Annals of Fuzzy Mathematics and Informatics

Volume 13, No. 1, (January 2017), pp. 145–152 @FMI

ISSN: 2093–9310 (print version) c Kyung Moon Sa Co.

ISSN: 2287–6235 (electronic version) http://www.kyungmoon.com
http://www.afmi.or.kr

A new approach to soft belonging

A. A. Allam, Tahir H. Ismail, Ramadhan A. Mohammed

Received 1 June 2016; Revised 11 July 2016; Accepted 29 July 2016

Abstract. The development of concept of belonging to the soft sets still needs to
be improved, since there are some of associated difficulties such as being the soft
point neither belong to soft set nor its complement. In this work, the concept of soft
element is introduced and studied by modifying the concept of soft point to be free
from the associated problems related to the soft point. Moreover, the concept of
two distinct soft elements is also defined. By applying these concepts, the interior
and closure of a soft set are studied in addition to the ability to investigate some
properties of soft separation axioms.

2010 AMS Classification: 54A40, 03E72, 20N25, 22A99, 06D72

Keywords: Soft sets, Soft topology, Soft open sets, soft separation axioms.
Corresponding Author: A. A. Allam ([email protected])

1. Introduction
T he concept of soft set theory has been introduced, in 1999, by Molodtsov [3]. It has
been applied to several branches of mathematics such as operation research, game theory
and among others. The applications of soft set theory increase to several researchers, es-
pecially in the recent years. This is because of the general nature of parameterizations
expressed by a soft set. Therefore, several special sets have been introduced in the soft set
theory and their properties have been studied, within the soft topological space. The notion
of soft topological spaces was formulated by Shabir and Naz [5]. Hussain and Ahmad [1]
introduced and studied several notions of soft topological spaces. Zorlutuna et al. [7] intro-
duced the concept of soft point. In the present study, we introduce a new modification of
soft point that is called soft element; also we study some new concepts such as soft interior
point, soft closure point and soft separation axioms in the soft topological spaces. Applying
our modification, some examples such as (3.7, 3.8, 3.14 and 3.26 in [6], 7, 8 and 9 in [5]) are
not as they described. Moreover, a good feedback of this modification on some well-known
results will be discussed in this paper.
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2. Preliminaries
Molodtsov [3] defined soft sets in the following manner. Let X be an initial Universe set
and E be a set of parameters. Let P(X) denote the power set of X, and A Ď E.
Definition 2.1 ([3]). A pair (F, A) is called a soft set over X, where F is a mapping given
by F : A → P(X). In other words, a soft set over X is a parameterized family of subsets of
the universe X. For a particular e ∈ A, F(e) may be considered as the set of e-approximate
elements of the soft set (F, A).
For illustration, Molodtsov Provided several examples in [3]. The set of all soft sets over
X is denoted by S S (X).
Definition 2.2 ([4]). For two soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) over a common universe X, (F, A)
e (G, B), if A Ď B and ∀e ∈ A, F(e)Ď
is a soft subset of (G, B), denoted by (F, A)Ď e G(e)

Definition 2.3 ([2]). Two soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) over a common universe X, are said to
be soft equal, if (F, A) is a soft subset of (G, B) and (G, B) is a soft subset of (F, A).
Definition 2.4 ([2]). A soft set (F, A) over X is said to be a null soft set, denoted by Φ, if
∀e ∈ A, F(e) = φ.
Definition 2.5 ([2]). A soft set (F, A) over X is said to be an absolute soft set, denoted by
e if ∀e ∈ A, F(e) = X.
X,
Definition 2.6 ([5]). The difference of two soft sets (F, E) and (G, E) over the common
universe X, denoted by (F, E) − (G, E), is the soft set (H, E) where ∀e ∈ E, H(e) = F(e) −
G(e).
Definition 2.7 ([2]). The complement of a soft set (F, A), denoted by (F, A)c , is defined by
(F, A)c = (F c , A), where F c : A → P(X) is a mapping given by F c (e) = X − F(e), for all
e ∈ A, and F c is the soft complement function of F. Clearly (F c )c is the same as F and
((F, A)c )c = (F, A).
Definition 2.8 ([2]). The union of two soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) over the common universe
X is the soft set (H, C), where C = A t B and ∀e ∈ C,




 F(e) I f e ∈ A − B,
H(e) = 

i f e ∈ B − A,

G(e)


