Definition:Image (Relation Theory)

Definition
The definition of a relation given here as a subset of the Cartesian product of two sets gives a "static" sort of feel to the concept.

However, we can also consider a relation as being an operator, where you feed an element $$s \in S$$ (or a subset $$S_1 \subseteq S$$) in at one end, and you get a set of elements $$T_s \subseteq T$$ out of the other.

Thus we arrive at the following definition.

Image of a Relation
The image (or image set) of a relation $$\mathcal R \subseteq S \times T$$ is the set:


 * $$\operatorname {Im} \left ({\mathcal R}\right) = \mathcal R \left ({S}\right) = \left\{ {t \in T: \exists s \in S: \left({s, t}\right) \in \mathcal R}\right\}$$

Image of an Element
For any relation $$\mathcal R \subseteq S \times T$$, the image of $$s \in S$$ by $$\mathcal R$$ is defined as:


 * $$\operatorname {Im} \left ({s}\right) = \mathcal R \left ({s}\right) = \left\{ {t \in T: \left({s, t}\right) \in \mathcal R}\right\}$$

That is, $$\mathcal R \left ({s}\right)$$ is the set of all elements of $$\operatorname {Dom} \left({\mathcal R}\right)$$ related to $$s$$ by $$\mathcal R$$.

Image of a Subset
For any relation $$\mathcal R \subseteq S \times T$$, the image of $$A \subseteq S$$ by $$\mathcal R$$ is:


 * $$\operatorname {Im} \left ({A}\right) = \mathcal R \left ({A}\right) = \left\{ {t \in T: \exists s \in A: \left({s, t}\right) \in \mathcal R}\right\}$$

If $$A = \operatorname {Dom} \left({\mathcal R}\right)$$, we have:


 * $$\operatorname {Im} \left ({\operatorname {Dom} \left({\mathcal R}\right)}\right) = \mathcal R \left ({\operatorname {Dom} \left({\mathcal R}\right)}\right) = \operatorname {Im} \left ({\mathcal R}\right)$$

It is also clear that $$\forall s \in S: \mathcal R \left ({s}\right) = \mathcal R \left ({\left\{{s}\right\}}\right)$$.

While the use of $$\operatorname {Im} \left ({A}\right)$$ etc. can be useful, it is arguably preferable in some situations to use $$\mathcal R \left ({A}\right)$$, as this makes it more apparent to exactly what relation the image refers. This is the terminology which we are planning to use from here on in.

Some authors use $$\mathcal R^\to \left ({A}\right)$$ for what we have here as $$\mathcal R \left ({A}\right)$$.

If Image is a Singleton
If $$\mathcal R \left ({s}\right)$$ for some $$s \in S$$ (or $$\mathcal R \left ({S_1}\right)$$ for some $$S_1 \subseteq S$$) has only one element $$t \in T$$, then we can write:


 * $$\mathcal R \left ({s}\right) = t$$

instead of:


 * $$\mathcal R \left ({s}\right) = \left\{{t}\right\}$$

Note: The two notations $$s \mathcal R t$$ and $$\mathcal R \left ({s}\right) = t$$ do not mean the same thing.

The first means: "$$s$$ is related to $$t$$ by $$\mathcal R$$" (which does not exclude the possibility of there being other elements of $$T$$ to which $$s$$ relates).

The second means "The complete set of elements of $$T$$ to which $$s$$ relates consists of $$\left\{ {t}\right\}$$".

Also see

 * Mapping, in which the context of an image is usually encountered.


 * Domain
 * Range (or Codomain)


 * Preimage (also known as inverse image)