INTRODUCTION TO SET
Forget everything you know about number and forget that you even know what a number is.
This is where mathematics starts. Instead of mathematics with numbers we will think about
mathematics with things.
SET
The word set means collection of related things or objects. Or, things grouped together with a
certain property in common. For example, the items you wear: shoes, socks, hat, shirt, pants
and so on. This is called a set. A set notation is simple, we just list each element or member
(element and member are the same thing), separated by comma, and then put some curly
brackets around the whole thing. See an example below:
{1,2, 3,4...}
Three dots means goes on forever
Elements of set.
The Curly brackets are sometimes called "set brackets" or "Braces".
A is the set and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are the elements of the set or members of the set. The elements
that are written in the set can be in any order but cannot be repeated. All the set elements are
represented in small letter in case of alphabets.
Description of a Set
We describe sets either by using words, by listing or by Formula. For example if set A is a set of
even numbers, we can describe it as follows:
1 By using words: A = {even numbers}
2 By listing: A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10,...}
3 By Formula: A = {x: x = 2n, where n = 1,2,3,...} and is read as A is a set of all x such that x is an
even number.
TYPES OF SETS
Finite set; Is a set where all elements can be counted exhaustively.
example:
A= {1, 2, 3, 4}
Infinite set: An Infinite set is a set that all of its elements cannot be exhaustively counted
Example
B= {2, 4, 6, 8...}
An Empty set; Is a set with no elements. An Empty set is denoted by { } or Ø
Example
If A is an Empty set then can be denoted as A= {} or A= Ø
COMPARISON OF SETS
-SET may be equivalent, equal or one to be a subset of other
-Equivalent sets are sets whose members (numbers) match exactly
Example
A= {2, 4, 6, 8} and B= {a, b, c, d}
Then A and B are equivalent
The two sets can be matched as
A= {2,4, 6,8}
B= {a, b, c, d}
Generally if n(A) = n(B) then A and B are equivalent sets
Example:
If A= [1, 2, 3, 4} and B= {1, 2, 3. 4] since n(A) = n(B) and the elements are alike then set A is
equal to set B
Subset: Given two sets A and B, B is said to be a subset of A. If all elements of B belongs to A
Example
If A= {a, b, c, d, e} and B= {a, b, c, e} Set B is a subset of A since all elements of set B belongs to
set A. But set B has less elements than set A.
Then set B is a proper subset of set A and A is a super set of B.
Symbolically BСА
If A- B then either A is an improper subset of B or B is an improper subset of A.
Symbolically written as ACB or BCA
Note: an empty set is a subset of any set -The number of subset in a set is found by the formula
2" where n= number of elements of a set
Example
1. List all subset of A= [a, b]
Solution:
2 n number of element in a set. So 22 = 4
The number of subset = 4
The subset of A are [ ], [a], [b], [a, b]
2. How many subset are there in A= [1, 2, 3, 4]
Solution:
The number of subset=24= 16
UNIVERSAL SET [U]
-Is a single sets which contains all elements sets under consideration for example the set of
integers contains all the elements of sets such as odd numbers, even numbers, counting
numbers, and whole numbers. In this case the set of integers is the Universal set.
OPERATION WITH SETS
UNION
The union of two sets A and B is the one which is formed when the members of two sets are
putted together without a repetition. Thus the union is U, this union of A and B can be denoted
as AUB is defined as x; XEA or XEB
Example
1. If A= {2, 4, 6} and B= {2, 3. 5} then AUB- {2, 4, 6} U {2, 3.5} [2. 3. 4.5. 61
2. Find AUB when A= {a, b, c, d, e, f} and B= {a, e, I, o, u}
Solution:
AUB= {a, b, c, d, e, f, I, o, u}
INTERSECTION
The Intersection of two sets A and B is a new set formed by taking common elements. The
symbol for intersection is "n"
Example
1. A= {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} B= {1, 3, 5} then AnB= {1,3,5}
2. Find AnB if A= {a, e, i, o, u} B= (a, b, c, d, e, f}
then AnB= {a, e}
COMPLEMENT OF A SET
If A is a subset of a universal set, then the members of the universal set which are not in A, form
compliment of A denoted by A'
Example
If U la, b, c... zł and A= [a, b] then A'= [c, d, e, ...Z}
Given that U= [15. 45. 135. 275] and A= [15] find A'
Solution:
A'- 145. 135. 275]
JOINT AND DISJOINT SETS
JOINT SETS; Are sets with common elements E.g. A= {1, 2, 3, 5l, D= [1, 2] then A and D are joint
sets since [1, 2] are common elements
DIS JOINT SETS; Are sets with no elements in common
For example A= {a, b, c} and B= {1, 2. 3. 4} then A and B are disjoint sets since they do not have
a common element
VENN DIAGRAM.
A Venn diagram is an illustration that uses circle to show the relationship among things or
finite group of things. Circles that overlap have a commonality while circles that do not overlap
do not share those traits.
VENN DIAGRAM
-Are the diagrams (ovals) devised by John Venn for representation of sets
Example
If A=la. b. cl can be represented as
μ is the universal set, in this case is the set of all
English alphabets. If the set have any elements in [Link] ovals over lap for [Link]
A=[Link] and B= la. b. c. dl then it can be represented as
Disjoint sets also can be represented on a Venn diagram
Example: lf A-la. bl,B-(1.2l the relation A and B is as follows.
Example: If A1s a subset of B. represent the two sets on a Venn diagram
Represent A-12.3.51.B-12.5.7|C-12.3.7ina Venn diagram
Venn diagram
Solution:
Represent AUB in a Venn diagram given that A-[1.21.B={1.3.51
Solution:
If set A and B have same elements in common represent the following in a Venn diagram
a) AUB
b) AnB
Solution:
a)AUB b)AnB
In a certain primary school 50 pupils were
selected to form three schools teams of
football volleyball and basketball as follows
30 pupils formed a football team
20 pupils formed a volleyball team
25 pupils formed a basketball team
14 play both volleyball and basketball
18 pupils play football and basketball
8 pupils play all of the three games
7 pupils play football only
Represent this information in a Venn diagram