F(e) t G(e) i f e ∈ A t B


This relationship is written as (H, C) = (F, A)e

t(G, B).
Definition 2.9 ([2]). The intersection of two soft sets (F, A) and (G, B) over the common
universe X is the soft set (H, C), where C = A u B and for all e ∈ C, H(e) = F(e) u G(e).
This relationship is written as (H, C) = (F, A)e
u(G, B) .
∈S S (X) is called a soft point in X,
Definition 2.10 ([7]). The soft set (F, A)e e denoted by eF ,
0 0
if for the element e ∈ A, F(e) , φ and F(e ) = φ, for all e ∈ A − {e}.
Definition 2.11 ([7]). The soft point eF is said to be in the soft set (G, A), denoted by
∈(G, A), if for the element e ∈ A, F(e)Ď
eF e e G(e).
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Definition 2.12 ([5]). Let τ be the collection of soft sets over X with the fixed set of param-
eters E. Then τ is said to be a soft topology on X, if
(i) Φ, Xe belong to τ,
(ii) the union of any number of soft sets in τ belongs to τ,
(iii) the intersection of any two soft sets in τ belongs to τ.
e τ, E) is called a soft topological space over X.
The triplet (X,
e τ, E) be a soft space over X, then the members of τ are said to
Definition 2.13 ([5]). Let (X,
be soft open sets in X.
Definition 2.14 ([5]). Let (X, e τ, E) be a soft space over X. A soft set (F,E) over X is said to
be a soft closed set in X, if its relative complement (F, E)c belongs to τ.
Definition 2.15 ([5]). Let X be an initial universe set and E be the set of parameters. A soft
topology τ = {Φ, X}.
e is called a soft indiscrete topology on X and (X, e τ, E) is called a soft
indiscrete space over X.
Definition 2.16 ([5]). Let X be an initial universe set, E the set of parameters and τ the
collection of all soft sets which can be defined over X. τ is called a soft discrete topology
e τ, E) is called a soft discrete space over X.
on X and (X,

3. Soft elements and distinguished of two soft elements

Previously, some modifications to the soft point has been done considering that e/x and
e/y are distinct soft points whenever x , y , in spite of being e/x and e/y images for the same
parameter. Actually, for more generalization of the concept, ei /x and e j /y with ei , e j ∈ E
are more distinguished (x , y) since two parameters ei and e j may be different. Also there
is a good feedback of this modification on some properties that will be discussed later.
Definition 3.1. A soft set (F, E) over X is called a soft element, denoted by e/x or eF , if
0 0
F(e) = {x}, F(e ) = φ, for all e ∈ E − {e}. We shall say that
(i) e/xe ∈(G, B), read as e/x belongs to the soft set (G, B), if F(e)Ď
e G(e),
(ii) ei /x and e j /y are two distinct soft elements, if x , y.
Remark 3.2. Similar trial of the above modification was previously reported by Tantawy et
al.[6], The application of our modification shows that some examples in [6] are not as they
described.
Remark 3.3. It is clear that
(1) each member of a soft set (F, A) can be expressed as a union of all its soft elments,
<(G, A)c ,
∈(G, A), then e/xe
(2) if e/xe
(3) if e/xe ∈(G, A)c .
<(G, A), then e/xe
Example 3.4. Let X = {h1 , h2 , h3 }, E = {e1 , e2 }, (F, E) = {(e1 , {h1 , h2 }), (e2 , {h2 , h3 })}.
Clearly the soft elements (F1 , E) = {(e1 , h1 ), (e2 , φ)} = e1 /h1 , (F2 , E) = {(e1 , h2 ), (e2 , φ)} =
e1 /h2 , (F3 , E) = {(e1 , φ), (e2 , h2 )} = e2 /h2 and (F4 , E) = {(e1 , φ), (e2 , h3 )} = e2 /h3 belong to
the soft set (F, E) while the soft elements (F5 , E) = {(e1 , h3 ), (e2 , φ)} = e1 /h3 and (F6 , E) =
{(e1 , φ), (e2 /h1 )} = e2 /h1 are not. Also (e2 /h1 )c = X \e2 /h1 = {(e1 , {h1 , h2 , h3 }), (e2 , {h2 , h3 })}
and (F, E) \ e1 /h1 = {(e1 , {h2 }), (e2 , {h2 , h3 })}.
Remark 3.5. It is clear that a soft element is a soft point [7] but generally the reverse need
not be true as shown in the following example
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Example 3.6. Let X = {h1 , h2 , h3 }, E = {e1 , e2 }, (F, E) = {(e1 , {h1 , h2 }), (e2 , X)}. Clearly
(G, E) = {(e1 , {h1 , h2 }), (e2 , φ)} is a soft point, but not a soft element in spite of being G(e2 ) =
φ, because G(e1 ) = {h1 , h2 } is not singleton.
Theorem 3.7. Let P be the collection of soft sets over X containing the particular soft
element e/p, then P is a soft topology on X.
Proof. It is obvious. 

