High School

Choose the best answer for [tex]f(n) = n - 1[/tex], where [tex]n \in \mathbb{Z}[/tex].

A. This is not a function.
B. This is a function.
C. This is a one-to-one function.
D. This is an onto function.
E. This is a one-to-one and onto function.

Answer :

Final answer:

The function f(n) = n - 1, where n ∈ Z, is a well-defined, one-to-one function that outputs the previous integer for any given integer input.

Explanation:

The function f(n) = n - 1, where n ∈ Z, represents a linear function. It subtracts 1 from the input n, which means that for every integer n, the function will output the previous integer. For example, if n = 5, f(n) = 5 - 1 = 4. If n = -2, f(n) = -2 - 1 = -3.

Since the function is well-defined and every input has exactly one output, it is a function and not multiple-valued. The function is also one-to-one, meaning that different inputs always produce different outputs. However, it is not an onto function because not every integer can be obtained as an output of the function.

Therefore, the best answer for f(n) = n - 1 is b) This is a function.