01

MATHEMATICS SET THEORY 3

SET THEORY
In NDA exam, generally 3-4 questions are asked from this chapter which are based on types of sets,
operations on sets and number of elements in a set.

A set is a collection of well defined distinct objects. By ‘well defined’ we mean that from any object
given we can find whether it is an element of the set or not. Sets are usually denoted by capital letters
A , B, C, etc. The members of a set are called its elements and are usually denoted by small letters,
a, b, c, etc. If ‘a’ is an element of a set A, then we write a ∈ A i.e. ‘a’ belongs to set A and if ‘a’ does not
belong to set A, then we write a ∈ / A.

Representation of Sets
1. Tabular or Roster method In this method, a set is described by writing elements, separated by
commas, within the braces {}.
e.g. N = { 1, 2, 3, 4, K} is a set of natural numbers.
A = { 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13} is a set of first six prime numbers.
W = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, K} is a set of whole numbers.
2. Set-builder or Rule method In this method, a rule or a formula is written in the braces that defines
the sets.
e.g. A = { x : x = 2n + 1, n ≥ 1, n ∈ N}, B = { x : 6 ≤ x ≤ 12, x ∈ N}, C = { x : x = 2n, n < 8, n ∈ N}

Different Types of Sets

1. Null set A set which does not contain any element is called a null set. It is denoted by φ. A null set is
also called an empty set or a void set. Therefore, φ = { }
e.g. A = { x : x is a prime number between 90 and 96} = φ
2. Singleton set A set which contains only one element is called a singleton set.
e.g. A = {0}, B = { x : x + 10 = 0, x ∈ Z }
3. Finite set A set is called a finite set, if it is either void set or its elements can be counted or labelled by
natural numbers 1,2,3, .... and the process of counting stops at a certain natural number (say ‘n’).
e.g. A = { a, e, i, o, u} = Set of all vowels
The number of distinct elements of a finite set A is called the cardinal number of the set A and it is
denoted by n ( A ).
 4. Infinite set A set which has unlimited number of e.g. Let A = {1, 2, 3}; B = { 2, 4, 6, 8 }; C = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
elements is called infinite set. and U = set of natural numbers.
e.g. N = set of all natural numbers = {1, 2, 3, …}
Here, A , B and C are the subsets of U.
Z = set of all integers
Therefore, U is an universal set.
= {…, − 2, – 1, 0, 1, 2, …} are infinite sets.
11. Power set Let A be a set, then the set of all the possible
5. Equivalent sets Two finite sets A and B are
subsets of A is called the power set of A and is denoted
equivalent, if their cardinal numbers are same, i.e.
by P ( A ).
n ( A ) = n ( B).
i.e. P ( A ) = {S | S ⊆ A }
e.g. A = { a, b, c, d , e}; B = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
e.g. Let A = {1, 2, 3}. Then, subsets of A are
Here, n ( A ) = n ( B)
φ, { 1}, { 2}, { 3}, { 1, 2}, { 1, 3}, { 2, 3} and { 1, 2, 3}.
So, these sets are equivalent sets.
∴ P ( A ) = { φ, { 1}, { 2}, { 3}, { 1, 2}, { 1, 3}, { 2, 3}, {1, 2, 3}}
6. Equal sets Two sets A and B are said to be equal, if
every element of A is a member of B and every Note l Since, the empty set and the set A itself are subsets of A and
element of B is a member of A. also the elements of P ( A ). Thus, the power set of a given set
is always non-empty.
If sets A and B are equal, we write A = B l If a set A has n elements, then its power set will contain 2 n
and A ≠ B, when A and B are not equal. elements.
e.g.
(i) A = {1, 3, 4} and B = {3, 1, 4} are equal sets. Some Important Properties
(ii) A = Letters of the word MASS = {M, A, S, S} (i) A ⊆ A , ∀A (ii) φ ⊆ A , ∀A
B = Letters of the word SAM = {S, A, M} (iii) A ⊆ U , ∀A in U (iv) A = B ⇔ A ⊆ B, B ⊆ A
Here, A = B
EXAMPLE 1. Which one of the following is a null set?
Since, {M, A, S, S } = {M, A, S} = {S, A, M} a. { x| x ∈ R , 4 x2 − 1 = 0 }
Note Equal sets are equivalent but equivalent sets may or may b. { x| x ∈N , x is odd and ( x + 3) is even}
not be equal. e.g. Set A = {4, 5, 3, 2} and B = {1, 6, 8, 9}
are equivalent but are not equal. c. { x| x ∈ R , x2 < 3}
d. { x| x ∈ R , x2 < 0 }
7. Subset Let A and B be two sets. If every element of
A is an element of B, then A is called a subset of B Sol. d. Only option (d) satisfies the condition as x 2 can never
and it is denoted by A ⊆ B. be less than 0. Therefore, there is no element in it, i.e. it
is a null set.
∴ A ⊆ B, if x ∈ A ⇒ x ∈ B
e.g. If A = {1, 2, 3} EXAMPLE 2. Two finite sets having m and n elements.
and B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, then A ⊆ B. The total number of subsets of the first set is 56 more
than the total number of subsets of the second set. Find
The total number of subsets of a finite set the values of m and n.
containing n elements is 2n .
a. 6, 5 b. 6, 3 c. 6, 6 d. 5, 4
8. Superset Let A and B be two sets. If B contains all
elements of A, then B is called superset of A and it Sol. b. Let A and B be two sets having m and n elements
is denoted by B ⊇ A. respectively. Then, number of subsets of A = 2m ,
number of subsets of B = 2n
e.g. If B = { a, b, c, d , . . . , x, y, z} and A = {a, e, i, o, u}
It is given that, 2m − 2n = 56 ⇒ 2n(2m − n − 1) = 23(23 − 1)
Then, B ⊇ A.
⇒ n = 3 and m − n = 3
9. Proper subset A set A is said to be a proper subset
of set B, if A is a subset of B and A is not equal to ∴ n = 3 and m=6
B. It is written as A ⊂ B. The total number of
proper subsets of a finite set containing n elements EXAMPLE 3. The number of proper subsets of the set
is ( 2n − 1). e.g. If A = {1, 2, 3}, then proper subsets {1, 2, 3} is
of A are φ, {1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}. a. 6 b. 3
c. 7 d. 8
10. Universal set All the sets under consideration are
likely to be subsets of a set which is called the Sol. c. Number of proper subsets of the set {1, 2, 3}
universal set and is denoted by U. = 23 − 1 = 7
Venn Diagram 4. Difference of two sets Let A and B be two sets. The
difference of A and B, written as ( A − B) or A\B, is the
Venn diagram are used to set of all those elements of A which do not belong to B.
express relationship among
Thus, ( A − B) = { x : x ∈ A , x ∉ B}
sets. In Venn diagram, the
universal set U is represented The Venn diagram of A − B is as shown in the figure
by a rectangle and its subsets A B U
are represented by closed curves (usually circles)
within the rectangle.

