one-to-one correspondence

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablemathematics

   A pairing in which each item in one set is matched with exactly one item in another set, with none left over.

   Grammar: Often used with between: a one-to-one correspondence between two sets.

   Patterns

   • one-to-one correspondence between something and something
   • establish a one-to-one correspondence

   There is a one-to-one correspondence between students and desks when every student has a desk and no desks are empty.

   Mathematicians show two sets are the same size by finding a one-to-one correspondence.

   A one-to-one correspondence exists between the numbers 1 to 10 and the fingers on two hands.

2. 2noununcountable

   The basic counting skill of touching or naming each object once, matching one number word to one object.

   Grammar: Used in early education: teach one-to-one correspondence.

   Patterns

   • practice one-to-one correspondence
   • develop one-to-one correspondence

   Toddlers practice one-to-one correspondence when they point at each block as they count.

   Teachers use buttons to teach one-to-one correspondence.

   Her counting was inaccurate because she had not yet learned one-to-one correspondence.

Common combinations

establish a one-to-one correspondence

We can establish a one-to-one correspondence between the two lists.

show one-to-one correspondence

The child showed one-to-one correspondence by placing one spoon beside each bowl.

perfect one-to-one correspondence

There is a perfect one-to-one correspondence between names and seats.

teach one-to-one correspondence

Games can teach one-to-one correspondence in a fun way.

lack one-to-one correspondence

The two systems lack one-to-one correspondence, so some words have no match.

Synonyms and how they differ

bijection

Bijection is the formal mathematical word for a one-to-one matching of two sets, and sounds more technical.

pairing

Pairing is looser and does not guarantee that no item is left out.

matching

Matching is a general word and need not mean exactly one partner each.

Opposites

Word family

correspond verb

to match or be similar

correspondence noun

a close match or relationship

corresponding adjective

matching in position or role

correspondingly adverb

in a matching way

Commonly confused: one-to-one correspondence or correspondence?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “one-to-one correspondence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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