GRADE 7 – SETS

Learning Competency:
illustrates well-defined sets, subsets, universal sets, null set, cardinality of sets, union and intersection of sets and
the different of two sets

Concept:
Subsets and Supersets

Subset:
If A and B are two sets, and every element of set A is also an element of set B, subset
then A is called a subset of B and we write it as A ⊆ B
The symbol ⊆ stands for ‘is a subset of’ or ‘is contained in’ superset
For example;
(i) Let A = {2, 4, 6} and B = {6, 4, 8, 2} universal set
Here A ⊆ B, A is a subset of B, since all the elements of set A( 2, 4, 6 ) are contained in set B.
But B ⊄ A, B is not a subset of A, since all the elements of set B are not contained in set A (doesn’t contain 8).
(ii) Let A = {1, 3, 5, 7} and B = {3, 1, 7, 5}
Here A ⊆ B, A is a subset of B, since all the elements of set A are contained in set B.
And also, B ⊆ A, B is a subset of A, since all the elements of set B are contained in set A.

Proper Subset:
If A and B are two sets, then A is called the proper subset of B if A ⊆ B but B ⊇ A i.e., A ≠ B.
The symbol ‘⊂’ is used to denote proper subset. Symbolically, we write A ⊂ B.
For example;
A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, Here A ≠ B
We observe that, all the elements of A are present in B but the element ‘5’ of B is not present in A.
So, we say that A is a proper subset of B. Symbolically, we write it as A ⊂ B

Superset:
Whenever set A is a subset of set B, we say the B is a superset of A and we write, B ⊇ A.
Symbol ⊇ is used to denote ‘is a super set of’
For example;
A = {a, b, d, e, h} and B = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h}
Here A ⊆ B i.e., A is a subset of B and also B ⊇ A i.e., B is a super set of A

Universal Set of Sets

Universal Set
A set which contains all the elements of other given sets is called a universal set. The symbol for denoting a universal
set is ∪ or ξ.
For example;
1. If A = {1, 2, 3}      B = {2, 3, 4}      C = {3, 5, 7} then U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7}
therefore A ⊆ U, B ⊆ U, C ⊆ U, Universal set contains all the elements of other given sets
2. If A = {a, b, c}      B = {d, e}      C = {f, g, h, i} then U = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i} can be taken as universal set.
3. If W is a set of all whole numbers and Y is a set of all negative natural numbers then the universal set is
a set of all integers. Integers are composed of whole numbers and negative natural numbers therefore; set
of Integers is considered as universal set given Set W and Y]
 Activity:

I. Identify which set is a subset to a superset A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}

Put a check if it is a subset and cross if not.
_______1. B = {x : x ∈ W, 1 ≤ x ≤ 6}
_______2. C = { 5, 10, 15}
_______3. D = { x : x ∈ N, 3 < x < 12)
_______4. E = {prime numbers less than 11}
_______5. F = {x | x ∈ I, 0 < x ≤ 5}

II. Find the universal set of the following sets

Answers can be written as roster, statement, or set-builder form
_____________________________1. A = {blue, red, green}
B = {orange, indigo, yellow, violet}
____________________________2. P = {The set of consonants in the English alphabet}
Q = {The set of vowels in the English alphabet}
_____________________________3. X = {x : x∈ W, x is an odd number, x ≤ 10}
Y = {x : x∈ W, x is an even number, x ≤ 10}
_____________________________4. M = {x :x∈ W, x is a prime number}
N = {x : x∈ W, x is a composite number}
_____________________________5. G = {3, 5, 7, 9, 11}
H = {2, 4, 6, 9, 10}
KEYS
I.
1. Y
2. N
3. N
4. Y
5. Y

II.
1. = { colors in a rainbow}
2. = { letters in the English alphabet}
3. = { x : x∈ W, x ≤ 10}
4. = { x : x∈ W}
5. = { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11}