Set
Theory
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
DeniCon
of
a
set
A set is a collection of elements.
The order of the elements in the set is not relevant.
The set can contain all kinds of elements, including numbers.
For example, set A = {3, 1, 2} contains the elements 3, 1, 2.
Set B = {1, 2, 3} is the same as set A; we write B = A.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
The set A can be also written as A = {x | x=1 or 2 or 3}.
The element 3 belongs to the set A, so we write
3 A. We write that
4 A. When the set does not have elements, it is called the empty set; and it is denoted by either {} or
.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Cardinal
number
The number of the elements in a set is the cardinal number of the set.
The cardinal number is denoted by | |.
For example, set A={3, 1, 2} has a cardinal number of |A|=3, or the cardinality of A is 3.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Venn
diagram
A Venn diagram is a graphical representation of sets and their relationships among themselves.
The Venn diagram below shows two sets A and B.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
When two sets share common elements, we draw overlapping circles:
Common
elements
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
The elements that do not belong to a set lie outside the set.
In the Venn diagram below, the blue area represents the elements that are not part of the set A.
A
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Set
operaCons:
IntersecCon
The intersection of two or more sets produces a set that contains all elements that are common to all sets.
The
intersecCon
of
set
A
and
B
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
For example, let A = {3, 1, 2} and B = {3, 4, 5}.
Then, the intersection of A and B is
A B = {3}. Take set C = {6, 7}.
Then,
A C = .
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Union
The set of the union of two or more sets contains all the elements of the sets.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Take A = {3, 1, 2} and B = { 3, 4, 5}.
The union of the two sets is
A B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}. Notice that element 3 is common to set A and B, but it is written only once in the set of the union.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Complement
The complement of a set contains all the elements in the universal set U that are not in the set.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Let the universal set U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}.
Let A = {3, 1, 2}.
A c = {4, 5, 6, 7,8}. Then
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Subset
When set B contains some or all elements of set A, B is called a sub-set of A and we write
B A. If set B contains only some elements of A, we say B is a proper sub-set of A and write
B A.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {2, 4}.
Then,
B A.
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
ProperCes
of
sets
(A )
c c
=A
A= A A= U A =U UA=A A (B C) = (A B) (A C) A (B C) = (A B) (A C) (A B)c = A c B c (A B) = A B
c c c
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
Set
dierence
The difference between set A and set B is the set of elements that are in set A and are not in set B.
For example, let A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {3, 4}.
Then, A B = {1, 2}.
A
A-B
B
Dr
Muhammad
Al-Salamah,
College
of
Engineering,
Majmaah
University
26-Nov-11
