unary function
{{Short description|Function that takes one argument}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{one source |date=May 2024}}
{{No footnotes|date=December 2024}}
}}
In mathematics, a unary function is a function that takes one argument. A unary operator belongs to a subset of unary functions, in that its codomain coincides with its domain. In contrast, a unary function's domain need not coincide with its range.
Examples
The successor function, denoted , is a unary operator. Its domain and codomain are the natural numbers; its definition is as follows:
:
\begin{align}
\operatorname{succ} : \quad & \mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N} \\
& n \mapsto (n + 1)
\end{align}
In some programming languages such as C, executing this operation is denoted by postfixing {{code|++}} to the operand, i.e. the use of {{code|n++}} is equivalent to executing the assignment .
Many of the elementary functions are unary functions, including the trigonometric functions, logarithm with a specified base, exponentiation to a particular power or base, and hyperbolic functions.
See also
Bibliography
- [http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/W.Langdon/FOGP Foundations of Genetic Programming]
{{Authority control}}
Category:Functions and mappings
{{maths-stub}}