Study Guide in College and Advanced Algebra FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 03-June-2020

MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

Module No. 1

SETS AND SET NOTATION

MODULE OVERVIEW

Sets is useful for being incredibly general by its nature hence enlisted as one of the fundamental properties
of mathematics. When we apply sets in different situations, it becomes a powerful tool and serves as
building blocks of mathematics. Sets allow us to develop mathematical theories formally, by having the
collections we want to tackle or discuss about mathematical concepts, ideas or objects on their own accord.
Sets is common in Graph Theory, Ring Theory, Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Linear
Algebra, Number Theory, and others.

This module is mainly about the terminologies, concepts and operations on how to deal with sets. It includes
the illustration on how to use the Venn-Euler Diagram in representing the relationship among sets. It
comprises the application and/ or examples of the different kinds of sets. It also highlights the real-life
situations relevant in the usage of sets.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After studying and completing this module, you should be able to illustrate a set using standard form of
notations, perform operations on sets, use Venn-diagram and solve problems involving sets. Specifically,
you will be able to:
 Define the sets and it’s properties;
 Describe the relationships between and among sets;
 Perform the basic operations on sets;
 Illustrate sets by the use of Venn-Euler Diagrams; and
 Appreciate the importance of the basic concept of sets in obtaining much insight into the workings
of nature.

LEARNING CONTENTS

A set is an undefined term. It is an intuitive concept, but, we describe a set as a well-defined collection of
objects which are called the ‘elements’ denoted by ( ) of the set. Here, ‘well-defined’
means that it is possible to determine if something belongs to the collection or not. Sets are denoted by
capital letters.

Example:
 The set of all students in Pangasinan State University enrolled in College Algebra this SY 2019-
2020.
 The collection of letters that make up the word “beautiful".
 The group of students who answered the survey about having flexible learning during Pandemic.

WAYS TO DESCRIBE SETS

1. The Roster and Tabular Method involves listing down the elements of the set where a comma
serves to distinguish each distinct element of the set and enclosing them in braces.

Example:

 * +
 * +
 * +
 * +

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Study Guide in College and Advanced Algebra FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 03-June-2020

MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

2. The Set-Builder Method involves describing a set in terms of its characteristic or property where
only those described are considered elements of the set – in the form * +

Example:

 * +
 * ⁄ +
 * ⁄ +

Kinds of Sets

Cardinality or Cardinal Number is the number of elements in a set and is denoted by n (A).

Example:

 * + n(A) = 6
 * ⁄ + n(A) = 7
 * + n(A) = 10

Empty Set is a set with no element or has zero cardinality.

Example:

 n(A) = 0
 * ⁄ + n(A) = 0
 * + n(A) = 0

Singlet or Singleton/ Unit Set is a set with only one element or has cardinality of 1.

Example:

 * + n(A) = 1
 * ⁄ + n(A) = 1
 * + n(A) = 1

Singlet or Singleton/ Unit Set is a set with only one element or has cardinality of 1.

Example:

 * + n(A) = 1
 * ⁄ + n(A) = 1
 * + n(A) = 1

 A is a subset ( ) of B if every element of A also belongs to B likewise A is a superset ( ) of B or A

contains B.
 Power Set is the family of all the subsets of any set
 Universal Set is the set of all possible elements of the sets

Example: * + * +

Subset: L P
Power Set: * +
Universal: * +

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MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation
Set Operations

a) The union of two sets A and B is the set of all elements that are in A or in B or Both sets
represented as * ⁄ +

b) The intersection of two sets A and B is the set of all elements that are in A and in B
* ⁄ +

c) The difference of two sets A and B is the set of all elements which Belong to A B ut which do not
belong to B * ⁄ +

d) The complement of a set A is the set of all elements in the universal set which are not in the given
set A * ⁄ +
Example:
Given * +
* +
* +
* +
1) * +
2) * +
3) * +
4) * +
5) ( ) * +
*Think of other ways on how to apply the operations on sets.
Set Relationships

a) Infinite Set consists of a uncountable number of elements

Example: * +
* +
b) Finite Set consists of a specific number of elements
Example: * +
* +

c) Equal Set two sets that contains exactly the same elements
Example: * +; * + therefore
* +; * + therefore

d) Equivalent Set two sets A and B are in one-to-one correspondence

Example: * +; * + therefore
* +; * + therefore

e) Joint Set two sets have no element in common

f) Disjoint Set two sets have common elements

Name Symbol
Set { }
Intersect
Union
Proper Subset
Subset
Superset
Member
Not Member

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MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

Venn- Euler Diagrams

As illustrated by Douglas Salazar, in his book College Algebra, the following are some representation
among the relationships of sets.

LEARNING POINTS

 Set is well-defined collection, group or aggregate of objects

 Methods of describing sets
o Verbal or Word description – sentence
o Roster or Listing – listed down separated from each other by commas and
enclosed within a pair of braces
o Set Builder Notation or Rule Method – description that are enclosed in the
property that each element belongs.
 Cardinality (n) is the number of elements of N.
 Null or empty set – sets with no elements or zero cardinality.
 Infinite set – contains infinite cardinality.
 Finite set – finite number of elements; when the set eventually “run out” of element.
 Singleton set (Singlet) – set consisting of only one element.
 Universal Set – a set which contains the elements of all sets.
 Set Relationships
o Equal sets – elements are exactly the same.
o Equivalent sets – elements has one-to-one correspondence
 Subset is a part of the set
 Proper Subset – a subset of A and B is not equal to A.
 Improper Subset – if set A = set B
 Superset – all elements contained in B are also contained in A.

