CHAPTER 1

ALGEBRA AS THE
STUDY OF
STRUCTURES
MATH 17
College Algebra and
Trigonometry
Chapter Outline
1. Sets, Set Operations and Number
Sets
2. The Real Number System
3. The Complex Number System
4. The Ring of Polynomials
5. The Field of Algebraic Expressions
6. Equations
7. Inequalities
Chapter 1.1
Sets, Set Operations,
and Number Sets
Objectives
At the end of the section, we should be able
to:

1. Identify special number sets
2. Perform set operations on number sets
3. Draw Venn diagrams
4. Identify finite and infinite sets of
numbers and how to represent them
Set and Set Notations
A set is a well-defined collection of
objects.


It should be possible to determine (in
some manner) whether an object
belongs to the given collection or not.

Example 1.1.1
Which of the following collection of objects
are sets?

The collection of all:
1. colleges in UPLB.
SET
2. counting numbers from 1 to 100
SET
3. provinces near Laguna.
NOT A SET

4. planets in the solar system.
SET
5. pretty instructors in UPLB.
NOT A SET
6. letters in the word algebra.
SET
7. points in a line.
SET
8. MATH 17-A students who can fly.
SET
Element
If an object belongs to the set, it is called
an element of the set.



Otherwise, the object is not an element of
the set.
: is an element of set . a A a A e
: is not an element of set . a A a A e
Example 1.1.2
If is the set of letters in the word "mathematics" A
t A
z A
e
e
If is the set of even numbers then
1
10
E
E
E
e
e
Equal Sets
Two sets and are if they have
exactly the same ele
eq
ments.
ual A B
Symbolically, we write . A B =
Otherwise, we write . A B =
Example 1.1.3
If is the set of letters in the word
"mathematics"
is the set of letters in the word
"mathetics"
A
B
A B =
If is the set of letters in the word
"math"
C
since but A C s A s C = e e
Example 1.1.4
=
If the elements of are 1,2,3,4, and 5
and the elements of are 1,1,2,2,2,3,4, and 5
Is YE ? S
A
B
A B
=
If the elements of are 5,4,3,2, and 1
Is YES ?
C
A C
Finite/Infinite Sets
A set is if it is possible to write down
completely in a list all the elements of the
finite
set.
Otherwise, the set is said to be infinite.
Example 1.1.5
Determine if the following sets are finite or
infinite.

1. Set of counting numbers from 1 to 5
FINITE

2. Set of all professors in UPLB.
FINITE

3. Set of points in a circle.
INFINITE
4. Set of counting numbers between 1
and
1,000,000,000
FINITE

5. Set of grains of sand in a beach
FINITE

6. Set of counting numbers greater than
1
INFINITE
Describing Sets
indicate a set by enumerating the
elements of the set and enclosing them
in a pai
Rost
r of
er Meth
bra
od
ces.
Describing Sets
indicate a set by enclosing in a pair of
braces a phrase describing the elements of
the set with the condition that those objects,
and only those, which have the described
property be
Rule Method
long to the set
Example 1.1.6
{ }
=
If F is the set of distinct letters of the
word "FILIPINO," write F using
a. roster method
, , , , , M F I L P N O
{ }
= distinct letters o
b. the rule method
f the word Filipino F
Example 1.1.7
{ }
If 5, 4,3,2,1 , write using
the rule method.
C C =
{ }
such that is a counting number from 1 to 5 C x x =
{ }
is a counting number less than 6 z z =
{ }
is a counting number from 1 to 5 x x =
Example 1.1.8
{ }
If bread,butter,coffee,rice , write using
the rule method.
D D =
DIFFICULT/IMPRACTICAL
Example 1.1.9
{ }
If is a point in a plane , D x x =
It is IMPOSSIBLE to use roster method.
One-to-one
Correspondence
Two sets and are in
if it is possible to pair
each element of with exactly one
element of and each element of
one-to-one
correspo
with
exactly one element of .
ndence
A B
A
B B
A
Example 1.1.10
Is there a one-to-one correspondence
between the set of days in a week and
the set of counting numbers from 2 to 8?
M T W Th F Sa Su
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
YES
Example 1.1.11
Is there a one-to-one correspondence
between

the set of days in a week and

the set of months in a year.