Operations on Sets
Now, we introduce some operations on sets to
construct new sets from the given ones.
1. Union of two sets Let A and B be two sets. The
union of A and B is the set of all those elements
which belongs to either A or B or both A and B.
The union of A and B is denoted by A ∪ B
(read as ‘A union B’).
Thus, A ∪ B = { x : x ∈ A or x ∈ B}
A B
e.g. If A = {1, 2, 3, 4}
Similarly, the difference ( B − A ) is the set of all those
elements of B, which do not belong to A,
i.e. ( B − A ) = { x : x ∈ B, x ∉ A }.
e.g. If A = { a, b, c, d , e} and B = { a, c, e, g, i }
then, A − B = { b, d } and B − A = { g, i}
5. Symmetric difference of two sets Let A and B be two
sets. The symmetric difference of sets A and B is the set
( A − B) ∪ ( B − A ) and is denoted by A∆B.
U
A B U

and B = { 3, 4, 5, 6}, (B – A)
then A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} (A – B)
Note If A 1, A 2, K , A n is a finite family of sets, then their union
Thus, A∆B = ( A − B) ∪ ( B − A ) = { x : x ∉ A ∩ B}
n
is denoted by ∪ A i or A1 ∪ A 2 ∪ A 3 ∪ K ∪ A n.
i =1
e.g. If A = {a, b, c, d, e} and B = {a, c, e, g, i}
2. Intersection of two sets Let A A B U Then, A∆ B = ( A − B) ∪ ( B − A ) = {b, d} ∪ {g, i} = {b, d, g, i}
and B be two sets.
The intersection of A and B is 6. Complement of a set The
U
the set of all those elements complement of a set A is the set of all
which belong to both A and B. those elements which are in universal A
The intersection of A and B is denoted by A ∩ B set but not in A. It is denoted by A ′ or
(read as ‘A intersection B’). A c or U – A.
If U is a universal set and A ⊂ U , then
Thus, A ∩ B = { x : x ∈ A and x ∈ B}
A ′ = U − A = { x : x ∈U , x ∉ A }
e.g. If A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {3, 4, 5, 6}, then Clearly, x ∈ A ′ ⇔ x ∉ A
A ∩ B = {3, 4} e.g. If U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} and A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9},
Note If A 1, A 2, K , A n is a finite family of sets, then their
n then A ′ = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
intersection is denoted by ∩ A i or A 1 ∩ A 2 ∩ K ∩ A n.
i =1
EXAMPLE 4. The shaded region in the U
3. Disjoint of two sets Two sets A and B are said to given figure represents which value of A B
be disjoint, if A ∩ B = φ , i.e. they don’t have any sets A = {9, 18, 27, 36 }, B = {18, 36, 54, 72}?
common element. If A ∩ B ≠ φ, then A and B are a. {18, 36} b. {9, 18, 36, 72}
said to be intersecting or overlapping sets. c. A ∪ B d. {9, 27, 54, 72}
Sol. d. Clearly, the diagram represents the condition of
symmetric difference of two sets, i.e. ( A − B) ∪ ( B − A),
where {x : x ∉ A ∩ B}.
Now, ( A − B) = A − ( A ∩ B) = {9, 27}
( B − A) = B − ( A ∩ B) = {54, 72}
e.g. If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = { 4, 5, 6} So, ( A − B) ∪ ( B − A) = {9, 27, 54, 72}
Then, A ∩ B = φ , so A and B are disjoint sets. Thus, option (d) is correct.
Laws of Algebra of Sets
1. Idempotent laws For any set A, we have
(i) A ∪ A = A (ii) A ∩ A = A
2. Identity laws For any set A, we have
(i) A ∪ φ = A (ii) A ∩ φ = φ
(iii) A ∩ U = A (iv) A ∪ U = U
3. Commutative laws For any two sets A and B, we have
(i) A ∪ B = B ∪ A (ii) A ∩ B = B ∩ A
