SETS

Jayanth.k
XI
In mathematics and computer science, a set is a well-defined collection of distinct objects.
These objects can be anything, from numbers and letters to shapes and even other sets.
Here are some key characteristics of sets:
• Elements: Each item in a set is called an element.
• Order doesn't matter: The order of elements in a set doesn't matter. For example, the set
{1, 2, 3} is the same as the set {3, 2, 1}.
• Duplicates are not allowed: Each element can only appear once in a set. For example,
the set {1, 2, 3} is different from the set {1, 2, 2, 3}.
• Represented by curly braces: Sets are usually written inside curly braces, {}, like this:
{1, 2, 3}.
 1. Roster (Listing) Method:
• Definition: This method directly lists all the elements of the set within curly braces,
separated by commas.
2. Set-Builder Notation:
• Definition: This method uses a descriptive rule or condition to define the elements
that belong to the set.
 Here's a description of different types of sets, along with examples:
1. Empty Set:
• Definition: A set that contains no elements at all.
• Notation: It's represented by curly braces with nothing inside, like this: {} or ∅.
• Example: The set of all living dinosaurs is an empty set.
2. Singleton Set:
• Definition: A set that contains exactly one element.
⚬ Example:The set containing the number 7: {7}
⚬ The set containing the letter "x": {x}
3. Finite Sets:
• Definition: Sets that have a specific, countable number of elements.
⚬ Example:The set of primary colors: {red, blue, yellow}
⚬ The set of letters in the word "cat": {c, a, t}
⚬ The set of even numbers between 1 and 10: {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
4. Infinite Sets:
• Definition: Sets that have an unending, uncountable number of elements.
⚬ Example:The set of all natural numbers (counting numbers): {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }
⚬ The set of all real numbers: {..., -3.14, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3.14, ... }
⚬ The set of all points on a line: (infinitely many points)
 Subsets:
• Definition: A set A is considered a subset of set B if every element of A is also an element of B. In other
words, A is contained within B.
• Symbol: A ⊆ B
Proper Subsets:
• Definition: A proper subset is a subset that is not equal to the original set. This means that A is a subset of B,
but B has at least one element that is not in A.
• Symbol:
 Union:
The union of two sets A and B is the collection of elements which are in A or in B or in both A and B. It is
denoted by A ∪ B.

Intersection:
The intersection of two sets A and B is the collection of elements which are in A and also in B. It is denoted by A
∩ B.

Difference:
The difference of two sets A and B is the collection of elements which are in A but not in B. It is denoted by A -
B.

Complement:
The complement of a set A is the collection of elements which are not in A. It is denoted by A'.
Venn diagrams are a powerful visual tool for representing sets and their relationships. They consist of closed
shapes, often circles, that overlap to depict how sets intersect or share elements.
Here are examples of Venn diagrams with different arrangements:
1. Two Overlapping Circles:
Venn diagram with two overlapping circles, representing two sets with some elements in common
⚬ Commonly used to: Illustrate the union and intersection of two sets.
⚬ Show subsets and proper subsets.
⚬ Represent relationships between categories or concepts.
2. Three Overlapping Circles:
⚬ Can represent: Relationships among three sets, including their overlaps and exclusive areas.
⚬ More complex relationships and combinations of elements.
3. Four or More Overlapping Circles:
Venn diagram with four overlapping circles
• While possible, they become visually complex and may be less intuitive for understanding relationships.
 Finite Sets:
• Definition: Sets with a specific, countable number of elements.
• Notation: The cardinality of a finite set A is denoted by |A| = n, where n is a natural number (0, 1, 2, 3, ...).
⚬ Examples:{1, 2, 3} has cardinality 3, so |{1, 2, 3}| = 3.
⚬ {a, b, c} has cardinality 3, so |{a, b, c}| = 3.
⚬ The empty set {} has cardinality 0, so |{}| = 0.
Infinite Sets:
• Definition: Sets with an unending, uncountable number of elements.
￭ Types:Countably Infinite: These sets have the same cardinality as the natural numbers, meaning their
elements can be put in a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers.Example: The set of
even numbers {2, 4, 6, 8, ...} is countably infinite.
￭ Uncountably Infinite: These sets have a cardinality greater than the natural numbers, meaning their
elements cannot be put in a one-to-one correspondence with the natural numbers.Example: The set of
real numbers between 0 and 1 is uncountably infinite.