NO
Example 1.1.12
Let A = { 1, 2, 3, 4 }
B = { 3, 6, 9, 12 }
C = { -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, 4 }

Is there a one-to-one correspondence
between set A and set B? YES

Is there a one-to-one correspondence
between set A and set C? NO

Example 1.1.13
even
Is t
cou
here a o
nting nu
ne-to-one correspondence between
the set of an mbers
odd count
d the set
ing numb
of
ers.
2 1
4 3
6 5
E O

1,000,000 999,999
Equivalent Sets
( )
Two sets are or of the same size
if they are in one-to-one corres
equ
pon
ivalent
dence.
Example 1.1.14

True or False

1. Equal sets are equivalent.

2. Equivalent sets are equal.

3. If set A is equivalent to set B and set
B is equivalent to set C, then A is
equivalent to C.

Subsets
Set is said to be a of set if every
element of is also an eleme
s
n
ubse
t o .
t
f
A B
A B
: is a of .
is a
subset
supe of rs . t e
A B A B
B A
_
if and only if implies . A B x A x B _ e e
Subsets
If there is an element in which is
not in , we say is not a subset of and
we write .
A
B A B
A B
Example 1.1.15
{ } { }
= =
_
If , , , and , , , , ,
a. Is YES ?
L a b c d M a b c d e
L M
_ . NO b. Is ? M L M L
Subsets
_ 1. Is ? A A
_ _ _ 2. If and , is ? A B B C A C
_ _ 3. If and , what can be said
about and ?
A B B A
A B
_
4. Give examples of sets and such that
but .
A B
A B B A
Subsets
_
Reflexive Property:
A A
_ _ _
Transitive Property:
If and , then . A B B C A C
Equal Sets
(Alternative Definition)
= _ _ if and only if and . A B A B B A
Proper Subsets
c _ if and only if but . A B A B B A
Example 1.1.16
{ } { }
= =
c
e e
c
_
If , , , and , , , , ,
is ?
since but .
Therefore, .
L
L a b c d M a b c d
M
M
e
L M
e M e L
L
L
M

Empty Sets
- sets having no elements
C - denoted by
Example 1.1.17
{ }
{ }
=
=
Let is a town in Laguna and
is a town in Laguna with only 4 voters .
T x x
F x x
=C is an empty set so . F F
_ Also, . F T
C_ Hence, . T
Empty Sets
C_ 1. A
C_C 2.
Venn Diagram
_ A B
A
B
A
B
_ B A
Example 1.1.18
. .
Draw a Venn diagram satisfying
and A B B A
A B
or
A
B
Example 1.1.18
_ _ _
Draw a Venn diagram satisfying
, , and A B A C B C
A
B
C
Disjoint Sets
Two sets are if they have no
element in
disjoin
com
t
mon.
e e
e e
and are disjoint: If , then
If , then
A B x A x B
x B x A
Disjoint Sets
and are disjoint A B
A
B
and are not disjoint A B
A
B
Universal Set
- set of all elements under consideration.
- superset of all sets under consideration.
- denoted by U
Example 1.1.19
{ }
{ }
{ }
{ }
=
=
=
=
If is an even counting number
is an odd counting number
is a prime number
is a composite number
A x x
B y y
C z z
D w w
{ }
=
A possible universal set is
is a counting number U x x
Complement
The complement of , denoted by ',
is the set of all elements of
that are not in .
A A
U
A
U
A
Complement
{ }
= e e ' , A x x U x A
Example 1.1.20
{ } { }
= = If 2,4,6,8,10 and 2,6 , U A
{ }
= then ' 4,8,10 . A
Complement
=C ' U
C = ' U
Complement
( )
= ' ' A
U
A
' A
U
A
( )
' ' A
A
Cardinality
{ }
The cardinality (or size) of a finite set
is the unique counting number such
that the elements of are in one-to-one
correspondence with the set 1,2,..., .
A
A
n
n
The cardinality of the empty set is 0.
Cardinality
( )
: number of elements of set n A A
Example 1.1.21
If is the set of all vowels in the alphabet, A
( )
= then 5. n A
( ) ( ) ( )
= If and = what is ' ? n U k n A m n A
( )
= ' . n A k m
Power Set
( )
The power set of any set , , is the set
of all subsets of set .
A A
A
{ }
Let = , , . A a b c
Example 1.1.22
( )
= A
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { }
{ }
C , , , , , , , , , , , , a b c a b a c b c a b c
Example 1.1.22
( )
( )
What is ? n A
8
( )
( )
( )
=
: In general, the cardinality of the
power set of any set ,
Remark
. 2
n A
n A A
Union
The of two sets and is the set of
elements that belong to
unio

n
. r o
A B
A B
: union A B A B
Union
{ }
= e e or A B x x A x B
U
A
B
Example 1.1.23
{ } { }
= = If 1,3,5 and 2,4,6 A B
{ }
= then 1,2,3,4,5,6 . A B
Intersection
The of two sets and is the
set of elements that belon
intersection
g to . d an
A B
A B
: intersection A B A B
Intersection
{ }
= e e and A B x x A x B
U
A
B
Example 1.1.24
{ } { }
= = If , , , , and , , , , A a e i o u B a b c d e
{ }
= , A B a e
Example 1.1.24
= C
If is the set of all prime numbers and
is the set of all composite numbers,
What is ?
P
C
P C P C
Alternative Definition
=C
disjo Two sets and are if and onl
.
t y
if
in
A
A B
B
n(A U B)
( ) ( ) ( )
= + If and are disjoint, A B n A B n A n B
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
= + In general, n A B n A n B n A B
Example 1.1.25
{ } { }
= = If 2,4,6,8,10,12 and 3,6,9,12 A B
{ }
= then 6,12 . A B
( ) ( ) ( )
= = = n A n B n A B 6 4 2
( )
= n A B + = 6 4 2 8
{ }
= 2,3,4,6,8,9,10,12 A B
Example 1.1.26
( )

Illustrate the following sets using Venn

diagrams.
1. ' A B
U
A
B
A B
( )
' A B
Example 1.1.26
2. ' ' A B
U
A
B
' A
U
A
B
' B
' ' A B
Example 1.1.26
( )
' A B
' ' A B
( )
= ' ' ' A B A B
Example 1.1.26
( )
3. A B C
U
A
B
C
B C
A
( )
A B C
Example 1.1.26
( ) ( )
4. A B A C
U
A
B
C
A B
U
A
B
C
A C
Example 1.1.26
( ) ( )
A B A C
( )
A B C
( ) ( ) ( )
= A B C A B A C
Example 1.1.27
_
= = C
= C=
= C= C
If is the universal set and ,
find the following by visualizing the
Venn diagrams.
a. d. '
b. e.
c. ' f.
U A B
A B B A A
A B A A A
A A U A
Cross Product
( )
e e
The (or Cartesian product)
of two sets and is the set of all possible
ordered pairs whe
cross produ
re and .
ct
,
A B
x A x y B x
( )
{ }
e e = , and x x A A y y B B
Example 1.1.28
{ } { }
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
{ }
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
{ }
= =

=
=
=
Let 1,2 and , .
What is ?
1, , 1, , 2, , 2,
,1 , ,2 , ,1 , ,2
A B p q
A B
A B p q p q
B A p p q q
A B B A
Number Sets
=set of natural (counting) numbers N
{ }
= 1,2,3,...
=set of whole numbers W
{ }
= 0,1,2,3,...
=set of integers Z
{ }
= ..., 2, 1,0,1,2,...
Number Sets
=set of negative counting numbers N
=set of even integers E
=set of odd integers O
+
=set of positive even integers E

=set of negative even integers E

Number Sets
=set of prime numbers P
=set of composite numbers C
= set of multiples of ,
is positive
kZ k
k
Number Sets
{ }
= 2 ..., 6, 4, 2,0,2,4,6,... Z
{ }
= 3 ..., 9, 6, 3,0,3,6,9,... Z
{ }
= 4 ..., 12, 8, 4,0,4,8,12,... Z
Example 1.1.29
( )
( )
+
=

If , find the following

1. 6. 5 4
2. 7. '
3. 8. '
4. ' 9.
5. 3 2 10. '
U Z
N W Z Z
N W W N
E O N P
E C P E
Z Z Z
End of Chapter 1.1