4. Associative laws If A, B and C are any three sets, then
(i) ( A ∪ B) ∪ C = A ∪ ( B ∪ C )
(ii) A ∩ ( B ∩ C ) = ( A ∩ B) ∩ C
5. Distributive laws If A , B and C are any three sets, then
(i) A ∪ ( B ∩ C ) = ( A ∪ B) ∩ ( A ∪ C )
(ii) A ∩ ( B ∪ C ) = ( A ∩ B) ∪ ( A ∩ C )
6. De-Morgan’s laws If A, B and C are any three sets,
then
(i) ( A ∪ B)′ = A ′ ∩ B′
(ii) ( A ∩ B)′ = A ′ ∪ B′
7. (i) A − ( B ∪ C ) = ( A − B) ∩ ( A − C )
(ii) A − ( B ∩ C ) = ( A − B) ∪ ( A − C )
(iii) A − B = A ∩ B ′ = B ′ − A ′
(iv) A − ( A − B) = A ∩ B
(v) A − B = B − A ⇔ A = B
(vi) A ∪ B = A ∩ B ⇔ A = B
(vii) A ∪ A ′ = U
(viii) A ∩ A ′ = φ
EXAMPLE 5. For three events A, B and C, what is the
simplest form of ( A ∩ B) ∩ ( A ∪ B c ) ∩ ( A c ∪ B)?
a. A ∩ B C b. A ∪ B c. AC ∩ B d. A ∩ B
Sol. d. We have, {( A ∩ B) ∩ ( A ∪ B c )} ∩ ( Ac ∪ B)
= {A ∩ ( B ∪ B c )} ∩ ( Ac ∪ B)
= ( A ∩ U) ∩ ( Ac ∪ B) = A ∩ ( Ac ∪ B)
= ( A ∩ Ac ) ∪ ( A ∪ B) = A ∩ B [Q A ∩ Ac = φ]
Important Results
If A, B and C are finite sets and U is the finite universal
set, then
1. n ( A ∪ B) = n ( A ) + n ( B) − n ( A ∩ B)
2. n ( A ∪ B) = n ( A ) + n ( B) ⇔ A , B are disjoint non-void
sets.
3. n ( A − B) = n ( A ) − n ( A ∩ B),
i.e. n ( A − B) + n ( A ∩ B) = n ( A )
4. n ( A ∪ B ∪ C ) = n ( A ) + n ( B) + n (C ) − n ( A ∩ B)
− n (B ∩ C) − n ( A ∩ C ) + n ( A ∩ B ∩ C )
5. Number of elements in exactly two of the sets A, B, C.
= n ( A ∩ B) + n ( B ∩ C ) + n (C ∩ A ) − 3n ( A ∩ B ∩ C )
6. Number of elements in exactly one of the sets A, B, C
= n ( A ) + n ( B) + n (C ) − 2n ( A ∩ B) − 2n ( B ∩ C )
− 2n ( A ∩ C ) + 3n ( A ∩ B ∩ C )
7. n ( A ′ ∪ B′ ) = n ( A ∩ B)′ = n (U ) − n ( A ∩ B)
8. n ( A ′ ∩ B′ ) = n ( A ∪ B)′ = n (U ) − n ( A ∪ B)
9. n ( A ∆ B) = n ( A ) + n ( B) − 2n ( A ∩ B)
10. n ( A ′ ) = n (U ) − n ( A )
11. n ( A ∩ B′ ) = n ( A ) − n ( A ∩ B)
EXAMPLE 6. In a group of 500 students, there are
475 students who can speak Hindi and 200 can speak
Bengali. What is the number of students who can
speak Hindi only?
a. 275 b. 300 c. 325 d. 350
Sol. b. Given, n (H) = number of students who can speak
Hindi = 475
n ( B) = number of students who can speak Bengali = 200
and n (H ∪ B) = total number of students = 500
Now, n (H ∩ B) = number of students who speak both
Hindi and Bengali = n (H) + n ( B) − n (H ∪ B)
= 475 + 200 − 500 = 175
Now, number of students who can speak Hindi only
= n (H) − n (H ∩ B)
= 475 − 175 = 300
EXAMPLE 7. In a class of 100 students, 70 have taken
Science, 60 have taken Mathematics, 40 have taken
both Science and Mathematics.
Consider the following statements
I. The number of students who have not taken
Science or Mathematics is 10.
II. The number of students who have not taken both
Science and Mathematics is 10.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I b. Only II
c. Both I and I d. None of these
Sol. c. Let A and B be the set of students who have taken
Science and Mathematics, respectively.
∴ n( A) = 70, n( B) = 60
and n( A ∩ B) = Number of students who have taken both
= 40
We know that, n ( A ∪ B) = n( A) + n( B) − n( A ∩ B)
= 70 + 60 − 40 = 90
∴ Number of students who have not taken Science or
Mathematics = Number of students who have not taken
both Science and Mathematics
= 100 − n( A ∪ B)
= 100 − 90 = 10
MATHEMATICS > Set Theory 7

