SETS
What is a SET?
• A set is a well-defined collection of distinct ob-
jects.
• The objects in a set are called the elements or
members of the set.
• Capital letters A,B,C,… usually denote sets.
• Lowercase letters a,b,c,… denote the elements
of a set.
What is a SET?
• The collection of the vowels in the
word “probability”.
• The collection of two-digit positive in-
tegers divisible by 5.
The EMPTY SET
•The set with no elements.
•Also called the null set.
•Denoted by the symbol .
The EMPTY SET
•Example:
•The set of triangles with four sides.
•The set of odd numbers divisible by 2.
SETS
Mathematicians shows sets of
numbers using these brackets { },
and this ellipsis (…) to show that the
numbers continues without end.
A = { …, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, …}
Often used sets
R is the set of real numbers
N = is the set of natural numbers { 1, 2, 3, …}
W = is the set of whole numbers
{0, 1, 2, 3, …}
Z = is the set of integers
{…, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, …}
Often used sets
Z+ = is the set of positive integers
{1, 2, 3, …}
Z- = is the set of negative integers
{…-3,-2,-1}
Q = is the set of rational numbers {p/q | p
Z, q Z, q ≠ 0}
Often used sets
Any number that can be expressed as a
fraction of two integers (where the bottom
one is not zero)
U = A universal set is a set which contains
all the elements or objects of other sets,
including its own elements.
Finite Sets
A finite set is one which can be
counted.
Example:
Days of the week.
Months in a the year.
Infinite Sets
An infinite set is one which
cannot be counted.
Example:
set of all integers is an infinite set
Set Equality
Two sets are equal if they have the same elements
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5} = {5, 4, 3, 2, 1}
Remember that order does not matter!
{1, 2, 3, 2, 4, 3, 2, 1} = {4, 3, 2, 1}
Remember that duplicate elements do not matter!
Two sets are not equal if they do not have the same
elements
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5} ≠ {1, 2, 3, 4}
The Cardinality of a Set
Notation: n(A)
For finite sets A, n(A) is the
number of elements of A.
For infinite sets A, write n(A)=∞.
The Cardinality of a Set
Example:
A = {1} |1| = 1
B = {2, 4, 6, 8} |4| = 4
C = {1, 2, 3, …} || =
Methods that is used to
represent a set
1. Descriptive form
2. Roster method
3. Set builder notation
1. Descriptive form
The set can be defined, where
possible, by describing the
elements clearly in words.
1. Descriptive form
The set of all counting numbers
from 1 to 10.
The set of all members of the
SEDM band.
2. Roster Method
The set can be defined by listing
all its elements, separated by
commas and enclosed within
braces.
2. Roster Method
A = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
B = {a, b, c, d, e}
C = {Angelo, Melchor, Jeremias}
3. Set Builder Notation
The set can be defined by
describing the elements using
mathematical statements. This is
called the set-builder notation.
3. Set Builder Notation
3. Set Builder Notation
{x|x < 5, and x N}
{x|x English alphabet and x is
vowel}
SETS
Operations on Sets
1. Union (∪)
•The union of two sets A and
B is
•The word “or” is inclusive.
1. Union (∪)
Example:
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
B = {2, 4, 6, 8}
1. Union (∪)
Example:
A = {a,e,i,o,u}
B = {a,b,c,d,e}
2. Intersection
•The intersection of A and B
is
• The word “and” is inclusive.
2. Intersection
2. Intersection
Example:
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
B = {2, 4, 6, 8}
2. Intersection
Example:
A = {a,e,i,o,u}
B = {a,b,c,d,e}
2. Intersection
Example:
A = {a,e,i,o,u}
B = {b,c,d,f,g}
3. Disjoint
Definition: A and B are disjoint if
3. Disjoint
Example:
A = {a,e,i,o,u}
B = {b,c,d,f,g}
3. Disjoint
Example:
A = {a,e,i,o,u}
B = {a,b,c,d,e}
not a disjoint
3. Disjoint
Example:
A = {}
B = {}
4. Complement
The complement of set A, denoted by
A’, is the set of all elements in the
universal set
4. Complement
The complement of set A, denoted by A’,
is the set of all elements in the universal
set that are not in A.
4. Complement
Example:
U = {letters of the English
alphabet}
A = {a,e,i,o,u}
4. Complement
Example:
U = {Z}
A = {}
4. Complement
Example:
U = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}
A = {2,4,6,8}
5. Set Difference
The difference of the sets A and B in
this order is the set of elements
which belong to A but not to B.
Symbolically, we write A – B and
read as “ A minus B”.
5. Set Difference
A–B
5. Set Difference
Example:
A = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}
B = {2,4,6,8}
5. Set Difference
Example:
A = {letters on the English
alphabet}
B = {a,e,i,o,u}
5. Set Difference
Example:
A = {a,n,g,e,l,o}
B = {r,y,t,h,m}
5. Set Difference
Example:
A = {a,n,g,e,l,o}
B = {a,n,g,e,l,o}
