Thomas' Calculus 13th Edition

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32187-896-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32187-896-0

Chapter 7: Transcendental Functions - Section 7.1 - Inverse Functions and Their Derivatives - Exercises 7.1 - Page 374: 58

Answer

$g$ must be one-to-one if $f\circ g$ is one-to-one. (see proof below)

Work Step by Step

Let us suppose that g is not one-to-one and $f\circ g $ is. Not being one-to-one means that there exist two distinct values $x_{1}\neq x_{2}$ for which $g(x_{1})=g(x_{2})=c$. But then $f[g(x_{1})]=f(c)$ and $f[g(x_{2})]=f(c)$, meaning that $(f\circ g)(x_{1})= (f\circ g)(x_{2})$, even though $x_{1}\neq x_{2}$. This is a contradiction to $f\circ g$ being one-to-one. So, assuming that g is not one-to-one has lead us to a contradiction. The assumption is wrong, and it must be that the opposite is true. $g$ is one-to-one.
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