Set Theory
Set Theory
TECHNOLOGY
MATHEMATICS
SET THEORY
A set can be defined as a collection of things that are brought together because they obey a certain
rule.
These 'things' may be anything you like: numbers, people, shapes, cities, bits of text ..., literally
anything.
The key fact about the 'rule' they all obey is that it must be well-defined. In other words, it enables
us to say for sure whether or not a given 'thing' belongs to the collection. If the 'things' we're talking
about are English words, for example, a well-defined rule might be:
Requirement of a set
1. A set must be well defined i.e. it must not leave any room for ambiguities e.g sets of all students
- which? Where? When?
Types of Sets
In set theory, there are different types of sets. All the operations in set theory could be based on
sets. Set should be a group of individual terms in domain. The universal set has each and every
element of domain. We are having different types of sets. We will see about the different types of
sets.
Universal Set
The set of all the 'things' currently under discussion is called the universal set (or sometimes, simply
the universe). It is denoted by U.
The universal set doesn‘t contain everything in the whole universe. On the contrary, it restricts us
to just those things that are relevant at a particular time. For example, if in a given situation we‘re
talking about numeric values – quantities, sizes, times, weights, or whatever – the universal set
will be a suitable set of numbers (see below). In another context, the universal set may be
{alphabetic characters} or {all living people}, etc.
Singleton Set:
A set which contains only one element is called a singleton set.
For example:
• A = {x : x is neither zero, prime nor composite}
It is a singleton set containing one element, i.e., 1.
• B = {x : x is a whole number, x < 1}
This set contains only one element 0 and is a singleton set.
• Let A = {x : x N and x² = 4}
Here A is a singleton set because there is only one element 2 whose square is 4.
• Let B = {x : x is an even prime number}
Here B is a singleton set because there is only one prime number which is even, i.e., 2.
Finite Set:
A set which contains a definite number of elements is called a finite set. An empty set is also a
finite set.
For example:
• The set of all colors in the rainbow.
• N = {x : x N, x < 7}
• P = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, ...... 97}
Infinite Set:
The set whose elements cannot be listed, i.e., set containing never-ending elements is called an
infinite set.
For example:
• Set of all points in a plane
• A = {x : x N, x > 1}
• Set of all prime numbers
• B = {x : x W, x = 2n}
Page 2 of 22
• Note:
All infinite sets cannot be expressed in roster form.
For example:
The set of real numbers since the elements of this set do not follow any particular pattern.
• A {x : x N, x < 5} A = {1, 2, 3, 4}
Therefore, n(A) = 4
B = {A, L, G, E, B, R}
Therefore, n(B) = 6
Equivalent Sets:
Two sets A and B are said to be equivalent if their cardinal number is same, i.e., n(A) = n(B).
The symbol for denoting an equivalent set is ‘↔’.
For example:
A = {1, 2, 3} Here n(A) = 3
Equal sets:
Two sets A and B are said to be equal if they contain the same elements. Every element of A is
an element of B and every element of B is an element of A.
For example:
A = {p, q, r, s}
B = {p, s, r, q}
Therefore, A = B
Empty Set
• A set which does not contain any element is called an empty set, or the
null set or the void set and it is denoted by and is read as phi. In roster
form, is denoted by {}.
Page 3 of 22
• An empty set is a finite set, since the number of elements in an empty set is
finite, i.e., 0.
For example:
(a) The set of whole numbers less than 0.
Clearly there is no whole number less than 0.
Therefore, it is an empty set.
Note:
≠ {0} has no element.
{0} is a set which has one element 0.
The cardinal number of an empty set, i.e., n( ) = 0
Solved Examples
Question 1: A is a set of alphabets and B is a set of numbers. What is the intersection of A and B?
Solution: A ∩ B = { }
Page 4 of 22
Examples of Empty Sets
Given below are some of the examples of empty sets.
Solved Examples
Question 1: Which of the following represents the empty set?
Solution:
Option 1: A set of cats with 4 legs. This set is possible where cats are having 4 legs.
Option 2: A set of apples with red color. This set is possible where apple is in red color.
Option 3: A set of positive numbers in which all are less than 1.
This set is not possible because the positive numbers must be greater than 1. So, this set is
considered as empty set.
Answer: 3
Question 2: A is a set of numbers from 1 to 10. B is a set of negative numbers. What is the
intersection of A and B?
