CHAPTER – 1

SETS
(PART A)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After studying this topic students will
learn about
• Concept of sets, their representation
in different forms.
• The empty set, finite and infinite sets,
equal sets
• Subsets
• Intervals as subsets of R
• Power sets
• Universal set
What is a set?
Set is a well-defined collection of objects. Examples of sets
• Players of a cricket team
• Students of your School
• Members of your family
• Vowels in the English alphabet { a, e, i, o, u}
• Prime factors of 10, namely {2,5}
• Odd natural numbers less than 8, i.e., {1, 3, 5, 7}
• Numbers in a Dice {1,2,3,4,5,6}
• Sets in Mathematics
N : the set of all natural numbers
Z : the set of all integers
Q : the set of all rational numbers
R : the set of real numbers
Conventions in Set
• Sets are usually denoted by capital letters A, B, C, X, Y, Z, etc.
• The elements of a set are represented by small letters a, b, c ,d etc.
• If a is an element of a set A, we say that “ a belongs to A” the Greek
symbol ∈ (epsilon) is used to denote the phrase ‘belongs to’.
Thus, we write a ∈A
• If ‘b’ is not an element of a set A, we write b ∉ A and read “b does not belong to
A”.
• Objects, elements and members of a set are synonymous terms.
Examples:
• If V is set of vowels, a & b are alphabets, then a ∈ V but b ∉ V.
• P is set of prime factors of 30, then 3 ∈ P but 15 ∉ P.
There are two methods of representing Set
• Roster or tabular form.
• Set-builder form.
Roster or Tabular Form
• In roster form, all the elements of a set are listed, the elements are being separated by
commas and are enclosed within braces { }
• E.g. the set of all number in a dice is described in roster form as {1,2,3,4,5,6}.
• Points to be noted in roster form:
• In roster form, the order in which the elements are listed is immaterial. g. The set of
all vowels in the English alphabet can be written as {a, e, i, o, u} or {a, u, i, o,e} or {u,
e, i, o, a} or {o, e, i, a, u}
• The dots at the end tell us that the list of odd numbers continue indefinitely. E.g.: The
set of odd natural numbers is represented by {1, 3, 5, . . .}.
• In roster form, an element is not generally repeated, i.e., all the elements are taken as
distinct.
• E.g. The set of letters forming the word ‘SCHOOL’ is { S, C, H, O, L} .
Set Builder Form
• In set-builder form, all the elements of a set possess a single common property which is not
possessed by any element outside the set.
• In the set {a, e, i, o, u}, all the elements possess a common property, namely, each of them is
a vowel in the English alphabet, and no other letter possess this property.
• Denoting this set by V, we write V = {x : x is a vowel in English alphabet}.
• Please note that any other symbol like the letters y, z, etc. could be used.
• The symbol should be followed by a colon “ : ”.
• After the sign of colon, we write the characteristic property possessed by the elements of the
set and then enclose the whole description within braces.
• If a set of number doesn’t follow any pattern, it can’t be written in set builder form.
More Example of set builder form
A = {x : x is a natural number and 3 < x < 10} is read as “the set of all x such that x is a natural
number and x lies between 3 and 10. Hence, the numbers 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are the elements of
the set A.
Some Examples :
Write the set A in roster form, where A = {x : x ∈ N, 2 < x ≤ 10}.
Solution : A = { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
Write the set X in roster form, where X = {x : x = 2n, n ∈ N and n ≤ 5}.
Solution : X = { 2, 4, 8, 16, 32}
Represent the set A in set-builder form, where A = {1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, ...............}.
Solution : The set-builder form is A = { x : x ,1/n, n ∈ N }
Write the set B in set builder form, where B = {1/2, 2/3, ¾, 4/5, 5/6, 6/7, 7/8, 8/9, 9/10}.
𝑛
Solution : B = 𝑥: 𝑥 = ,𝑛 ∈ 𝑁, 𝑛 ≤ 9
𝑛+1
Write the set C in roster form, where C = 𝒙: 𝒙 ∈ 𝒁, |𝒙| ≤ 𝟐 .
Solution : C = {-2, -1, 0, 1, 2}
Write the set Y in set builder form, where Y = {1/2, 2/5, 3/10}.
𝑛
Solution : Y = 𝑥: ,1 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 3, 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁
𝑛2 +1
Write the set {x : x is a positive integer and x < 4} in the roster form.
Solution: Since the set has natural numbers less that 4, Set A ={ 1,2,3}
 Types of Sets
Empty Set
The set which is empty! This means that there are no elements in the set. This
set is represented by ϕ or { }. An empty set is hence defined as:
Definition: If a set doesn’t have any elements, it is known as an empty set or
null set or void set. For e.g. consider the set
P = {x : x is a leap year between 1904 and 1908}
Between 1904 and 1908, there is no leap year. So, P = ϕ.
Similarly, the set
Q = {y : y is a whole number which is not a natural number, y ≠ 0}
0 is the only whole number that is not a natural number. If y ≠ 0, then there is
no other value possible for y. Hence, Q = ϕ.
Singleton Set
If a set contains only one element, then it is called a singleton set. For e.g.
• A = {x : x is an even prime number}
• B={ y : y is a whole number which is not a natural number}
Finite Set
In this set, the number of elements is finite. All the empty sets also fall into the
category of finite sets.
Definition: If a set contains no element or a definite number of elements, it is
called finite set.
If the set is non-empty, it is called a non-empty finite set. Some examples of
finite sets are:
A = {x : x is a month in an year}; A will have 12 elements
B={y: y is the zero of a polynomial (𝑥 4 − 6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2)}; B will have 4 zeroes
Infinite Set
Just contrary to the finite set, it will have infinite elements. If a given set is not finite, then
it will be an infinite set. For example:
A = {x : x is a natural number}; There are infinite natural numbers. Hence, A is an infinite
set.
B = {y: y is ordinate of a point on a given line}; There are infinite points on a line. So, B is an
infinite set.

