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Set Theory
Set Theory
Mathematical Language:
Sets, Functions, Relations, and Binary Operations
Learning Objectives:
A A B
11. LINE DIAGRAMS
Another useful and instructive way of illustrating
the relationships between sets is by the use of the
so-called line diagrams.
If AB, then we write B on a higher level than A and
connect them by a line. AB and BC
B C
A A
Basic Set Operations
Basic Set Operations:
1. Definition:
The union of sets A and B, denoted by AB, is the set of all
the elements that belong to A or B or to both.
A B
AB is shaded
Example:
Let C = {1, 2, 3, 4} and D = {6, 2, 4, 7}.
Then, CD = {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7} .
Basic Set Operations:
2. Definition:
The intersection of sets A and B, denoted by AB, is the set
of elements which are common to A and to B, that is, those
elements which belong to A and which also belong to B.
A B is shaded
Example:
Let C = {1, 2, 3, 4} and D = {6, 2, 4, 7}.
Then, C D = {2, 4} .
Basic Set Operations:
3. Difference of Sets:
The difference of sets A and B, denoted by A – B, is the set
of elements which belong to A but which do not belong to B.
A-B is shaded
Example:
Let C = {1, 2, 3, 4} and D = {6, 2, 4, 7}.
Then, C - D = {1, 2, 3, 4} - {6, 2, 4, 7}
C - D = {1, 3}.
Basic Set Operations:
4. The COMPLEMENT of a set A, denoted by A’ or Ac is the
set of elements which do not belong to A, that is the
difference of the universal set U and A.
A’ is shaded.
Basic Set Operations:
We state some facts about set which
follow directly from the definitions, and may easily be
verified by means of Venn diagrams:
Remark 1:
The union of any set A and its complement A’ is the universal
set, i.e.
A A’ = U.
Furthermore, set A and its complement A’ are disjoint, i.e.
A ∩ A’ = .
Basic Set Operations:
Remark 2:
The complement of universal set is the
null set , and vice versa, i.e.
U’ = and
’ = U.
Remark 3:
The complement of the complement
of a set A is the set A itself. More
briefly
(A’)’ = A.
Exercises:
1. Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8} and
C = {3, 4, 5, 6}. Find
a) AB = {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8}
b) AC = {1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6}
c) BC = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8}
d) BB = {2, 4, 6, 8} = B
Exercises:
2. Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8} and
C = {3, 4, 5, 6}. Find
a) A∩B = {2, 4}
b) A∩C = {3, 4}
c) B∩C = {4, 6}
d) B∩B = {2, 4, 6, 8}
Exercises:
3. Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8} and
C = {3, 4, 5, 6}. Find
a) A – B = {1, 3}
b) A – C = {1, 2}
c) B – C = {2, 8}
d) B – B = { } =
Exercises:
4. Let U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}
A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8} and
C = {3, 4, 5, 6}. Find
a) A(C∩B)
b) B∩(C’A)
c) C–(A’∩B)
d) B∩(A∩C)’
e) (AB’)–(A-B)