In general, a function for which different inputs can produce the same output is called a many-to-one function. ... If a function is not many-to-one then it is said to be one-to-one. This means that each different input to the function yields a different output. Consider the function y(x) = x3 which is shown in Figure 14.

What is a many-to-one function example?

Example of a many-to-one function: y=x2

If we let x=0, we see that y2=4 and thus either y=2 or y=−2. This is a many-to-many relation because a single x-value relates to two different y-values. Therefore x2+y2=4 is not a function.

How do you determine if a function is many-to-one?

Use the Horizontal Line Test. If no horizontal line intersects the graph of the function f in more than one point, then the function is 1 -to- 1 . A function f has an inverse f−1 (read f inverse) if and only if the function is 1 -to- 1 .