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Graph of a function

Name: Anonymous 2009-08-09 0:46

So why can't a graph of a function have multiple y values per x, while multiples x's per y seems fine? Wtf is this shit?

Name: 4tran 2009-08-10 7:01

As everybody else pointed out, functions have that property by definition; herp derp

I think what you're trying to ask is, why not consider a more general class of "functions"?  If you lrn2 wiki, then you'd find:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multivalued_function
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relation_(mathematics)

Math is a lot more general than you think; just because it's not taught doesn't mean it's not considered.  Multivalued "functions" most often crop up as inverses (inverse functions are often very important) of noninjective (not 1-1) functions (eg sin, x^2...).  It just so happens that such entities are a hueg pain in the ass.  If you've ever worked with complex logs, you'd know what I mean.

This is also important in computers, where determinism is important.  You want the computer to spit out 1 when you ask for the 4th root of 1.  If it sometimes spits out -1, or +-i, your code is bound to break.

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