The soft topology P in the above theorem is called particular soft element topology and
the triple (X,
e P, E) is called a particular soft element space

Theorem 3.8. Let ξ be the collection of soft sets over X not containing the particular soft
element e/p, then ξ is a soft topology on X.
Proof. It is obvious. 

The topology ξ in the above theorem is called excluding soft element topology and the
e ξ, E) is called an excluding soft element space.
triple (X,
Definition 3.9. A soft set (F, E) over an infinite universe X is finite, if ∀e ∈ A, F(e) is a
finite subset of X. Otherwise (F, E) is an infinte soft set.
Theorem 3.10. Let C be the collection of all soft sets (Fi , A)i∈I over an infinite intial uni-
verse X such that C = {(Fi , E)i∈I Ď e : (Fi , E)c i∈I is a finite soft set}. Then C is a soft
e X
topology on X.
Proof. It is obvious. 

The topology C in the above theorem is called cofinite soft topology and the triple
(X,
e C, E) is called a cofinite soft topological space.

Definition 3.11. Let (X,e τ, E) be a soft topological space.

(i) A soft element e/x is called an interior soft element of a soft set of (F, E), if there
exists an open soft set (G, E) : e/xe∈(G, E)Ďe (F, E). (F, E) is called a neighborhood of a soft
element e/x, whenever e/x is an interior soft element of (F, E). The set of all interior soft
element of a soft set (F, E) is denoted by (F, E)◦ .
Clearly (F, E)◦ is a open soft set and (F, E)◦ = e t{(G, E) : (G, E) is an open soft set and
(G, E)Ď e (F, E)}.
(ii) A soft element e/x is called a closure soft element of a soft set (F, E), if for each open
∈(G, E), (G, E)e
soft set (G, E) : e/xe u(F, E) , Φ. The set of all closure soft elements of a soft
set (F, E) denoted by (F, E). Clearly (F, E) is a closed soft set, since (F, E) = e u{(G, E) ∀
closed soft set (G, E) whenever (F, E)Ď e (G, E)}.
(iii) A soft element e/x is called a derived soft element of a soft set (F, E), if for each
open soft set (G, E) : e/xe ∈(G, E), (G, E) − e/xe u(F, E) , Φ. The set of all derived soft
0
elements of a soft set (F, E) denoted by (F, E) .
Example 3.12. Let X = {a, b}, E = {e1 , e2 }, (F1 , E) = {(e1 , {a}), (e2 , φ)},
(F2 , E) = {(e1 , {b}), (e2 , {a})}, (F3 , E) = {(e1 , {a, b}), (e2 , {a})},
(F4 , E) = {(e1 , {b}), (e2 , {a, b})}, (F5 , E) = {(e1 , {a, b}), (e2 , {b})},
(F6 , E) = {(e1 , {b}), (e2 , φ)}, (F7 , E) = {(e1 , {b}), (e2 , {b})},and
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(F8 , E) = {(e1 , {a, b}), (e2 , φ)}. Then the collection