Solution:
Given:
A = set of number from 1 to 10. = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} B = set of negative numbers
Subset
Consider the sets, X = set of all students in your school and Y = set of all students in your class. It
is obvious that set of all students in your class will be in your school. So, every element of Y is
also an element of X. We say that Y is a subset of X. The fact that Y is a subset of X is expressed
in symbol as Y⊂X. The symbol ⊂ stands for "is a subset of" or "is contained in".If Y is a subset of
X, then X is known to be a superset of Y. The subset of a set will have elements equal to or less
than the elements in the given set.
Page 5 of 22
Subset Definition
A set A is said to be a subset of a set B, if every element of A is also an element of B. In other
words, A⊂B if whenever a∈A, then a∈B. It is often convenient to use the symbol ⇒ which means
"implies". Suppose, for two sets A and B, A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {1} then B is the subset of A.
Subset Symbol:
Using the symbol ⇒, we can write the definition of subset as follows:
Operation of a Set
Union of Sets
We denote the union of A and B by A∪B. Thus, AUB =x|x∈A or x∈B or x∈AandB.
Page 6 of 22
Union of Two Sets
Let we have two sets A and B, then the union of these two sets is the set of all elements of each
sets i.e. the set of those elements which are in either sets.
Page 7 of 22
Union of Sets Examples
Given below are some of the examples on union of sets.
Solved Examples
Question 1: Find the union of each of the following two sets:
1. X = {1, 3, 6} Y = {1, 2, 6}
2. X = {a, e, i, o, u} Y = {a, e, c}
3. X = {3 , 4 ,5} B = φ
Solution:
X Y = {1, 2, 3, 6}
X Y = {a, c, e, i, p, u}
X Y = {3, 4, 5}
Question 2:
If X = {1, 2, 5, 6}, Y = {3, 4, 6, 9}, Z = {3, 5, 6, 9} and W = {3, 6, 9, 11}. Find
1. X Y
2. X Z
3. Y Z
4. Y W
5. X Y Z
6. X Y W
7. Y Z W
Page 8 of 22
1. X Y = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,9}
2. X Z = {1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9}
3. Y Z = {3, 4, 5, 6, 9}
4. Y W = {3, 4, 5, 6, 9,11}
5. X Y Z = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9}
6. X Y W = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11}
7. Y Z W = {3, 4, 5, 6, 9,11}
Solution:
Given sets are:
A = {5, 12, 13, 16, 19}
B = {5, 10, 13, 16, 19}
A B = {5, 10, 12, 13, 16, 19}
X = {4, 6, 8, 9, 11} Y
= {3, 5, 6, 8, 11}
Given sets are
X = {4, 6, 8, 9, 11}
Intersection of Sets
Intersection is an operation on sets. It is just opposite to union. It is a very useful and
important concept in set theory. Before we learn about intersection, we need to understand
some basic concept like what is set.
Intersecting Set: The intersection of two sets is the set of all the elements of two sets that
are common in both of them.
If we have two sets A and B, then the intersection of them is denoted by A ∩ B and it is read as
‘A intersection B’.
Disjoint set: Two sets A and B are said to be disjoint if no elements match in both sets.
Solved Examples
Question 1:
Solution:
We have given that A = {1, 3, 4, 6, 9} and B = {2, 4, 6, 8} We
have to find the intersection of A and B.
A ∩ B = {4, 6}
Question 2:
Question 3:
If A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10} and C = {4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}, then find
A ∩ B and A ∩ B ∩ C.
Solution:
Given sets are
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
B = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
C = {4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}
First, we have to find A ∩ B. Then, we have to treat A ∩ B as a single set.
B. So, A ∩ B = {2, 4, 6}
So, (A ∩ B) ∩ C = {4, 6}
So, A ∩ B ∩ C = {4, 6}
Question 4:
Solution:
We have given that
A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
B = {2, 4, 6, 8}
C = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11}
Thus, A and B are disjoint sets while A and C are intersecting sets.
Intersection of Two Sets
Let X = {2, 3, 8, 9} and Y = {5, 12, 9, 16} are two sets.
Let A and B are two sets. Then, the intersection of A and B can be shown as below.
Solution:
Given that A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 6, 8}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8, 9} and C = {1, 3, 6, 8 }.
Then, it is clear that the elements 6 and 8 are common in all the three given sets.
Hence, we get A ∩ B ∩ C = {6, 8}.
Complement of a Set
In set theory, complement set is one of the branch.
