reason alone would be sufficient to conclude f is not a function. Compare and contrast with part (c), which is much like part (a), except dealing with 1s instead, and also dealing with the above problems. By choosing the earliest instance of a 1, we avoid the problems with the second case. Instead of f(101) having two values 1 and 3, it now just has the value 1. Also, by defining f(S) to have the value 0 when S has no 1s, it deals with the problems of the first case, so that f(S) always has a value. That's why f is a function in case (c).
Part (b) is also a function, indeed for the reason that "there always is an integer matching with the number of 1 bits in a bit string". That satisfies the first property. It's also worth noting that this number is unique (you can't have, for example 1 and 5 instances of 1 in your string!). That satisfies the second property. This makes (b) a function.
Finally, I just want to talk about surjections. Given the functions above are defined to the set of integers (including negative integers), and there is no way for these functions to take negative values, the functions are not surjections.

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