MathDB
Show that f is bijective on T

Source: IMO Shortlist 2017 A3

July 10, 2018
IMO Shortlistfunctionalgebra

Problem Statement

Let SS be a finite set, and let A\mathcal{A} be the set of all functions from SS to SS. Let ff be an element of A\mathcal{A}, and let T=f(S)T=f(S) be the image of SS under ff. Suppose that fgfgfgf\circ g\circ f\ne g\circ f\circ g for every gg in A\mathcal{A} with gfg\ne f. Show that f(T)=Tf(T)=T.