Set Operations 2.0
Set Operations 2.0
Set Operations 2.0
Lesson Objective:
SETS
What is a set?
A set is a collection of well-defined objects. The objects are called elements or members of
the set. The symbol ∈ is used to denote that an object is an element of a set, and the symbol ∉ denotes
that an object is not an element of a set.
✓ We use braces and commas also to denote a set.
✓ It is usually presented in capital letters.
Examples:
A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12}
B = {x | positive integer less than 20}
Example:
A= {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 }
• 2∈A
• 3∉A
• 4∈A
• 13 ∉ A
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The symbol “…” is called an ellipsis and read as “and so forth”. As you can see in set
C, not all numbers are listed in the braces, instead we used ellipses to indicate the indicating
numbers to 4 to 99 numbers in the set. Another example is for the set D, where we remove
100 since it denotes up to positive infinity. The third example is set E, where the ellipses is on
the left and it will approach negative infinity.
Sometimes we do not list all the elements, instead we used ellipses (…) to describe a
very large set.
Another example:
• {x | x is rational number}
Rational numbers are the set of all terminating and repeating decimals.
𝑄 = 𝑎/𝑏
1 3 3
Examples of 𝑄: , −4 −4
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• {x ∈ ℤ | -3 < x < 6}
This is read as “The set of all element in the set of integers such that x is greater than
but less than 6.”
What are the elements in this set?
Answer: {x ∈ ℤ | -3 < x < 6} = {-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,}
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Now, if we will graph this set in the number line, you will see that -3 and 6 are not included
in the elements. We put open circle and hallow circle, which denote that the element is not
included in the set. This is used if the inequality symbol is “>” or “<”
• {x ∈ ℤ | -3 ≤ x ≤ 6}
This is read as “The set of all element in the set of integers such that x is greater than
or equal to -3 but less than or equal to 6.”
What are the elements in this set?
• Answer: {x ∈ ℤ | -3 ≤ x ≤ 6} = {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
Graphing the elements in the set, we will use a solid circle and closed circle which
indicates that -3 and 6 are included in the set. We used the closed circle or solid circle
Examples:
[1,5] = {1,2, 3, 4, 5}
(1,5] = {2, 3, 4, 5}
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[1,5) = {1,2, 3, 4}
(1,5) = {2,3,4}
IMPORTANT TERMS
1. Cardinality of a set refers to the number of elements or member in a set. The cardinality of a set A
is denoted by n(A) or |A|.
Examples:
A = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} The cardinality is 7. (|A|=7)
Real Numbers (ℝ) The set of all rational and irrational numbers
5. Equality of Sets
Two or more sets are considered equal if they have the same elements. Let A and B be sets. If
A and B have the same elements, then A = B.
Examples:
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A = { a, b, c, d, e} B= {b, c, e, d, a}
In set, the order of the elements doesn’t matter.
A= a, b, b, b, b, b, c, c, c, c, d, e, e} B= {b, c, e, d, a}
In set, the elements that repeat are counted as one.
6. Subset of a Set
Set A is a subset of B, denoted by ⊆, if and only if all elements of A are also elements of B.
A= {x, y, z}
Subsets of A:
{}, {x}, {y}, {z}, {x, y}, {x, z}, {y, z}, {x, y, z}
7. Proper subset
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COMPLEMENTS, SUBSETS AND SET OPERATIONS
Intersection of Sets
Given two sets A and B, their intersection denoted by A ∩ B denoted, is the set both
common to both A and B. In other words, the intersection of a set are those elements can be found
for both A and B.
Examples 1:
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
B = {3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
Therefore, we conclude that A ∩ B = {3, 4, 5}.
Example 2:
Let C= {a, b, c}, D= {b,c} and E={x, y, z, a}.
• C ∩ D = {b,c}
• D ∩ E= { } or ∅
• C ∩ E = {a}
Disjoints sets
Two sets are disjoint if their intersection is empty. In the example, we just did sets D and E
are disjoints. Disjoint sets are sets with no common elements.
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• D ∩ E= { } or ∅
Union of Sets
Given 2 sets A and B, their set union, denoted by A U B, is the set of elements that belong to
either A or B or to both.
A U B= {x | x ∈ A or x ∈ B}
The word “or” is our set definition of set union using set builder notation is an inclusive or. It
means that x is either element of A or B or to both. The union of a set is written without repeating the
same elements.
Examples: Let A = { 4, 5, 7}, B= {6,7} and C= {1, 5, 7}.
