6.

Study the following sets.

What are you going to
learn?
À To comprehend the
difference between
finite and infinite
sets
À To determine the
number of set
elements
Key Terms:
• cardinality
• number of set
elements
• finite set
• infinite set
1. P = { m, a, t, e, i, k}
2. Q = { 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 }
3. R = { 2, 4, 6, 8, . . . , 20 }
4. S = { 0, 1, 2, 3, . . . }
5. T = { 5, 10, 15, 20, . . . }
In the above five sets, all elements of each set are
listed between a pair of curly brackets. The
elements of set P are: m, a, t, e, i, k. Thus there are
six elements of P. We denote this: n(P) = 6
The elements of set Q above are also listed between
a pair of brackets. The elements of set Q are 1, 3, 5,
7, 9. Thus there are five elements of Q. We denote
n(Q) = 5.

In set R, not all elements of the set are listed

between the pair of brackets. However, we know
that the largest element of R is 20. Consequently,
we can determine the number of elements of set R
by continuing the counting pattern from 2, 4, 6, .. up to 20. So
we have the number of elements of set R is 10, or n(R) = 10.

Sets P, Q, and R are called countable sets (the number of the elements
can be counted). These sets are also called finite sets (the number of
the elements is finite).

Now look at sets S and T. Here we do not know the largest

element, so we are not able to determine the number of
elements of both sets. These kinds of sets are called infinite sets
(the number of elements is not finite).

Mathematics for Junior High School Year 7 / 223

 1. If A = set of months having names starting with letter
Remarks J, then determine n(A). Is set A finite?

Solution :
• The number of
elements
A = { January, June, July }
of set P is called
There are three elements in A, so n(A) = 3. Thus set A
the cardinal
number of set P , is finite.
denoted by n(P).
2. If B = set of odd numbers between 2 and 10, then
• If the number of
determine n(B). Is set B finite?
elements of P is
finite, then n(P) is Solution :
a whole number.
B = { 3, 5, 7, 9 }
• If the number of
The number of elements in B is 4.
elements of set P
is infinite, then it
Then, n(B) = 4.Thus, set B is finite.
cannot be 3. Can you mention two examples of infinite set?
expressed using a
Solution:
number.
set of all natural numbers.
. Therefore, as
set of all whole numbers.
a convention, “∞”
(not finite or
infinite) is used,
so the cardinal
number
of set P is
n(P) = ∞.

224 / Student’s Book - Sets

Determine the number of elements of the following sets.
1. A = { 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 }

2. B = { 1000 }

3. C = set of composite numbers less than 10.

4. D = set of whole numbers less than 20.

5. E = { 6, 12, 18, . . . , 36 }

6. F = set of prime numbers between 5 and 20.

7. G = { x | x < 25, x is natural number}.

8. H = { n | n < 6, n is whole number}.

9. I = set of prime numbers less than 35.

10. J = { 5, 10, 15, . . . , 50}

11. If P = set of squared numbers between 5 and 40,

Q = set of vowels in the word “trigonometry”,
is n(P) = n(Q) ?

Related toReal World

How many elements does each of the following sets have?
12. K = set of vowels in the word “Indonesia”.
13. L = set of months having names ending with two letters
“er”.
14. M = set of the colors of rainbow.
15. N = { x | x is the name of the day starting other than letter
S}
16. O = { x | x is parent}

Mathematics for Junior High School Year 7 / 225

 Critical Thinking
17. If A = Set of traffic light colours,
B = Set of days having names starting with letter S.
Is n(A) = n(B) ?
18. State whether each of the following sets is finite or infinite.
a. Set of books in a book shelf.
b. Set of sands inside a milk box.
c. Set of Indonesian people.
d. Set of whole numbers.
e. Set of composite numbers.
f. Set of whole numbers less than 10.
g. Set of chairs at your school.
h. Set of SMP students in Surabaya.
i. Set of mathematics teachers in Medan.
j. Set of multiple of 5 of natural numbers.

226 / Student’s Book - Sets