τ = {Φ, X,
e (F1 , E), (F2 , E), (F3 , E), (F4 , E), (F5 , E), (F6 , E), (F7 , E), (F8 , E)}
is a soft topology over X.
0
If (F, E) = {(e1 , {a}), (e2 , {a, b})}, then (F, E)◦ = e1 /a, (F, E) = (F, E) and (F, E) = φ.
Theorem 3.13. Let (X,e τ, E) be a soft topological space, (F, E), (G, E) ∈ S S (X). Then
(1) Φ◦ = Φ, (X) e ◦ = X,
e
(2) (F, E)◦ Ď e (F, E),
(3) (F, E) is an open soft set iff (F, E)◦ = (F, E),
(4) (F, E)◦ eu (G, E)◦ = ((F, E) e u (G, E))◦ ,
◦ e ◦ e
(5) (F, E) t (G, E) Ď ((F, E) e t (G, E))◦ .
Proof. we only give a proof to (4), the other cases can be proved easily.
(4) Let e/xe ∈(F, E)◦ e
u(G, E)◦ . Then e/xe ∈(G, E)◦ . Thus ∃ two open soft
∈(F, E)◦ and e/xe
sets (F1 , E), (G1 , E) such that
∈(F1 , E)Ď
e/xe ∈(G1 , E)Ď
e (F, E) and e/xe e (G, E).
So ∃ a non empty open soft set (F1 , E)e
u(G1 , E) = (H, E) such that
∈(H, E)Ď
e/xe u(G, E).
e (F, E)e
u(G, E))◦ . Therefore
∈((F, E)e
Hence e/xe
(3.1) (F, E)◦ e
u(G, E)◦ Ď u(G, E))◦ .
e ((F, E)e
By the same way, we can prove
(3.2) ((F, E)e e (F, E)◦ e
u(G, E))◦ Ď u(G, E)◦
u(G, E)◦ = ((F, E)e
From (3.1) and (3.2), we have (F, E)◦ e u(G, E))◦ . 
The following example shows that generally the equality in (5) of the above theorem
need not be true.
Example 3.14. In Example 3.12 (F, E)◦ = {e1 /a}, where (F, E) = {(e1 , {a}), (e2 , {a, b})} and
(F2 , E)◦ = {(e1 , {b}), (e2 , {a})}. Then clearly
t(F2 , E))◦ = X
((F, E)e e
Ę (F, E)◦ e
e t(G, E)◦ = {(e1 , {a, b}), (e2 , {a})}.
e τ, E) be a soft topological space, (F, E), (G, E) ∈ S S (X). Then
Theorem 3.15. Let (X,
(1) Φ = Φ, (X) e = X,e
(2) (F, E) Ď e (F, E),
(3) (F, E) is a closed soft set iff (F, E) = (F, E),
(4) (F, E) = (F, E),
t (G, E) = ((F, E)e
(5) (F, E) e t(G, E)),
(6) (F, E) u (G, E) Ď ((F, E)e
e e u(G, E)).
Proof. It is obvious 
The following example shows that generally the equality in (6) of the above theorem
need not be true.
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Example 3.16. In Example 3.12, if (F, E) = {(e1 , {a}), (e2 , {b})} and (G, E) = {(e1 , {b}), (e2 , {a})},
then (F, E) = {(e1 , {a}), (e2 , {b})}, (G, E) = {(e1 , {b}), (e2 , {a, b})}. Thus
u (G, E) = {(e1 , φ), (e2 , {b})} Ę ((F, E) e
(F, E) e u (G, E)) = Φ.
Example 3.17. Let (X, ∈S S (X). Then
e P, E) be a particular soft element space, (F, E)e
(
X ∈(F, E)
if e/pe
(F, E) =
e
(F, E) if e/pe <(F, E),
(
0 e − e/p
X if e/pe∈(F, E)
(F, E) =
Φ if e/pe<(F, E),
(
(F, E) if e/pe ∈(F, E)
(F, E)◦ =
Φ if e/pe <(F, E).
e ξ, E) be an excluding soft element space,(F, E)e
Example 3.18. Let (X, ∈S S (X). Then
(
(F, E) if e/pe∈(F, E)
(F, E) =
(F, E)ete/p if e/pe<(F, E),
Φ if (F, E) = e/p
(
0
(F, E) =
e/p if (F, E) , e/p, (F, E) , Φ,
(
(F, E) − e/p if e/pe ∈(F, E), (F, E) , X
(F, E)◦ =
e
(F, E) if e/p<(F, E)or(F, E) = X.
e e

Definition 3.19. A soft topological space (X, e τ, E) is called a soft T 0 −space, if for each two
distinct soft elements ei /x and e j /y, there exists an open soft set (F, E) : ei /xe ∈(F, E) and
e j /ye
<(F, E) or e j /ye
∈(F, E) and ei /xe
<(F, E).
Example 3.20. Let X = {x, y}, E = {e1 , e2 } and τ = {Φ, X, e (F1 , E), (F2 , E), (F3 , E), (F4 , E)},
where
if α = e1 if α = e1
( (
{x} {x}
F1 (α) = F2 (α) =
{x} if α = e2 , X
e if α = e2 ,
if α = e1 if α = e1
( (
{x} {x}
F3 (α) = F (α) =
{y} if α = e2 , 4 Φ if α = e2 .
Then (X,e τ, E) is a soft topological space. It is also a soft T 0 −space since for each two
distinct soft elements ei /x and e j /y, i, j ∈ {1, 2}, there exists an open soft set containing one
but not the other.
Example 3.21. Let X = {x, y}, E = {e1 , e2 }, τ = {Φ, X,
e (F1 , E), (F2 , E), (F3 , E)}, where
if α = e1
(
X
F1 (α) =
e
{y} if α = e2 ,
if α = e1
(
{x}
F2 (α) = e if α = e2 ,
X
if α = e1
(
{x}
F3 (α) =
{y} if α = e2 .
e τ, E) is not soft T 0 −space since e1 /x and e2 /y are
Then clearly a soft topological space (X,
two distinct soft elements while each open soft set containing one of them containing the
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other. This result is in contrast to what reported previously of describing the same example
as a soft T 0 −space Example 3.2 in [6].
Definition 3.22. A soft topological space (X, e τ, E) is called a soft T 1 −space,
if for each two distinct soft elements ei /x and e j /y, there exist two open soft set (F, E) and
(G, E) such that
ei /xe
∈(F, E), e j /ye
<(F, E) and e j /ye
∈(G, E), ei /xe
<(G, E).
Example 3.23. Let X = {x, y, z}, E = {e}. The collection τ = {Φ, X, e (F1 , E), (F2 , E), (F3 , E),
(F4 , E), (F5 , E), (F6 , E)} is a soft topology, where F1 (e) = {x}, F2 (e) = {y}, F3 (e) = {z},
F4 (e) = {x, y}, F5 (e) = {x, z} and F6 (e) = {x, y}. Then (X,
e τ, E) is a soft T 1 −space.