PRACTICE EXERCISE
1. Total number of elements in the power set of A 11. In a college of 300 students, every student reads
containing 15 elements is 5 newspapers and every newspaper is read by
(a) 215 (b) 152 (c) 215 −1 (d) 215 − 1 60 students. The number of newspapers is
2. What is the number of proper subsets of a given (a) atleast 30 (b) atmost 20
finite set with n elements? (c) exactly 25 (d) None of these
(a) 2 n − 1 (b) 2 n − 2 (c) 2 n − 1 (d) 2 n − 2 12. In an examination out of 100 students, 75 passed
3. If A = P ({ 1, 2}), where P denotes the power set, in English, 60 passed in Mathematics and 45
passed in both English and Mathematics. What
then which one of the following is correct?
is the number of students passed in exactly one
(a) {1, 2} ⊂ A (b) 1∈ A (c) φ ∉ A (d) {1, 2} ∈ A
of the two subjects?
4. If the cardinality of a set A is 4 and that of a set (a) 45 (b) 60 (c) 75 (d) 90
B is 3, then what is the cardinality of the set
A∆B ? 13. If A = { 4n + 2| n is a natural number} and
(a) 1 (b) 5 B = { 3n| n is a natural number}, then what is
(c) 7 (d) Cannot be determined ( A ∩ B) equal to?
5. If P, Q and R are three non-collinear points, then (a) {12 n2 + 6n|, n is a natural number}
what is PQ ∩ PR equal to? (b) {24n − 12 |, n is a natural number}
(a) Null set (b) {P} (c) {P, Q, R} (d) {Q, R} (c) {60n + 30|, n is a natural number}
(d) {12 n − 6|, n is a natural number}
6. The shaded region in the given figure is
A 14. If X = {( 4n − 3n − 1)| n ∈ N } and
Y = { 9 ( n − 1)| n ∈ N }, then what is X ∪ Y equal
to?
B C (a) X (b) Y (c) N (d) A null set

15. Let N denotes the set of natural numbers and

(a) A ∩ (B ∪ C ) (b) A ∪ (B ∩ C ) A = { n 2 : n ∈ N } and B = { n3 : n ∈ N }. Which one of
(c) A − (B ∩ C ) (d) A − (B ∪ C ) the following is correct?
7. If A and B are subsets of a set X, then what is (a) A∪B= N
{ A ∩ ( X − B)} ∪ B equal to? (b) The complement of ( A ∪ B) is an infinite set
(a) A ∪ B (b) A ∩ B (c) A (d) B (c) A ∩ B must be a finite set
(d) A ∩ B must be a proper subset of {m6 : m ∈ N}
8. Let n(U ) = 700, n( A) = 200, n( B) = 300,
n( A ∩ B) = 100, then n( A′ ∩ B ′ ) is equal to 16. Out of 800 boys in a school, 224 played cricket,
(a) 400 (b) 600 240 played hockey and 336 played basketball. Of
(c) 300 (d) None of these the total, 64 played both basketball and hockey,
9. Consider the following Venn diagram. 80 played cricket and basketball and 40 played
cricket and hockey; 24 played all the three
E games. The number of boys, who did not play
A B any game is
(a) 128 (b) 216 (c) 240 (d) 160

If n( E ) = 42, n( A) = 15, n( B) = 12 and 17. Consider the set A of all determinants of order 3
n( A ∪ B) = 22, then the area represented by with entries 0 or 1 only. Let B be the subset of A
shaded portion in the above Venn diagram, is consisting of all determinants with value 1. Let
(a) 25 (b) 27 (c) 32 (d) 37
C be the subset of the set of all determinants
with value –1. Then,
10. If A is the set of the divisions of the number 15, (a) C is empty
B is the set of prime numbers smaller than 10 (b) B has as many elements as C
and C is the set of even numbers smaller than 9,
(c) A = B∪C
then ( A ∪ C ) ∩ B is the set
(d) B has twice as many elements as C
(a) {1, 3, 5} (b) {1, 2, 3} (c) {2} (d) {2, 5}
8 NDA/NA Pathfinder