Equal sets
Two sets A and B are said to be equal if they have exactly the same elements and we write A
= B.
Otherwise, the sets are said to be unequal and we write A ≠ B.
Examples :
Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {3, 1, 4, 2}. Then A = B.
Let C = {1, 2, 3, 4} and D = {1,2,3,5}. Then C ≠ D.

If set A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {2, 2, 1, 3, 3}. Then A=B , since each element of A is in B and vice-
versa. That is why we generally do not repeat any element in describing a set.
Sub sets
• A set A is said to be a subset of a set B if every element of A is also an element of B.
• Consider set A = set of all students in your class, B = set of all students in your School.
• We note that every element of A is also an element of B; we say that A is a subset of B.
• A is subset of B is expressed in symbols as A ⊂ B. The symbol ⊂ stands for ‘is a subset of’ or ‘is contained in’.
• A ⊂ B if a ∈ A ⇒ a ∈ B
• It follows from the above definition that every set A is a subset of itself, i.e. A ⊂ A.
• Since the empty set φ has no elements, we agree to say that φ is a subset of every set.
Super Set
Let A and B be two sets. If A ⊂ B and A ≠ B , B is called superset of A.
• The set Q of rational numbers is a subset of the set R of real numbers. We write Q ⊂ R
• Let A = {1, 3, 5} and B = {x : x is an odd natural number less than 6}. Then A ⊂ B and B ⊂ A and hence
A = B.
• Let A = { a, e, i, o, u} and B = { a, b, c, d}. Then A is not a subset of B, also B is not a subset of A.
• Let A = {1,2,3,4} and B = {1,2,3,4,5,6}, then A is subset of B, and B is super set of A.
• Some relation in well defined sets: N ⊂ Z ⊂ Q ⊂ R, T⊂ 𝑅
N = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…} Natural number
Z = {…..,-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,…..} Integers
𝑝
Q = { 𝑥: 𝑥 = , 𝑝, 𝑞 ∈ 𝑍, 𝑞 ≠ 0} Rational Numbers
𝑞
T = 𝑥: 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 ∉ 𝑄 Irrational Number
Power Set
The collection of all subsets of a set A is called the power set of A.
E.g. Consider the set {1, 2}. Let us write down all the subsets of the set {1, 2}.
Subsets of {1,2} are: φ, { 1 }, { 2 } and { 1, 2 }.
The set of all these subsets is called the power set of { 1, 2 }.That is, {φ, { 1 }, { 2 }, { 1, 2 }}
In general, if A is a set with n (A) = m, then it can be shown that n [ P(A)] = 2m