Example 3.24. The soft space in Example 3.20 is a soft T 0 −space but notT 1 −space.
e τ, E) is a soft T 1 −space if and only if every soft element is a soft closed
Theorem 3.25. (X,
set.
Proof. Assume that every soft element is a closed soft set and that ei /x and e j /y are two
distinct soft elements. Then there exist two open soft sets (F, E) = X−e
e i /x, (G, E) = X−e
e j /y
such that
ei /xe
∈(G, E), e j /ye
<(G, E) and e j /ye
∈(F, E), ei /xe
<(F, E).
e τ, E) is T 1 −space.
Thus (X,
Conversely, let (X,e τ, E) be a soft T 1 −space and ei /x be a soft element and e j /ye
∈Xe − ei /x.
Since e j /y and ei /x are two distinct soft elements and (X, τ, E) is a soft T 1 −space, there
e
exists an open soft set (F, E) such that
e j /ye
∈(F, E) and ei /xe
<(F, E).

Clearly e j /ye e − ei /x)◦ . So X

∈( X e − ei /x is a soft open set. Hence ei /x is a closed soft set. 
Corollary 3.26. Every finite soft T 1 −space has to be a discrete soft space.
Remark 3.27. The previous theorem supports the success of our modification compared to
previously reported one that prescribed Example 3.7 in [6] and Example 7 in [5] as a soft
T 1 −space, while not every soft element is closed so, this examples are not soft T 1 −spaces
as we will show.
Example 3.28. Let X = {x, y}, E = {e1 , e2 }, τ = {Φ, X,
e (F1 , E), (F2 , E)}, where
if α = e1 if α = e1
( (
{x} {x}
F1 (α) = F2 (α) =
{y} if α = e2 , {y} if α = e2 .
Then clearly the soft topology (X,e τ, E) is not soft T 1 −space as shown in Example 3.7 that
is explained by Shabir and Naz [6] since there exist two distinct soft elements e1 /x and e2 /y
while each open soft set containing one of them contains also the other . Of course (X,e τ, E)
is not a soft T 2 −space as shown in Example 3.14 that is reported in [6].
Remark 3.29. Clearly
(1) Example 3.8 in [6] is not a soft T 1 −space as they described,
(2) Example 3.26 is not a soft T 4 −space as shown in [6], since it is not soft T 1 −space.
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Definition 3.30. A soft topological space (X, e τ, E) is called a soft T 2 −space, if for each two
distinct soft elements ei /x and e j /y, there exist two disjoint open soft sets (F, E) and (G, E)
such that
ei /xe∈(F, E), e j /ye
∈(G, E) and (F, E)e u(G, E) = Φ.
Remark 3.31. The soft space given in Example 3.23 is a soft T 2 −space
Remark 3.32. The cofinite soft space is a soft T 1 −space but not a soft T 2 −space.
Remark 3.33. It is clear from above definitions, Example 3.20 and Remark 3.32 that the
following implications are true but their reverse generally need not be true.
Soft T 2 −space → Soft T 1 −space→ Soft T 0 −space.

4. Conclusion
This paper is just beginning of the application of the new approach of the concept of
soft belonging and the concept of two distinct soft elements to study some concepts in soft
topological spaces.

Acknowledgements. The authors express their grateful thanks to the referee for reading
the manuscript and making helpful comments.

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A. A. Allam ([email protected])
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Assiut, Assiut, Egypt
Tahir H. Ismail (tahir [email protected])
Department of Mathematics, College of Com. Sci. and Math.,University of Mosul, Mosul,
Iraq
Ramadhan A. Mohammed ([email protected])
Department of Mathematics, College of Science,University of Duhok, Kurdistan-Region,
Iraq

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