18. If A = { x : x 2 − 3x + 2 = 0} and 25. Percentage of families having both phone and

2
B = { x : x + 2x − 8 = 0}, then ( A − B) is car, is
(a) 5% (b) 10% (c) 20% (d) 25%
(a) {1, 2} (b) {2}
(c) {1} (d) {4, 3} 26. Percentage of families having either phone or
19. Let A = { x : x ∈ R , x < 1}, B = { x : x ∈ R , x − 1 ≥ 1} car, is
(a) 10% (b) 30% (c) 35% (d) 40%
and A ∪ B = R − D, then the set D is
(a) {x : 1 < x ≤ 2} (b) {x : 1 ≤ x < 2} 27. What is the number of families in the city?
(c) {x : 1 ≤ x ≤ 2} (d) None of these (a) 30000 (b) 40000
2 2 (c) 20000 (d) 10000
20. If A = {( x , y ): x + y = 25} and
B = {( x , y ): x 2 + 9 y 2 = 144}, then A ∩ B contains Directions (Q. Nos. 28-32) In a class, 3 languages
(a) one point (b) three points (c) two points (d) four points are offered mainly Hindi,
21. If two sets A and B having 3 and 6 elements English and French. The total 23 23
2x
respectively, then which of the following is/are number of students learning H E
French is 46. In x denotes the x 153 x
correct?
I. The minimum number of elements of ( A ∪ B) = 6. number of students learning F 11
Hindi and French but bot 28
II. The maximum number of elements of ( A ∩ B) = 3.
Select the correct answer using the code given English, then answer the
below. following using adjacent Venn diagram.
(a) Only I (b) Only II 28. How many students learn precisely two
(c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II languages?
22. If A is any set and P ( A) is its power set, then (a) 55 (b) 40 (c) 30 (d) 13
which of the following is/are correct? 29. How many students learn atleast two languages?
I. P ( A ) ∩ P (B) = P ( A ∩ B) (a) 15 (b) 30 (c) 45 (d) 55
II. P ( A ) ∪ P (B) = P ( A ∪ B) 30. What is the total strength of the class?
Select the correct answer using the code given (a) 124 (b) 100 (c) 96 (d) 66
below. 31. How many students learn English and French?
(a) Only II (b) Only I (a) 30 (b) 43 (c) 45 (d) 73
(c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II
32. How many students learn atleast one language?
23. Consider the following statements (a) 45 (b) 51
I. All poets (P ) are learned (L ). (c) 96 (d) None of these
II. All learned (L ) are happy (H ).
Which one of the following Venn diagrams
correctly represents both the above statements PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS
taken together?
H 33. If A and B are any two sets, then what is the
(c) P (d)
value of A ∩ ( A ∪ B)? e 2012 I
(a) P L (b) P L L P LH
(a) Complement of A (b) Complement of B
H H
(c) B (d) A
24. A relation between three sets is established 34. Let A = {x : x is a square of a natural number
using two expressions, ( A ∪ B) = ( A ∪ C ) and x is less than 100} and B is a set of even
and ( A ∩ B) = ( A ∩ C ), which stays valid if and natural numbers. What is the cardinality of
only if A ∩ B? e 2012 I
I. B = C II. A = B = C III. A = C (a) 4 (b) 5
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (c) 9 (d) None of these
(a) Only I (b) Only II 35. Let U = { x ∈ N : 1 ≤ x ≤ 10} be the universal set,
(c) Both I and II (d) Only III N being the set of natural numbers.
Directions (Q. Nos. 25-27) In a city, 25% of the If A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {2, 3, 6, 10}, then what
families have phone, 15% of the families have car, is the complement of ( A − B)? e 2012 I
(a) {6, 10} (b) {1, 4}
65% of the families have neither phone nor car and
(c) {2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} (d) {5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
2000 families have both phone and car.
36. Which one of the following is a null set? e 2013 I 44. Consider the following statements
(a) {0} (b) {{{}}} I. The number of students who have taken only
(c) {{}} (d) { x| x2 + 1 = 0, x ∈R} one subject is equal to the number of students
who have taken only two subjects.
37. If A is a subset of B, then which one of the II. The number of students who have taken atleast
following is correct? e 2013 II
two subjects is four times the number of
(a) Ac ⊆ B c (b) Bc ⊆ A c (c) Ac = B c (d) A ⊆ A ∩ B students who have taken all the three subjects.
38. If A = { 1, 3, 5, 7}, then what is the cardinality of Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
the power set P ( A)? e 2013 II (a) Only I (b) Only II
(a) 8 (b) 15 (c) 16 (d) 17 (c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II
39. Consider the following 45. In a class of 60 students, 45 students like music,
I. A ∪ (B ∩ C ) = ( A ∩ B) ∪ ( A ∩ C ) 50 students like dancing, 5 students like neither.
II. A ∩ (B ∪ C ) = ( A ∪ B) ∩ ( A ∪ C ) Then, the number of students in the class who
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? like both music and dancing, is e 2015 I
e 2013 II (a) 35 (b) 40 (c) 50 (d) 55
(a) Only I (b) Only II (c) I and II (d) Neither I nor II 46. Let A = { 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}. Then, the
40. In a group of 50 people, two tests were conducted, number of subsets of A containing exactly two
one for diabetes and one for blood pressure. elements is e 2015 I
30 people were diagnosed with diabetes and 40 (a) 20 (b) 40 (c) 45 (d) 90
people were diagnosed with high blood pressure. 47. If A = { x : x is a multiple of 3} and B = { x : x is a
What is the minimum number of people who were
having diabetes and high blood pressure? e 2013 II multiple of 4} and C = { x : x is a multiple of 12},
(a) 0 (b) 10 (c) 20 (d) 30
then which one of the following is a null set?
(a) (A \ B) ∪ C (b) (A \ B)\C e 2015 I
41. Which one of the following is an example of (c) ( A ∩ B) ∩ C (d) (A ∩ B) \ C
non-empty set? e 2013 II
(a) Set of all even prime numbers 48. If A = { x ∈ R : x 2 + 6x − 7 < 0} and
(b) {x : x2 − 2 = 0 and x is rational} B = { x ∈ R : x 2 + 9x + 14 > 0}, then which of the
(c) {x : x is a natural number, x < 8 and simultaneously following is/are correct?
x > 12} I. ( A ∩ B) = (− 2, 1) II. ( A \ B) = (− 7, − 2)
(d) {x : x is a point common to any two parallel lines}
Select the correct answer using the code given
Directions (Q. Nos. 42-44) Read the following information below. e 2015 II
carefully to answer the questions that follow. (a) Only I (b) Only II
(c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II
In a survey of 25 students, it was found that 15
have taken Mathematics, 12 have taken Physics and 49. A, B, C and D are four sets such that
11 have taken Chemistry, 5 have taken Mathematics A ∩ B = C ∩ D = φ . Consider the following
and Chemistry, 9 have taken Mathematics and I. A ∪ C and B ∪ D are always disjoint.
Physics, 4 have taken Physics and Chemistry and 3 II. A ∩ C and B ∩ D are always disjoint.
have taken all the three subjects. e 2014 I
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
42. The number of students who have taken only (a) Only I (b) Only II e 2015 II
Physics, is (c) Both I and II (d) Neither I nor II
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 5 (d) 6
50. What is the number of natural numbers less
43. The number of students who have taken only than or equal to 1000 which are neither divisible
two subjects, is by 10 nor 15 nor 25? e 2016 I
(a) 7 (b) 8 (c) 9 (d) 10 (a) 860 (b) 854 (c) 840 (d) 824

