Proving an element is a unit when the function is surjective and injective

129 Views Asked by At

Apologies with formatting. Nearly all the written n's are meant to be subscripts, but I can't quite figure that out yet

Let n ∈ $ℤ_n$ with n>1. Let $[a]_n$$ℤ_n$ with $[a]_n$ not equal to $[0]_n$ and define a function

f:$ℤ_n$$ℤ_n$ by f:$[b]_n$$[b]_n$*$[a]_n$

Prove that $[a]_n$ is a unit if and only if f is surjective and show $[a]_n$ is a unit if and only if f is injective.

I understand what it means to be a unit. I'm very confused as to how a function being surjective or injective will cause the element to be a unit itself.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

0
On

Hint:

As this is a map from a finite set to itself, $f$ injective $\iff f$ surjective ($\iff f$ bijective).

On the other hand, $[a_n]$ is a unit iff and only if $[1]_n$ is attained.