1.
2 SET OPERATIONS AND VENN DIAGRAM
1. UNION
- The union of two sets 𝐴 and 𝐵 is the set of all elements that belong to either 𝐴 or 𝐵,
or both 𝐴 and 𝐵.
- Denoted by 𝑨 ∪ 𝑩.
- In set descriptive notation, we have
𝑨 ∪ 𝑩 = {𝒙: 𝒙 ∈ 𝑨 𝒐𝒓 𝒙 ∈ 𝑩}
- Using Venn diagram, shaded region below represents 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵
Note: For any set 𝑨.
𝐴∪∅ =𝐴
𝐴∪𝑈 =𝑈
𝐴∪𝐴 = 𝐴
Example 1. Consider again the following sets:
𝐴 = {𝑢, 𝑣, 3}
𝐵 = {1, 2 3, 4}
𝐶 = {𝑣, 𝑤, 𝑥}
Then
Also, observe that
2. INTERSECTION
- The intersection of two sets 𝐴 and 𝐵 is the set of all elements that belong to both
sets 𝐴 and 𝐵.
- Denoted by 𝑨 ∩ 𝑩
- In set descriptive notation, we have
𝑨 ∩ 𝑩 = {𝒙: 𝒙 ∈ 𝑨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝒙 ∈ 𝑩}
- Using Venn diagram, shaded region below represents 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵
Notice that in (i), 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 is unshaded. This is the case since 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = ∅. Sets A and B
are said to be disjoint if 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = ∅.
Note: For any set 𝑨.
𝐴∩∅ =∅
𝐴∩𝑈 =𝐴
𝐴∩𝐴 = 𝐴
Note: For any sets A and B, where 𝑨 ⊆ 𝑩
𝐴∪𝐵 = 𝐵
𝐴∩𝐵 = 𝐴
Example 2. Consider again the following sets:
𝑈 = {𝑢, 𝑣, 𝑤, 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
𝐴 = {𝑢, 𝑣, 3}
𝐵 = {1, 2 3, 4}
𝐶 = {𝑣, 𝑤, 𝑥}
Also, observe that
3. COMPLEMENT
- The complement of a set 𝐴 is the set of all elements of the universal set 𝑈 that do
not belong to set 𝐴.
- Denoted by 𝑨′ or 𝑨𝒄 .
- In set descriptive notation, we have
𝑨′ = {𝒙 ∈ 𝑼: 𝒙 ∉ 𝑨}
- Using Venn diagram, shaded region below represents 𝐴′.
Note: For any universal set 𝑼
𝑈′ = ∅
∅′ = 𝑈
Example 3. Going back again to these sets
𝑈 = {𝑢, 𝑣, 𝑤, 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
𝐴 = {𝑢, 𝑣, 3}
𝐵 = {1, 2 3, 4}
𝐶 = {𝑣, 𝑤, 𝑥}
We have
4. SET DIFFERENCE
- The set difference of sets 𝐴 and 𝐵 is the set of all elements that are in 𝐴 and not in
𝐵.
- Denoted by 𝑨\𝑩 or 𝑨 − 𝑩
- In other words, 𝐴\𝐵 is the complement of 𝐵 relative to 𝐴.
- In set descriptive notation,
𝑨\𝑩 = {𝒙: 𝒙 ∈ 𝑨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝒙 ∉ 𝑩} = 𝑨 ∩ 𝑩′
Note: For any set 𝑨,
𝐴\𝐴 = ∅
𝐴\∅ = 𝐴
∅\𝐴 = ∅
Example 4. Consider again these sets
𝐴 = {𝑢, 𝑣, 3}
𝐵 = {1, 2 3, 4}
𝐶 = {𝑣, 𝑤, 𝑥}
Then we have
5. CARTESIAN PRODUCT
- The Cartesian product of two nonempty sets 𝐴 and 𝐵 is the set of all ordered pairs
(𝑎, 𝑏) where 𝑎 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑏 ∈ 𝐵.
- Denoted by 𝑨 × 𝑩.
- In set descriptive notation,
𝑨 × 𝑩 = {(𝒂, 𝒃): 𝒙 ∈ 𝑨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝒙 ∈ 𝑩}
Note: For any sets 𝑨 and 𝑩,
𝐴×𝐵 ≠ 𝐵×𝐴
𝐴×∅=∅
Example 5. Consider the following sets:
𝑃 = {𝑤, 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧}
𝑄 = {5, 6, 7}
𝑅 = {𝑡, 3}
Then we have the following:
PROPERTIES OF SET OPERATIONS
Let 𝐴, 𝐵, and 𝐶 be any three sets. Then
Reference:
Algebra and Trigonometry. Revised Edition. Department of Mathematics, MSU-IIT. 2015.