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Study Guide in College and Advanced Algebra FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 03-June-2020

MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

 Power Set – set of all subsets of S.

 Joint Set – sets with common elements.
 Disjoint Sets – sets without common elements.
 Set Operations
o Set Unions – set of all elements which belong to either A or B or both
(combine).
o Set Intersection – set of all elements which belong to both A and B
(common).
o Set Complement – set of all elements that are in U but not in A.
o Set Difference – elements of the first set which are not in the second set.
 Venn-Euler Diagram – was used by John Venn (1834 -1923) and Leonhard Euler
(1707 -1783). It is used to show the relationship among sets.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1 - TELL ME!

Identify whether the following given sets is well-defined or not. Write WD if it is well-defined or NWD, if
otherwise.

_______ 1. The set of vowels in the English Alphabet

_______ 2. The set of Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines
_______ 3. The set of odd numbers from 1 to 25
_______ 4. The set of Mathematics faculty members in your school
_______ 5. The set of grains in a kilo of rice
_______ 6. The set of sand in a white beach
_______ 7. The set of dining wares
_______ 8. The set of positive integers
_______ 9. The set of letter of the word “Algebra”
_______ 10. The set of months in a year

For the succeeding activities, use the following sets

* +
* +
* +
* +
* +
ACTIVITY 2 – Listing

List all the possible answer that can satisfy the given descriptions:

1) List all the subsets

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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Study Guide in College and Advanced Algebra FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 03-June-2020

MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

2) Cardinality ( U, W, X, Y, M)
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY 3 – FIND ME!

Using the given above, find the following:

1) ____________________________________________

2) ____________________________________________

3) ____________________________________________

4) ____________________________________________

5) ____________________________________________

6) ____________________________________________

7) ____________________________________________

8) ____________________________________________

9) ( ) ____________________________________________

10) ( ) ____________________________________________

ACTIVITY 4 – Solve for the following:

1) ( ) ( ) _________________________________________

2) ( ) ( ) _________________________________________

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Study Guide in College and Advanced Algebra FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev. 0 03-June-2020

MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

3) ( ) _________________________________________

4) _________________________________________

5) ( ) ( ) _________________________________________

ACTIVITY 5 – ILLUSTRATE ME!

Using the given in Activity 4, illustrate the relationships of the set using the Venn – Euler Diagram.

1)

4.

2)

5.

3)

*Use this space for your solution.

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MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

ACTIVITY 6 – Problem Solving!

Teacher Anne is planning schedules for 30 students. Sixteen students say they want to take English,
sixteen students want to take Filipino, and eleven want to take Pangasinan. Five say they want to take both
English and Pangasinan, and of these, three wanted to take Filipino as well. Five want only Pangasinan,
and eight want only Filipino. How many students want only English? Illustrate your answer using a Venn-
Euler Diagram.

*Use this space for your solution.

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MH 102: College and Advanced Algebra Module 1 Sets and Set Notation

REFERENCES

A. Books and E-books

th
 Barnett, Raymond A. et.al.(2011), College Algebra and Trigonometry 9 Edition, McGrawHill
Connect Learn Succeed
 Vida Antonio, 2016. New Math Made Easy, Revised Edition, Gayo Publishing
th
 Lial, et.al. (2012), Beginning Algebra 11 Edition, Pearson Education Inc.
th
 Blitzer, et.al. (2011), Thinking Mathematically 5 Edition, Pearson Education Inc.
 Nocon (2018), Essential Mathematics for the Modern World, C & E Publishing Inc.
 Alferez, et.al. (2011), Advanced Algebra, MSA Publishing House
th
 Smith (2012), The Nature of Math 12 Edition, Books Icole Cengage Learning
 Axler Sheldon (2012), Algebra and Trigonometry with Student Solutions Manual, John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.
 Stitz, Carl., et. al. (2010). College Algebra and Trigonometry. Lakeland Community College.
 Acevedo, Reinar A.(2012) , Basic Mathematics, Great Books Publishing Quezon City
 Cabero, Jonathan B. et.al. (2012), Solved Problems in College Algebra, National Bookstore
 Conception (2015), College Algebra Revised Edition, Sta. Monica Printing Corporation, Sampaloc
Manila, Philippines
B. Magazines / Journal

 Stitz, Carl & Zeager, Jeff ( 2013), College Algebra Version Pi

 Advanced Algebra and Functions, 2020 College Board, ACCUPLACER 01689-087
 Jay Ambramson(2017), College Algebra, Openstax
 Berezes & Pinter,(2013) (TMOP-4.1.2A/1-11/1-2011-0098 COLLEGE ALGEBRA

C. Electronic Sources

 http://www.mathisfun.com/sets
 http://www.algebra-class.com/
 http://www.algebrahelp.com/
 http://college-cram.com/study/algebra/
 https://www.intmath.com/
 https://www.kutasoftware.com/free.html
 https://www.MathHelp.com
 https://phlconnect.ched.gov.ph/search/category/math
 https://alison.com/course/advanced-algebraic-concepts-and-applications-in-mathematics
 https://www.odysseyware.com/courses/advanced-algebra
 https://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 9