The set of all elements in the universal set that are not in the initial set are said to be complement set.
The complement of a set is represented by the symbol A’. The set is a collection of the object. Set is
denoted by the symbols {}. In this article, we see in detail about the complement set.
Since we know that every set is the subset of the universal set U, then the complementary set is
also the subset of U. The total number of elements in the complementary set is equal to the
difference between the number of elements of the set U and the number of elements of the given
cset (say A). If A is the given set, then the complement of A is denoted as AC or A'.
Question 1: Value of set U = {2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} and A = {7, 8, 9, 10} and B = {8, 9, 10}. Find the
complement of A, complement of B, complement of A union B.
Solution:
Step 1: Given
U = {2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
A = {7, 8, 9, 10}
B = {8, 9, 10}
Step 2: The element of set U is {2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}. The element that does not belong to A is
{2, 4, 6}. Complement of A is {2, 4, 6}.
Question 2: Values of set U = {3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12} and A = {8, 9, 10, 12}. Find the compliment of
A.
Step 2: The element of set U is {3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12}. Elements {3, 5, 7} does not belong to the set
A.
So, AC = {3, 5, 7}
Question 3: Values of set U = {1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10} and A = {6, 7, 8}. Find the complement of A
Solution:
Step 1: Given
U = {1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10}
A = {6, 7, 8}
Step 2: The element of set U is {1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10}. Elements {1, 4, 10} does not belong to the set
A.
AC = {1, 4, 10}.
Set Difference
Here, we are going to learn about an operation on set called difference of sets. In mathematics, a set
can have a limited number of elements. Set is a collection of data. We can perform many operations
on set. The difference operation is one of them. The subtract(difference) symbol in the function
represents the removal of the values from the second set from the first set. The operation of
subtraction is a removing or taking away objects from group of object.
Take set P as usual and compare with set Q. Now, remove those element in set P which matches with
set Q. If P = {a,b,c,d} and Q = {d,e}, then P - Q = {a,b,c}.
Solved Examples
Question 1: Consider the two sets A = {11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16}, B = {12, 14, 16, 18}. Find the
difference between the two sets?
Solution:
Question 3: Consider two sets A = {a, b, f, g, h}, B = {f, g, a, k}. Find A - B and B - A?
Solution:
Given A = {a, b , f , g , h}
B = {f, g, a, k} So, A - B = {b, h} and B - A = {k}
Question 4: Consider given sets P = {19, 38, 57, 76, 95} and Q = {7, 19, 57, 75, 94}. Find P - Q
and Q - P.
Solution:
Given P = {19, 38, 57, 76, 95}
Q = {7, 19, 57, 75, 94} So, P - Q = {38,76,95} and Q - P = {7,75,94}
Venn Diagrams
In mathematics, we can use the graphs and diagrams to solve some problems in geometry as well as
in algebra. To follow this procedure, we can show some relations in set theory with the help of
diagram, which is called as the Venn diagram. It is also known as set diagram. Venn diagrams are
named so in the name of its founder John Venn in around 1880.
In set theory, Venn diagrams are studied. A set is defined as a collection of the same types of
things. Venn diagram is an important and unique way of representing sets and various operations on
In this page, we can discuss about these things with the help of a Venn diagram. In this process, the
sets are represented by circles. Venn diagrams are generally used to represent operations on two or
three sets. In order to learn about set theory in detail, one needs to command on Venn diagrams. In
this article, students will learn about different types of Venn diagrams. So, go ahead with us and
understand about Venn diagrams in detail.
Venn diagram is a graphical tool in which we use overlapping circles to visually presentation among
some given sets information. In Venn diagram, we can use two or more than two circles to show
sets.
For example, if A and B are any two arbitrary sets, elements such that, some elements are in A
but not in B, some are in B but not in A, some are in both A and B, and some are in neither A
nor B, we represent A and B in the pictorial form as in shown in the Venn diagram.
For example, let A = {a, b, c, d, e}, B = {a, b, f, g, h} and C = {a, c, e, f, g, j, k}. Here, we can
find A ∩ B, B ∩ C, A ∩ C and A ∩ B ∩ C with the help of triple Venn diagram.
Given A = {a, b, c, d, e}, B = {a, b, f, g, h} and C = {a, c, f, g, j, k}. Now, A ∩ B = {b}, B ∩ C = {f,
g}, A ∩ C = {c} and A ∩ B ∩ C = {a}
A ∩ B i.e. A intersection B: