LESSON 9 - 10: SETS

LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
• Describe and illustrate well – defined set, and null sets.
• Identify the elements of a set.
• Identify the cardinality of a set.
• Differentiate between finite and infinite sets.
• Illustrate equal and equivalent sets.
• Describe and illustrate universal set and subsets.
• Use Venn diagrams to represent sets and subsets.
• Define and describe union and intersection of sets and the complement of a set.
• Use Venn diagrams to represent sets, subsets, and set operations.
• Solve problems involving sets using Venn diagrams.

SETS

Definition of a Set
A group or collection of objects is called a set. Each object in a set is called a member or an
element of a set.

Well-Defined Set
A collection is considered well-defined if there is a specific object that could be a part of a set.

Element of a Set
Means that an object is a member/ included/ part of the set. We use the notation "ϵ" to show that
the object is an element while we use the notation "∉ " to show that it is not an element.
e.g. 2 is an element of the set of positive integers. In symbols, “ 2  Z  ”.

Cardinality of a Set
The cardinality of a set is the number of elements in a set. A set could be considered finite or
infinite:
A finite set is an empty set or the number of elements is finite or countable.
An infinite set is a set that has infinite number of elements.

Null Set
A set with no members. This is also called as empty set. It is denoted by the symbol { } or the
Danish letter Ø.

Defining a Set
1. Roster Method – is the method of listing all the elements that is included in the set.
e.g. {ball, toy, doll}

2. Set-Builder Notation – is the method of describing the elements in the set. We make use of the
symbol "ϵ" to explain that an object is an element of the set.
e.g. {x|x  ℝ } ℝ stands for Real Numbers

USING ROSTER METHOD

EXAMPLE 1. Set of decimal numbers
EXAMPLE 2. Set of fractions

USING SET-BUILDER NOTATION

EXAMPLE 1. Set of decimal numbers
EXAMPLE 2. Set of fractions
EXAMPLE 3. Set of integers between −1 and 1.
EXAMPLE 4. Set of real numbers.

Definition of Equal Set

Two sets are equal if and only if they contain exactly the same elements.
e.g. D = {1, 3} and E = {3, 1}
D and E are equal sets

Definition of Equivalent Set

Two sets are equivalent if and only if there is a one-to one correspondence between the sets.
e.g. D = {1, 3} and E = {2, 1}
D and E are equivalent sets

EXAMPLE. State whether the sets are equal or equivalent.

1. K = {5, 6} and L = {6, 5}
2. M = {red, blue, green} and N = {green, blue, red}
3. O = {2, 4} and P = {3, 8}

EXAMPLE. Using the roster method, form the following sets using the numbers in the box:
1. A = {whole numbers}
2. B = {zero}
3. C = {negative integers}
4. D = {positive integers}
5. E = {fractions}
6. F = {decimals}
7. G = {irrational numbers}
8. H = {non-integers}

Universal Set
The universal set, or simply the universe, denoted by U, contains all elements being considered in
each situation.

Subset
The subset, is a portion/ part of a set. We use the symbol ⊆ as a notation for “subset”; and the
symbol ⊈ as a negation for subset.

Proper Subset
Set A is considered a proper subset of B, written A⊂B, if and only if every element on the set A is
also an element of B and that B contains at least one element that is not in A.

EXAMPLE
The universal set is the set of real numbers denoted by U.
A = {0, 3, 5}
B = {0}
C = {-5, -2}
D = {3, 5}
1 1 
E=  , 
4 2
F = {3.14, 2.71828183}
G = {3 2 , 3}
1 1
H =  , , 2.71828183
4 2
EXAMPLE
Determine whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.
1. A  U
2. B ⊈ A
3. A  D
4. F  H
5. C  E

VENN DIAGRAM
- is a way of expressing or representing set through
diagrams.

EXAMPLE 1: Complete the Venn Diagram to

represent the following:
1. A  U

2. B  A or A  B

3. A ⊈ E
EXAMPLE 2: Draw a Venn Diagram to represent the following sets:
1. A = {2, 3, 4} and B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}. The universal set is the set of whole numbers less than or
equal to 10.

2. Let U = {integers from 1 to 12, both inclusive}, P = {prime numbers} and Q = {odd numbers}

OPERATION OF SETS

Intersection of Sets
The intersection of sets A and B, written A∩B, is the set containing the elements that are in both A
and B.

Disjoint Sets
Sets A and B are disjoint if and only if no elements of A are in B.

Union of Sets
The union of sets A and B, written as A∪B, is the set of all elements that are in A, or in B, or in both
A and B.

REMEMBER:
• The word “or” suggests union; and
• The word “and” suggests intersection.
• Union and intersection are called set operations because they replace two sets with a third set.

EXAMPLE 1: Shade the Venn Diagram to illustrate the following:

a. C  D b. C  D

EXAMPLE 2: Let A = {2, 3, 4, 5} and B = {3, 5, 6}. Find

a. A  B b. A  B \

Difference of Sets
The difference of set B from set A, denoted as A−B is the set of all elements that are in A, but not in
B.

EXAMPLE1: Let A = {apple, mango, banana} and B = {orange, pineapple, mango}. Find
a. A - B b. B - A
EXAMPLE2: Let A = {x|x is a counting number between 3 and 8} and
B = {x|x is a whole number less than 6}. FInd
a. A - B b. B - A

Complement of a Set
The complement of a set A, written as A′, is the set of elements in the universal set that are not in A.

EXAMPLE1: Find the complement of each set. U = {1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10}

a. B = {1, 2, 3} b. C = {1, 3, 5, 8, 10}

EXAMPLE2: Find the complement of each set. U = {0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10}

a. D = {0} b. E = {2, 4, 8}

REMEMBER:
 The complement of the universe is an empty set. U’ = Ø
 The complement of an empty set is the universe. Ø’ = U
 For the set A, the difference U - A, where U is the universe is called the complement of A.

EXAMPLE3: Give the proper notation of the following Venn Diagram.

a. c. e.

b. d. f.
PROBLEM SOLVING

EXAMPLE
1. The Venn diagram shows student involvement into two sports - swimming and basketball. If 100
students were surveyed, how many students were:
a. into swimming but not basketball?

b. into both swimming and basketball?

c. into either swimming or basketball?

d. neither into swimming nor basketball?

2. Fifty people are asked about the pets they keep at home.
The Venn diagram shows the results.
Let D = {people who have dogs}
F = {people who have fish}
C = {people who have cats}

How many people have

a. Dogs?

b. Dogs and fish?

c. Dogs or cats?

d. Fish and cats but not dogs?

e. Dogs or fish but not cats?

f. All three?

g. Neither one of the three?