Mathematics For Computing - I: Sets (07 HRS.)

Mathematics for Computing - I
Sets (07 hrs.)
Instructional Objectives
Illustrate properties of set algebra using Venn-diagrams. Prove various useful results of set algebra.
Main Reference
Schaums Outline series: Discrete Mathematics, 2nd Edition by Seymour Lipshutz & Marc Lipson, Tata McGrawHill India, 2003, Chapter 01.
Introduction to Sets
George Cantor (1845-1915), in 1895, was the first to define a set formally. Definition - Set
A set is a unordered collection of zero of more distinct well defined objects.
The objects that make up a set are called

elements or members of the set.
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Specifying Sets
There are two ways to specify a set
1. If possible, list all the members of the set.
E.g. A = {a, e, i, o, u}
2. State those properties which characterized the members in the set.

E.g. B = {x : x is an even integer, x > 0} We read this as B is the set of x such that x is an even integer and x is grater than zero. Note that we cant list all the members in the set B. C = {All the students who sat for BIT IT1101 paper in 2003} D = {Tall students who are doing BIT} is not a set because Tall is not well defined. But E = {Students who are taller than 6 Feet and who are doing BIT} 5 is a set.
Some Properties of Sets

The order in which the elements are presented in a set is not important.
A = {a, e, i, o, u} and B = {e, o, u, a, i} both define the same set.
The members of a set can be anything. In a set the same member does not appear more than once.
F = {a, e, i, o, a, u} is incorrect since the element a repeats.
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Some Common Sets

We denote following sets by the following symbols:
N = The set of positive integers = {1, 2, 3, } Z = The set of integers = {,-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, } R = The set of real numbers Q = The set of rational numbers C = The set of complex numbers
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Some Notation
Consider the set A = {a, e, i, o, u} then We write a is a member of A as:
aA
We write b is not a member of A as:

bA Note: b A (b A)
Universal Set and Empty Set

The members of all the investigated sets in a particular problem usually belongs to some fixed large set. That set is called the universal set and is usually denoted by U. The set that has no elements is called the empty set and is denoted by or {}.
E.g. {x | x2 = 4 and x is an odd integer} =
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Venn Diagrams
A pictorial way of representing sets. The universal set is represented by the interior of a rectangle and the other sets are represented by disks lying within the rectangle.
E.g. A = {a, e, i, o, u}
a u i e o
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Equality of two Sets

A set A is equal to a set B if and only if both sets have the same elements. If sets A and B are equal we write: A = B. If sets A and B are not equal we write A B. In other words we can say: A = B (x, xA xB)
E.g.
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, B = {3, 4, 1, 3, 5}, C = {1, 3, 5, 4} D = {x : x N 0 < x < 6}, E = {1, 10/5, 9 , 22, 5} then A = B = D = E and A C.
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Cardinality of a Set
The number of elements in a set is called the cardinality of a set. Let A be any set then its cardinality is denoted by |A| E.g. A = {a, e, i, o, u} then |A| = 5.
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Subsets
Set A is called a subset of set B if and only if every element of set A is also an element of set B. We also say that A is contained in B or that B contains A. It is denoted by A B or B A. In other words we can say:
(A B) (x, x A x B)
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Subset ctd
If A is not a subset of B then it is denoted by A B or B A
E.g. A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and B = {1, 3} and C = {2, 4, 6} then B A and C A
B 5 1 3 2 4 6 A C
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Some Properties Regarding Subsets

For any set A, A U For any set A, A A ABBCAC A=BABBA
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Proper Subsets
Notice that when we say A B then it is even possible to be A = B. We say that set A is a proper subset of set B if and only if A B and A B. We denote it by A B or B A. In other words we can say:
(A B) (x, xA xB AB)
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Venn Diagram for a Proper Subset

Note that if A B then the Venn diagram depicting those sets is as follows:
B A
If A B then the disc showing B may overlap with the disc showing A where in this case it is actually A = B
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Power Set
The set of all subsets of a set S is called the power set of S. It is denoted by P(S) or 2S. In other words we can say: P(S) = {x : x S} E.g. A = {1, 2, 3} then
P(A) = {, {1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}, {1, 2, 3}}
Note that |P(S)| = 2|S|. E.g. |P(A)| = 2|A| = 23 = 8.

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Mathematics For Computing - I: Sets (07 HRS.)

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Mathematics for Computing - I

Sets (07 hrs.)

The objects that make up a set are called

2. State those properties which characterized the members in the set.

Some Properties of Sets

Some Common Sets

We write b is not a member of A as:

Universal Set and Empty Set

Equality of two Sets

Some Properties Regarding Subsets

Venn Diagram for a Proper Subset

Note that |P(S)| = 2|S|. E.g. |P(A)| = 2|A| = 23 = 8.

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