Universal Set
A set containing all elements of a problem under consideration is called universal set. It
is denoted by U.
E.g. While studying the system of numbers, we are interested in the set of natural
numbers and its subsets such as the set of all prime numbers, the set of all even
numbers, and so forth. This basic set is called the “Universal Set”. Here universal set is
R.
Numerical: Recommend a universal set for A = {1, 3, 5} , B={1,2,7}
Solution: Set C = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,} can be a universal set in this case
 Open & Closed Intervals
Let a, b ∈ R and a < b.
Open interval is denoted by (a, b) = {x : a < x < b}. Endpoints element NOT included.
Closed interval is denoted by [ a, b ] = {x : a ≤ x ≤ b}. Endpoints element included.
We can also have intervals closed at one end and open at the other, i.e.,
[ a, b ) = {x : a ≤ x < b} is an open interval from a to b, including a but excluding
( a, b ] = { x : a < x ≤ b } is an open interval from a to b including b but excluding
Memory tip:
• ONE (Open No endpoint).
• Open windows = Light
• Closed Window = Dark
• () Looks like O , so it is used for Open interval
• [] looks like closed box, so it is used for closed interval
 WORKSHEET 1
1. Write the following sets in roster form.
(i) A = 𝑥: 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, 2𝑥 + 11 = 15
(ii) B = 𝑥: 𝑥 2 = 𝑥, 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅
(iii) C = {𝑥: 𝑥 is a positive integer less than 10 and 2𝑥 − 1 is an odd number}
𝑤−2
(iv) D = 𝑤: = 3, 𝑤 ∈ 𝑅
𝑤+3
(v) E = 𝑥: 𝑥 4 − 5𝑥 2 + 6 = 0, 𝑥 ∈𝑅
2. Write the following sets in set builder form.
(i) {0, 3, 6, 9, 12,………..}
(ii) {10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15}
(iii) {1, 4, 9, 16, ………., 100}
(iv) {5, 25, 125, 625}
(v) {1, 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, 1/9}
 WORKSHEET - 2
A. Multiple choice questions: B. Short answer type questions:
1. If A ⊂ B, then 𝑥+5 4𝑥−40
6. Let T = 𝑥: −5= . Is T an empty set?
(a) 𝑎 ∈ 𝐴 ⇒ 𝑎 ∉ 𝐵 (b) 𝑎 ∈ 𝐴 ⇒ 𝑎 ∈ 𝐵 𝑥−7 13−𝑥
Justify your answer.
(c) 𝑎 ∉ 𝐴 ⇒ 𝑎 ∈ 𝐵 (d) 𝑎 ∈ 𝐵 ⇒ 𝑎 ∈ 𝐴
7. Write down the power set of A = {1, {3}, 4}.
2. The number of subsets of a set containing n
elements is 8. Given that N = {1, 2, 3, …….., 100}, then write the
(a) 2𝑛 (b) 2𝑛−1 (c) 2𝑛 − 1 (d) 𝑛𝑛 subset B of N, whose elements are represented by
x + 2, when x ∈ N.
3. When A = ∅, then number of elements in P(A) is
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 3 9. State whether A = B or A ≠ B.
4. Let S = { x:x is a positive multiple of 3 less than 100} (i) A = {1, 5, 25, 125}, B = { x:x is a positive divisor of 125}
and P = { x:x is a prime number less than 20}. Then (ii)A = {𝑥: 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅, 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 0},B = {𝑛; 𝑛 ∈ 𝑍, 𝑛2 ≤ 4}
n(S) + n(P) is
(a) 34 (b) 41 (c) 33 (d) 30 10. (i) Write the interval (-3, 0] in the set builder form.
5. If A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, then the number of proper (ii) Write the set { 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅: −4 ≤ 𝑥 < 6} as an interval
subsets of A is
(a) 120 (b) 30 (c) 31 (d) 32
ANSWERS OF WORKSHEET – 1 ANSWERS OF WORKSHEET - 2

1. (i) {2} 1. (b)

(ii) {0, 1} 2. (a)
(iii) {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} 3. (b)
4. (b)
(iv) {-11/2} 5. (c)
(v) {− 3, − 2, 2, 3 } 6. No, T = {10}
7. ∅, 1 , 3 , 4 , 1, 3 , 3 , 4 , 1, 4 , {1, 3 , 4}
2. (i) {𝑥 ∶ 𝑥 = 3𝑛, 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁} 8. {3, 4, 5, ………….. , 100}
(ii) {𝑥 ∶ 𝑥 ∈ 𝑁, 9 < 𝑥 < 10} 9. (i) A = B
(ii) A ≠ B. Because, A = {1, 2} and B = {0, -1, 1, -2, 2}
(iii) {𝑥 ∶ 𝑥 = 𝑛2 , 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁, 1 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 10} 10. (i) 𝑥 ∈ 𝑅: −3 < 𝑥 ≤ 0
(iv) {𝑥 ∶ 𝑥 = 5𝑛 , 𝑛 ∈ 𝑁, 1 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 4} (ii) [-4,6)
1
(v) {𝑥 ∶ 𝑥 = , 1 ≤ 𝑛 ≤ 5}
2𝑛−1