PEU3301 – Foundations of Mathematics - Final Examination - 2019/ 2020

Q6
(a) Let 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶 be sets. Prove by the method of conditional proof that
(i) 𝐴 ∖ (𝐵 ∩ 𝐶) ⊆ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐵) ∪ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐶) and
(ii) (𝐴 ∖ 𝐵) ∩ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐶) ⊆ 𝐴 ∖ (𝐵 ∪ 𝐶).

(b) A non-empty set 𝑋 is said to be countable if there is a sequence < 𝑥𝑛 > such that
𝑋 = {𝑥𝑛 ∶ 𝑛 ∈ ℕ}. Assuming that the interval (0, 1) is not countable, prove that for
𝑎, 𝑏 ∈ ℝ and 𝑎 < 𝑏, the interval (𝑎, 𝑏) is also not countable.
Solution
(a) (i) Suppose 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ (𝐵 ∩ 𝐶). Then 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑥 ∉ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶.
Since 𝑥 ∉ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶 we have 𝑥 ∉ 𝐵 or 𝑥 ∉ 𝐶. Combining this with the result 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 we have:
If 𝑥 ∉ 𝐵 then 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐵. If 𝑥 ∉ 𝐶 then 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐶. Thus 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐵 or 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐶.
Hence 𝑥 ∈ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐵) ∪ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐶). Therefore, we proved 𝐴 ∖ (𝐵 ∩ 𝐶) ⊆ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐵) ∪ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐶).
(ii) Next suppose 𝑥 ∈ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐵) ∩ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐶). Then 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐵 and 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐶.
Now 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐵 implies that 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑥 ∉ 𝐵, and 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 ∖ 𝐶 implies that 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑥 ∉ 𝐶.
Combining the results 𝑥 ∉ 𝐵 and 𝑥 ∉ 𝐶 we have 𝑥 ∉ (𝐵 ∪ 𝐶). Thus, we conclude 𝑥 ∈ 𝐴
and 𝑥 ∉ (𝐵 ∪ 𝐶). This means 𝐴 ∖ (𝐵 ∪ 𝐶). So, we have proved (𝐴 ∖ 𝐵) ∩ (𝐴 ∖ 𝐶) ⊆ 𝐴 ∖
(𝐵 ∪ 𝐶).

(b) Refer 9.3.7 Example in the course book.