ANSWERS
1 a 2 c 3 d 4 d 5 b 6 d 7 a 8 c 9 a 10 c
11 c 12 a 13 d 14 b 15 d 16 d 17 b 18 c 19 b 20 d
21 c 22 b 23 d 24 a 25 a 26 c 27 b 28 c 29 c 30 a
31 a 32 c 33 d 34 a 35 c 36 d 37 b 38 c 39 d 40 c
41 b 42 a 43 c 44 b 45 b 46 c 47 d 48 a 49 b 50 b
10
HINTS AND SOLUTIONS
1. (a) If a set A has n elements, then its
power set will contain 2n elements.
∴ Total number of elements in is power
set of A = 215
2. (c)
3. (d) Let B = { 1, 2}
Then, A = P( B ) = { φ, { 1}, { 2}, { 1, 2}
Clearly, { 1, 2} ∈ A
4. (d) Since, the sets A and B are not
known, then cardinality of the set A∆B
cannot be determined.
5. (b) Given, P , Q and R are three
non-collinear points, then
P Q ∩ PR = { P }.
P 15. (d) Q A = { n2 : n ∈ N }
Q R
6. (d) 7. (a)
8. (c) n( A ′ ∩ B ′ ) = n( A ∪ B )′
= n(U ) − n( A ∪ B )
= n(U ) − [ n( A ) + n( B ) − n( A ∩ B )]
= 700 − { 200 + 300 − 100} = 300
9. (a) Shaded region
= n ( E ) − n ( A ∪ B) + n ( A ∩ B )
= n( E ) − n( A ∪ B ) + n( A ) + n ( B )
− n( A ∪ B )
= 42 − 22 + 15 + 12 − 22 = 25
10. (c) Given, A = { 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, ...}
B = { 2, 3, 5, 7} ; C = { 2, 4, 6, 8}
Now, A ∪ C = { 15, 30, 45, 60, 75,K }
∪ { 2, 4, 6, 8}
= { 2, 4, 6, 8, 15, 30, 45, 60, K }
Now, ( A ∪ C ) ∩ B
= { 2, 4, 6, 8, 15, 30, 45, K } ∩ { 2, 3, 5, 7}
= { 2}
11. (c) Let n be the number of newspapers.
Then, 60 × n = 300 × 5
⇒ n = 25
12. (a) Let E and M be the set of students
passed in English and Mathematics,
then n( E ) = 75, n( M ) = 60
and n ( E ∩ M ) = 45
∴ Required number of students
= n( E ) + n( M ) − 2 n ( E ∩ M )
= 75 + 60 − 90
= 45
NDA/NA Pathfinder
13. (d) A = { 4n + 2 | n ∈ N } 19. (b) We have,
= { 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, K } A = { x : x ∈ R, − 1 < x < 1}
and B = {3n | n ∈ N } and B = { x : x ∈ R, x − 1 ≤ −1
= {3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21,
or x − 1 ≥ 1}
24, 27, 30, K }
= { x : x ∈ R, x ≤ 0 or x ≥ 2}
⇒ A ∩ B = { 6, 18, 30, K }
∴ A ∪ B = { x : x ∈ R, x < 1 or x ≥ 2}
or A ∩ B = { 6 + ( n − 1) 12 | n ∈ N }
= R−D
= { 12n − 6 | n ∈ N }
where, D = { x : x ∈ R, 1 ≤ x < 2}
14. (b) X = {( 4n − 3n − 1) | n ∈ N }
20. (d) Clearly, A is the set of all points on
and Y = { 9( n − 1) | n ∈ N } the circle x 2 + y 2 = 25 and B is the set
⇒ X = { 0, 9, 54, K } of all points on the ellipse
and Y = { 0, 9, 18 , 27, 36, 54, K } x 2 + 9 y 2 = 144. These two intersect at
four points P, Q, R and S.
∴ X ∪ Y = { 0, 9, 18, 27, 36, 54, K } = Y Y
x 2 + y 2 = 25
and B = { n3 : n ∈ N } Q P
So, A ∩ B must be a proper subset of X′ X
{m 6 : m ∈ N }. O
R S
16. (d) Given, n (C ) = 224, n( H ) = 240, x 2 + 9y 2 = 144
n( B ) = 336, n( H ∩ B ) = 64,
n( B ∩ C ) = 80, n( H ∩ C ) = 40, Y′
n(C ∩ H ∩ B ) = 24, n(U ) = 800
Hence, A ∩ B contains four points.
n(C c ∩ H c ∩ B c ) = n [C ∪ H ∪ B ]c
21. (c) n ( A ∪ B ) = n( A ) + n( B ) − n( A ∩ B )
= n(U ) − n(C ∪ H ∪ B )
= 3 + 6 − n ( A ∩ B)
= 800 − [ n(C ) + n( H ) + n( B )
= 9 − n ( A ∩ B)
− n(C ∩ H ) − n( H ∩ B )
As maximum number of element in
− n( B ∩ C ) + n(C ∩ H ∩ B )]
( A ∩ B ) = minimum of n ( A ) and
= 800 − ( 224 + 240 + 336 − 40 − 64 n ( B) = 3
−80 + 24) = 160
∴ Minimum number of elements in
17. (b) We know that, the interchange of ( A ∪ B) = 9 − 3 = 6
two adjacent rows (columns) changes Hence, both statements are correct.
the value of a determinant only in sign
but not in magnitude. Hence, 22. (b) Let x ∈ P ( A ∩ B )
corresponding to every element ∆ of B ⇔ x ⊆ ( A ∩ B)
there is an element ∆′ in C obtained by ⇔ x ⊆ A and x ⊆ B
interchanging two adjacent rows
(columns) in ∆ . It follows that ⇔ x ∈ P ( A ) and x ∈ P ( B )
n( B ) ≤ n(C ), i.e. the number of elements ⇔ x ∈ P ( A) ∩ P ( B)
in B is less than or equal to the number ∴ P ( A ∩ B) ⊆ P ( A) ∩ P ( B)
of elements in C.
and P ( A ) ∩ P ( B ) ⊆ P ( A ∩ B )
Similarly, n(C ) ≤ n( B )
Hence, P ( A ) ∩ P ( B ) = P ( A ∩ B )
Hence, n( B ) = n(C ),
Now, consider sets A = { 1}, B = { 2}
i.e. B has as many elements as C.
⇒ A ∪ B = { 1, 2}
18. (c) Given, A = { x : x 2 − 3x + 2 = 0}
∴ P ( A ) = { φ,{ 1}}, P ( B ) = { φ, { 2}}
= { x : ( x − 1) ( x − 2) = 0}
