1.

Let A and B be two finite sets such that n(A) = 20, n(B) = 28 and n(A B) = 36, find n(A B).
Solution:
Usin the fo!"u#a n(A B) = n(A) $ n(B) % n(A B).
then n(A B) = n(A) $ n(B) % n(A B)
= 20 $ 28 % 36
= &8 % 36
= 12
2. 'f n(A % B) = 18, n(A B) = (0 and n(A B) = 2), then find n(B).
Solution:
Usin the fo!"u#a n(A B) = n(A % B) $ n(A B) $ n(B % A)
(0 = 18 $ 2) $ n(B % A)
(0 = &3 $ n(B % A)
n(B % A) = (0 % &3
n(B % A) = 2(
*ow n(B) = n(A B) $ n(B % A)
= 2) $ 2(
= )2
Different types on word problems on sets:
3. 'n a !ou+ of 60 +eo+#e, 2( #i,e co#d d!in,s and &2 #i,e hot d!in,s and each +e!son #i,es at #east one
of the two d!in,s. -ow "an. #i,e both coffee and tea/
Solution:
Let A = 0et of +eo+#e who #i,e co#d d!in,s.
B = 0et of +eo+#e who #i,e hot d!in,s.
Given
(A B) = 60 n(A) = 2( n(B) = &2 then1
n(A B) = n(A) $ n(B) % n(A B)
= 2( $ &2 % 60
= 62 % 60 = 2
= 2
3he!efo!e, 2 +eo+#e #i,e both tea and coffee.
4. 3he!e a!e 3) students in a!t c#ass and )( students in dance c#ass. 4ind the nu"be! of students who a!e
eithe! in a!t c#ass o! in dance c#ass.
5 6hen two c#asses "eet at diffe!ent hou!s and 12 students a!e en!o##ed in both acti7ities.
5 6hen two c#asses "eet at the sa"e hou!.
Solution:
n(A) = 3), n(B) = )(, n(A B) = 12
(Let A be the set of students in a!t c#ass.
B be the set of students in dance c#ass.)
(i) 6hen 2 c#asses "eet at diffe!ent hou!s n(A B) = n(A) $ n(B) % n(A B)
= 3) $ )( % 12
= 22 % 12
= 80
(ii) 6hen two c#asses "eet at the sa"e hou!, AB = n (A B) = n(A) $ n(B) % n(A B)
= n(A) $ n(B)
= 3) $ )(
= 22
Further concept to solve word problems on sets:
5. 'n a !ou+ of 100 +e!sons, (2 +eo+#e can s+ea, 8n#ish and &3 can s+ea, 4!ench. -ow "an. can
s+ea, 8n#ish on#./ -ow "an. can s+ea, 4!ench on#. and how "an. can s+ea, both 8n#ish and
4!ench/
Solution:
Let A be the set of +eo+#e who s+ea, 8n#ish.
B be the set of +eo+#e who s+ea, 4!ench.
A % B be the set of +eo+#e who s+ea, 8n#ish and not 4!ench.
B % A be the set of +eo+#e who s+ea, 4!ench and not 8n#ish.
A B be the set of +eo+#e who s+ea, both 4!ench and 8n#ish.
Given,
n(A) = (2 n(B) = &3 n(A B) = 100
*ow, n(A B) = n(A) $ n(B) % n(A B)
= (2 $ &3 % 100
= 11) % 100
= 1)
3he!efo!e, *u"be! of +e!sons who s+ea, both 4!ench and 8n#ish = 1)
n(A) = n(A % B) $ n(A B)
n(A % B) = n(A) % n(A B)
= (2 % 1)
= )(
and n(B % A) = n(B) % n(A B)
= &3 % 1)
= 28
3he!efo!e, *u"be! of +eo+#e s+ea,in 8n#ish on#. = )(
*u"be! of +eo+#e s+ea,in 4!ench on#. = 28
Word problems on sets using the different properties (Union & Intersection):
6. 'n a co"+etition, a schoo# awa!ded "eda#s in diffe!ent cateo!ies. 36 "eda#s in dance, 12 "eda#s in
d!a"atics and 18 "eda#s in "usic. 'f these "eda#s went to a tota# of &) +e!sons and on#. & +e!sons ot
"eda#s in a## the th!ee cateo!ies, how "an. !ecei7ed "eda#s in e9act#. two of these cateo!ies/
Solution:
Let A = set of +e!sons who ot "eda#s in dance.
B = set of +e!sons who ot "eda#s in d!a"atics.
: = set of +e!sons who ot "eda#s in "usic.
Given,
n(A) = 36 n(B) = 12 n(:) = 18
n(A B :) = &) n(A B :) = &
6e ,now that nu"be! of e#e"ents be#onin to e9act#. two of the th!ee sets A, B, :
= n(A B) $ n(B :) $ n(A :) % 3n(A B :)
= n(A B) $ n(B :) $ n(A :) % 3 ; & <<..(i)
n(A B :) = n(A) $ n(B) $ n(:) % n(A B) % n(B :) % n(A :) $ n(A B :)
3he!efo!e, n(A B) $ n(B :) $ n(A :) = n(A) $ n(B) $ n(:) $ n(A B :) % n(A B :)
4!o" (i) !e=ui!ed nu"be!
= n(A) $ n(B) $ n(:) $ n(A B :) % n(A B :) % 12
= 36 $ 12 $ 18 $ & % &) % 12
= (0 % 6(
= 3
Apply set opertions to solve the word problems on sets:
7. 8ach student in a c#ass of &0 +#a.s at #east one indoo! a"e chess, ca!!o" and sc!abb#e. 18 +#a.
chess, 20 +#a. sc!abb#e and 2( +#a. ca!!o". ( +#a. chess and sc!abb#e, 12 +#a. sc!abb#e and ca!!o" and
& +#a. chess, ca!!o" and sc!abb#e. 4ind the nu"be! of students who +#a. (i) chess and ca!!o". (ii)
chess, ca!!o" but not sc!abb#e.
Solution:
Let A be the set of students who +#a. chess
B be the set of students who +#a. sc!abb#e
: be the set of students who +#a. ca!!o"
3he!efo!e, 6e a!e i7en n(A B :) = &0,
n(A) = 18, n(B) = 20 n(:) = 2(,
n(A B) = (, n(: B) = 12 n(A B :) = &
6e ha7e
n(A B :) = n(A) $ n(B) $ n(:) % n(A B) % n(B :) % n(: A) $ n(A B :)
3he!efo!e, &0 = 18 $ 20 $ 2( % ( % 12 % n(: A) $ &
&0 = 62 > 12 % n(: A)
&0 = )0 % n(: A) n(: A) = )0 % &0
n(: A) = 10
3he!efo!e, *u"be! of students who +#a. chess and ca!!o" a!e 10.
A#so, nu"be! of students who +#a. chess, ca!!o" and not sc!abb#e.
= n(: A) % n(A B :)
= 10 > &
= 6
3he!efo!e, we #ea!ned how to so#7e diffe!ent t.+es of wo!d +!ob#e"s on sets without usin ?enn
dia!a".