# Non-bijective endomorphisms of finite groups

How can I prove that there are no finite groups $G$ where there exists an endomorphism $G\rightarrow G$ that is injective but not surjective, or other way round?

• This has nothing to do with groups. The statement is true for all maps from a finite set to itself. – Derek Holt Mar 23 '15 at 19:30

If $X$ is a finite set and $f:X \to X$ is any function, then the conditions below are equivalent:

• $f$ is bijective

• $f$ is injective

• $f$ is surjective

It is not a problem about groups but a general fact about sets:

Let $E, F$ be finite sets such that $\lvert E\rvert=\lvert F\rvert$, and $f\colon E\rightarrow F$. The following are equivalent:

1. $f$ is injective;
2. $f$ is surjective;
3. $f$ is bijective.

(1) $\Rightarrow$ (2): If $f$ is injective, $\lvert f(E)\rvert=\lvert E\rvert=\lvert F\rvert$, hence $f(E)=F$, which means $f$ is surjective. (2) $\Rightarrow$ (1) by contraposition: if $f$ is not injective, it can't be surjective since $\lvert f(E)\rvert<\lvert E\rvert=\lvert F\rvert$.

Since (1) $\Leftrightarrow$ (2), it is trivial both are equivalent to (3).