1

I meet with term 'empty function' from time to time. It's high time to understand its nature. What is field( set of arguments) and what is image? ( set of value)?

user180834
  • 1,453

1 Answers1

2

The set theoretic definition of a function $f:A\rightarrow B$ is a special type of binary relation. I.e. it is a subset of $A \times B$. The empty set is also a subset of $A \times B$ and is defined as the empty function.

  • 2
    This correctly defines "empty relation", not empty function. A function needs to be defined, uniquely, on each element of the domain. – vadim123 Oct 20 '14 at 16:25
  • 1
    Yeah, specifically the empty relation is a function iff $A$ is empty. – Seth Oct 20 '14 at 16:28