# Conditions for Uniqueness of Left Inverse Mapping

## Theorem

Let $S$ and $T$ be sets such that $S \ne \varnothing$.

Let $f: S \to T$ be an injection.

Then a left inverse mapping of $f$ is in general not unique.

Uniqueness occurs under either of two circumstances:

$(1): \quad S$ is a singleton
$(2): \quad f$ is a bijection.

## Proof

If $f$ is a bijection, then by definition $f$ is also a surjection.

Then:

$T \setminus \Img f = \O$
and we have that $g = f^{-1}$.

As $f^{-1}$ is uniquely defined $g$ is itself unique.

$\Box$

If $S$ is a singleton then there can only be one mapping $g: T \to S$:

$\forall t \in T: \map g t = s$

$\Box$

If $f$ is not a bijection, then as it is an injection it can not be a surjection.

Then:

$T \setminus \Img f \ne \O$

Let $t \in T \setminus \Img f$.

We can now choose any $x_0 \in S$ such that $\map g t = x_0$.

If $S$ is not a singleton, such an $x_0$ is not unique.

Hence the result.

$\blacksquare$

## Sources

(but be warned: they omit the case where $S$ is a singleton)