1

If $A$ is a set with $m$ elements and $B$ a set with $n$ elements, how many functions are there from $A$ to $B$. If $m=n$ how many of them are bijections?

I got $n^m$ for my first answer.

I wasn't sure for the bijection bit is it just $n$?

Gold
  • 26,547
TimmyK
  • 111

2 Answers2

1

The number of functions from A to B is equal to the number of lists of m elements where each element of the list is an element of b. Since we have n choices for each the answer is $n^m$

For the second one we have that n=m. Call the elements of A: $a_1,a_2...a_n$. therefore the number of bijections from A to B is the number of lists where $b_\in B$ of the form $b_1,b_2...b_n$ such that if $x\neq$ y then $b_x \neq b_y$

But this is just the number of permutations of n elements which is $n!$

Because we have n choices for the first element, n-1 choices for the second, and in general $n-k+1$ choices for the $k$'th element.

Asinomás
  • 105,651
1

Your first answer is right, but your second answer is wrong. Just try with $n = 3$ to see what happens. From there you should be able to guess the right answer.

J.-E. Pin
  • 40,163