Common questions about Function (mathematics)

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did Leonhard Euler introduce the notation f(x) for functions?

Leonhard Euler introduced the notation f(x) in 1734. This notation became the universal language of mathematics and remains the standard today.

Who proposed the modern definition of a function in 1837?

Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet proposed the modern definition of a function in 1837. He stated that a function is simply an association of one output to each input regardless of whether that association can be described by a formula or drawn as a curve.

What is the vertical line test used for in mathematics?

The vertical line test provides a simple geometric criterion to determine if a relation is a function. If any vertical line intersects the graph at more than one point, the relation is not a function.

When were the terms injective surjective and bijective coined?

The terms injective surjective and bijective were originally coined by the Bourbaki group in the second quarter of the 20th century. These terms replaced older phrases like one-to-one and onto in advanced mathematics.

What is the relationship between the domain of the Riemann zeta function and the Riemann hypothesis?

Finding the domain of the multiplicative inverse of the Riemann zeta function is more or less equivalent to proving or disproving the Riemann hypothesis. The Riemann hypothesis is one of the most famous unsolved problems in mathematics.