and P ( A ∪ B )
= { 1, 2}
= { φ,{ 1},{ 2},{ 1, 2}}
and B = { x : x 2 + 2x − 8 = 0}
≠ P ( A) ∪ P ( B)
= { x : ( x + 4) ( x − 2) = 0}
Hence, Statement I is true but
= { 2, − 4}
Statement II is false.
∴ ( A − B ) = { 1, 2} − { 2,−4} = { 1}
 23. (d) We have three categories, i.e. poets,
learned and happy for which we can
Venn diagram as follows.
Statement I represents
L 29. (c) The number of students learn atleast
P
Thus, P ⊆ L
Statement II represents
H 31. (a) The number of students learn
L
Thus, L ⊆ H
On combining both statements, we get
P ⊆ L ⊆ H and the Venn diagram of
both statements taken together is given
below.
P L H
24. (a) We have, B = B ∪ ( A ∩ B )
= B ∪ ( A ∩ C ) [Q A ∩ B = A ∩ C ]
= ( B ∪ A) ∩ ( B ∪ C )
= ( A ∪ C ) ∩ (B ∪ C )
= ( A ∩ B) ∪ C
= (A ∩C) ∪C = C
Hence, only statement I is correct
Sol. (Q. Nos. 25-27) Let P and C be the set of
families having phone and car,
respectively.
Given, n ( P ∩ C ) = 65%
⇒ n (U ) − n ( P ∪ C ) = 65%
⇒ n ( P ∪ C ) = 100 − 65 = 35%
25. (a) Percentage of families having both
phone and car,
n( P ∩ C ) = n( P ) + n(C ) − n( P ∪ C )
= 25% + 15% − 35% = 5%
26. (c) Percentage of families having either
phone or car, n( P ∪ C ) = 35%
27. (b) If total number of families is x, then
5% of x = 2000
2000
⇒ x = × 100 = 40000
5 B
Sol. (Q. Nos. 28-32) Given that, the total
number of students learning French = 46
∴ 15 + 11 + x + 3x = 46
⇒ 4x = 20 ⇒ x = 5
28. (c) The number of students learn
precisely two languages
= x + 2x + 3x
= 6x = 6 × 5 = 30
two language
= x + 2x + 3x + 15
= 6x + 15 = 30 + 15 = 45
30. (a) Total number of students in a class
= 28 + 23 + 17 + 11 + x + 2x + 3x + 15
= 79 + 6x + 15 = 94 + 30 = 124
English and French
= 15 + 3x = 15 + 15 = 30
32. (c) The number of students learn atleast
one language = 124 − 28 = 96
33. (d) Here, A and B are any two sets and
U is the universal set.
U Hence, minimum value of
A B
Sol. (Q. Nos. 42-44)
A ∩ (A ∪ B)
34. (a) Given,
A = { 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81}
and B = { 2, 4, 6, K }
Now, A ∩ B = {4, 16, 36, 64}
∴ Cardinality of ( A ∩ B )
= Number of elements in ( A ∩ B ) = 4
35. (c) Given that,
U = { x ∈ N : 1 ≤ x ≤ 10}
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4} and B = { 2, 3, 6, 10}
Now, A − B = { 1, 4}
∴ Complement of ( A − B ) = ( A − B )′
= U − ( A − B ) = { 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
36. (d) { 0}→ Singleton set and x 2 + 1 = 0
⇒ x 2 = −1
⇒ x is a complex number.
While { x |x 2 + 1= 0, x ∈ R}.
So, it is a null set.
37. (b) Let U = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Clearly, A ⊆ B
Now, AC = {6, 7, 8, 9, 10},
C taken only Physics
= {7, 8, 9, 10}
⇒ BC ⊆ A C
Now, we have A ∩ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
⇒ A = ( A ∩ B)
Hence, option (b) is correct.
38. (c) Given that, A = { 1, 3, 5, 7}
Here, n ( A) = 4
∴ Number of elements on power set of A
= 2n ( A ) = 24 = 16
∴ Cardinality of the power set
P ( A ) = 16
39. (d) We know that,
In set theory, according to ‘Distribution
law’,
I. A ∪ ( B ∩ C ) = ( A ∪ B ) ∩ ( A ∪ C )
II. A ∩ ( B ∪ C ) = ( A ∩ B ) ∪ ( A ∩ C )
So, both statements are incorrect.
40. (c) Given, n(D ) = 30, n( B ) = 40
As, n (D ∩ B ) = n(D ) + n( B ) − n(D ∪ B )
= 40 + 30 − n(D ∪ B )
= 70 − n(D ∪ B )
As total number of people is 50, therefore
maximum value of n(D ∪ B ) is 50.
n(D ∩ B ) = 70 − 50 = 20
41. (b) Let S be the set of all even prime
numbers.
∴ S = { 2 } = non-empty set
P C U
12 11
2 1 5
6 3 2
4
15
M
Given that,
Total number of surveyed students = 25
Number of students, who have taken all
three subjects = 3
Number of students, who have taken
Physics and Chemistry = 4
Number of students, who have taken
Mathematics and Physics = 9
Number of students who have taken
Mathematics and Chemistry = 5
Number of students, who have taken
Chemistry = 11
Number of students, who have taken
Physics = 12
Number of students, who have taken
Mathematics = 15
42. (a) The number of students, who have
= 12 − ( 1 + 3 + 6)
= 12 − 10 = 2
43. (c) The number of students, who have
taken only two subjects = 6 + 2 + 1 = 9