• A U B= {4,5,7, 8}
• B U C= {1,5,6,7,}
• A U B U C = {1,4,5,6,7,}
Complement of Sets
The complement of a set A, denoted by A’ , is the set of all elements in the universal U that
are not elements of A.
Universal sets contains all elements in the given context and denoted by U.
Examples:
U = {a, b, c, d, e}
A= {c, d}
B= {b, c, e}
C= {a, b, c, d, e}
D= {}
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Product of Sets
Cartesian product is also called the cross products. The product of two sets, denoted by A X
B is the set of all possible ordered pairs (a, b), where a ∈ A and b ∈ B.
Consider the sets A= {1,3} and B= {w,z}. Write the cross product of A X B.
A X B= {(1,w),(1,z),(3,w),(3,z)}
Since the elements of a cross product are ordered pairs , (1, w) is not the same as (w,
1). In fact, (1, w) ∈ A X B but (w, 1) ∉ A X B.
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VENN DIAGRAM
Venn Diagram is a pictorial representation of sets within an enclosing rectangle. The
rectangle represents the entire universal set U . Circles, squares, and other geometric figures
represent some subsets of the universal set. Regions that overlap represent the are common to
sets.
The illustration below shows the representation of Venn Diagram depending upon on
the set operations performed. The color green means the included elements upon performing
the operations.
Other examples:
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1. Let X = {1, 2, 3} and Let Y = {3, 4, 5}. Draw and label a Venn diagram to show the intersection of
sets X and Y.
We need to find the elements that are common in both sets. Draw a picture of two overlapping circles.
Elements that are common to both sets will be placed in the middle part, where the circles overlap.
2. Let X = {1, 2, 3} and Let Y = {3, 4, 5}. Draw and label a Venn diagram to represent the union of these
two sets. To find the union of two sets, we look at all the elements in the two sets together.
Solution:
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a collection of A = {3,7,9,14},
{} Set
elements B = {9,14,28}
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Meaning /
Symbol Symbol Name Example
definition
A is a subset of B. set
A⊆B subset
A is included in set B. {9,14,28} ⊆ {9,14,28}
A is a superset of B.
A⊇B superset
set A includes set B {9,14,28} ⊇ {9,14,28}
A is a superset of B,
proper superset /
A⊃B strict superset
but B is not equal to {9,14,28} ⊃ {9,14}
A.
set A is not a
A⊅B not superset
superset of set B {9,14,28} ⊅ {9,66}
A={3,9,14},
both sets have the
A=B equality
same members
B={3,9,14},
A=B
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to
A\B relative complement
A and not to B B = {1,2,3},
A \ B = {9,14}
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to
A-B relative complement
A and not to B B = {1,2,3},
A - B = {9,14}
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Meaning /
Symbol Symbol Name Example
definition
the number of
|A| cardinality
elements of set A A={3,9,14}, |A|=3
the number of
#A cardinality
elements of set A A={3,9,14}, #A=3
cardinality of
ℵ1 aleph-one countable ordinal
numbers set
natural numbers /
ℕ0 whole numbers set 0 = {0,1,2,3,4,...} 0 ∈ 0
(with zero)
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Meaning /
Symbol Symbol Name Example
definition
natural numbers /
ℕ1 whole numbers set 1 = {1,2,3,4,5,...} 6 ∈ 1
(without zero)
= {...-3,-2,-
ℤ integer numbers set
1,0,1,2,3,...}
-6 ∈
=
ℚ rational numbers set {x | x=a/b, a,b∈ 2/6 ∈
and b≠0}
= {x | -∞
ℝ real numbers set
< x <∞}
6.343434 ∈
= {z | z=a+bi, -
ℂ complex numbers set ∞<a<∞, - 6+2i ∈
∞<b<∞}
CHAPTER TEST
4. G= {s | s is an integer, s2 = 9}
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5. K= {m | m is a set of continents in the world}
1. A= {4, 6, 8, 10, …}
3. The set of positive integers greater than -2 but less than 12.
4. The set of negative integers from sung that is greater than -13.
1. n(A)
2. n(B)
3. n(C)
4. n(A ∪ B)
5. n(A ∩ B)
6. A = C
7. A = ∅
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8. A ⊄ U
9. a ∈ C
10.A ⊆ U
1. A X B
2. AX A
3. B x A
4. B X B
REFERENCES:
• https://www.rapidtables.com/math/symbols/Set_Symbols.html
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1BW-
aBmv14&list=PLrG8MtwHiDKGwHtebB7PmdXxSqspjrQfd&index=4
• https://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/sets/venn_diagrams
• Mathematics in the Modern World by Juan Apolinario C. Reyes
• Algebra for College Students by Dugopolski
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