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 mean 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 belong 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 BCА

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

UNIVERSAL SET [U]

-Is a single set 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, 4,6}

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= {a, b, c... z} 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, 5} 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.

Example

If A= {a, b, c} 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 common. The ovals overlap for example.

If A= {a, b, c} and B= {a, b, c, d} then it can be represented as

Disjoint sets also can be represented on a Venn diagram

Example: lf A= {a, b} B= {1, 2} the relation A and B is as follows.

Example: If A is a subset of B. represents the two sets on a Venn diagram

Represent A= {2,3,5} B= {2,5,7} C= {2,3,7} in a Venn diagram

Represent AUB in a Venn diagram given that A= {1,2} B= {1,3,5}

Solution:

If set A and B have same elements in common represent the following in a Venn diagram

a) AUB

b) AnB
In a certain primary school 50 pupils were selected to form three school’s 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

A WORD PROBLEM
A word problem is a few sentences describing a real-life scenario where a problem needs to be
solved by way of a mathematical calculations.
Example;

In a certain school of 120 students, 40 learn English, 60 learn Kiswahili and 30 learn both
Kiswahili and English. How many students learn.
a) English only.
b) Neither English nor Kiswahili

Solution.
Let µ = {students in school}
A = {Students learn English}
B = {Students learn Kiswahili}
a) Ո(A) - Ո(AՈB) = number of students learning English only.
40-30=10.

Therefore, the number of students learning English only is 10.

B) =Ո(µ) - {Ո{A} + Ո(B) – Ո(AՈB)}

= 120 - {40+60-30}
= 120 - 70
= 50

Therefore 50 students learn neither English nor Kiswahili.

Alternatively
By Venn diagram.