44. (b)
I. The number of students, who have
taken only one subject
= 2 + 5 + 4 = 11
and the number of students, who
have taken only two subjects
= 6 + 2 + 1= 9
Since, 11 ≠ 9, therefore given
statement is not correct.
II. The number of students, who have
taken atleast two subjects
= 1 + 2 + 6 + 3 = 12
The number of students, who have
taken all three subjects = 3
Since, 12 = 4 × 3, therefore given
statement is correct.
45. (b) Let the number of students in the
class be x, who like both music and
dancing.
5 1000 
45–x x 50–x
Music Dancing
∴ ( 45 − x ) + x + (50 − x ) + 5 = 60
⇒ 100 − x = 60
⇒ x = 100 − 60 = 40
46. (c) Required number of subsets of A
containing exactly two elements
10 × 9
= 10 C =
2 Here, ( A ∩ C ) ∩ ( B ∪ D ) = φ
2
90
= = 45
2 Hence, only Statement II is correct.
47. (d) Here, A = {3, 6, 9, 12, 15, K }
B = { 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, K }
and C = { 12, 24, 36, 48, K }
1000 
∴ A ∩ B = { 12, 24, 36, 48, K } Then, n( A ) =   = 100,
⇒ ( A ∩ B) \ C = ( A ∩ B) − C  10 
= { 12, 24, 36, K } − { 12, 24, 36, ...} 1000 
n( B ) =   = 66
which is a null set.  15 
1000 
48. (a) We have, and n(C ) =   = 40
2  25 
A = { x ∈ R : x + 6x − 7 < 0}
= { x ∈ R : ( x + 7)( x − 1) < 0} Now, n( A ∩ B ) = n (set of numbers
which are divisible by both 10 and 15)
= { x ∈ R : − 7 < x < 1}
= n (set of numbers divisible by 30)
and B = { x ∈ R : x 2 + 9x + 14 > 0}
1000 
= { x ∈ R : ( x + 7)( x + 2) > 0} =   = 33
 30 
= { x ∈ R : x < − 7 and x > −2}
Similarly, n( A ∩ C )
∴ A ∩ B = { x ∈ R : − 2 < x < 1}
= n (set of numbers divisible by 50)
= ( −2 , 1)
1000 
and ( A \ B ) = A − B =   = 20
 50 
= { x ∈ R : − 7 < x ≤ −2 }
n( B ∩ C )
= ( −7 , − 2 ]
Hence, only Statement I is correct. = n (set of numbers divisible by 75)
49. (b) Since, A ∩ B = φ and C ∩ D = φ =   = 13
 75 
∴ ( A ∩ B ) ∩ (C ∩ D ) = φ
⇒ ( A ∩ C ) ∩ (B ∩ D) = φ and n( A ∩ B ∩ C )
Hence, A ∩ C and B ∩ D are always = n (set of numbers divisible by
disjoint. 10, 15 and 25)
= n (set of numbers divisible by 150)
But A ∪ C and B ∪ D may be or not
1000 
disjoint. See example given below =   =6
 150 
A B ∴ n( A ∪ B ∪ C ) = n( A ) + n( B )
C D
+ n(C ) − n( A ∩ B ) − n( B ∩ C )
− n(C ∩ A ) + n( A ∩ B ∩ C )
= 100 + 66 + 40 − 33 − 13 − 20 + 6
But, ( A ∪ C ) ∩ ( B ∪ D ) ≠ φ
= 146
Hence, required numbers
50. (b) Let A, B and C be the set of natural = n(U ) − n( A ∪ B ∪ C )
numbers (≤ 1000) which are divisible by
= 1000 − 146 = 854
10, 15 and 25 respectively.