Basic Concepts of Sets

To know the basic concepts of sets let us understand from our day to day life we often speak or hear about different
types of collections.
Such as:
(i) a collection of pens
(ii) a collection of dolls
(iii) a collection of books, etc.
In the same way we have different types of groups made for different activity such as:
(i) a group of boys playing cricket
(ii) a group of girls playing tennis
(iii) a group of friends going for movie, etc.
Definition of set
A set is a collection of well-defined objects.
Types of Sets
Empty Set or Null Set:
A set which does not contain any element is called an empty set, or the null set or the void set and it is denoted by
and is read as phi. In roster form, is denoted by {}. An empty set is a finite set, since the number of elements in an
empty set is finite, i.e., 0.
For example: (a) The set of whole numbers less than 0.

(b) Clearly there is no whole number less than 0.

Therefore, it is an empty set.

(c) N = {x : x N, 3 < x < 4}

Let A = {x : 2 < x < 3, x is a natural number}

Here A is an empty set because there is no natural number between
2 and 3.

Let B = {x : x is a composite number less than 4}.

Here B is an empty set because there is no composite number less than 4.

Note:
{0} has no element.

{0} is a set which has one element 0.

The cardinal number of an empty set, i.e., n() = 0


Singleton Set:
A set which contains only one element is called a singleton set.

For example:
A = {x : x is neither prime nor composite}

It is a singleton set containing one element, i.e., 1.

B = {x : x is a whole number, x < 1}

This set contains only one element 0 and is a singleton set.

Let A = {x : x N and x = 4}

Here A is a singleton set because there is only one element 2 whose square is 4.

Let B = {x : x is a even prime number}

Here B is a singleton set because there is only one prime number which is even, i.e., 2.


Finite Set:
A set which contains a definite number of elements is called a finite set. Empty set is also called a finite set.

For example:
The set of all colors in the rainbow.

N = {x : x N, x < 7}

P = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, ...... 97}


Infinite Set:
The set whose elements cannot be listed, i.e., set containing never-ending elements is called an infinite set.

For example:
Set of all points in a plane

A = {x : x N, x > 1}

Set of all prime numbers

B = {x : x W, x = 2n}

Note:
All infinite sets cannot be expressed in roster form.

For example:
The set of real numbers since the elements of this set do not follow any particular pattern.



Cardinal Number of a Set:
The number of distinct elements in a given set A is called the cardinal number of A. It is denoted by n(A).

For example:
A {x : x N, x < 5}

A = {1, 2, 3, 4}

Therefore, n(A) = 4

B = set of letters in the word ALGEBRA

B = {A, L, G, E, B, R}

Therefore, n(B) = 6


Equivalent Sets:
Two sets A and B are said to be equivalent if their cardinal number is same, i.e., n(A) = n(B). The symbol for denoting
an equivalent set is .

For example:
A = {1, 2, 3} Here n(A) = 3

B = {p, q, r} Here n(B) = 3

Therefore, A B

Equal sets:
Two sets A and B are said to be equal if they contain the same elements. Every element of A is an element of B and
every element of B is an element of A.

For example:
A = {p, q, r, s}

B = {p, s, r, q}

Therefore, A = B


The various types of sets and their definitions are explained above with the help of examples.

Different Notations in Sets
To learn about sets we shall use some accepted notations for the familiar sets of numbers.
Some of the different notations used in sets are:


: or |

n(A)


N
W
I or Z
Z+
Q
Q+
R
R+
C
Belongs to
Does not belongs to
Such that
Null set or empty set
Cardinal number of the set A
Union of two sets
Intersection of two sets
Set of natural numbers = {1, 2, 3, }
Set of whole numbers = {0, 1, 2, 3, }
Set of integers = {, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, }
Set of all positive integers
Set of all rational numbers
Set of all positive rational numbers
Set of all real numbers
Set of all positive real numbers
Set of all complex numbers
These are the different notations in sets generally required while solving various types of problems
on sets.
Note:
(i) The pair of curly braces { } denotes a set. The elements of set are written inside a pair of curly
braces separated by commas.
(ii) The set is always represented by a capital letter such as; A, B, C, .. .
(iii) If the elements of the sets are alphabets then these elements are written in small letters.
(iv) The elements of a set may be written in any order.
(v) The elements of a set must not be repeated.
(vi) The Greek letter Epsilon is used for the words belongs to, is an element of, etc.
Therefore, x A will be read as x belongs to set A or x is an element of the set A'.
(vii) The symbol stands for does not belongs to also for is not an element of.
Therefore, x A will read as x does not belongs to set A or x is not an element of the set A'.

Operations on Sets
Definition of operations on sets:
When two or more sets combine together to form one set under the given conditions, then
operations on sets are carried out.
What are the four basic operations on sets?
Solution:
The four basic operations are:
1. Union of Sets
2. Intersection of sets
3. Complement of the Set
4. Cartesian Product of sets


Venn Diagrams
Venn diagrams are useful in solving simple logical problems. Let us study about them in detail.
Mathematician John Venn introduced the concept of representing the sets pictorially by means
of closed geometrical figures called Venn diagrams. In Venn diagrams, the Universal Set is
represented by a rectangle and all other sets under consideration by circles within the rectangle.
In this chapter, we will use Venn diagrams to illustrate various operations (union, intersection,
difference). What are Venn Diagrams?
Pictorial representations of sets represented by closed figures are called set diagrams or Venn
diagrams.

Venn diagrams are used to illustrate various operations like union, intersection and difference.

We can express the relationship among sets through this in a more significant way.

In this,

A rectangle is used to represent a universal set.

Circles or ovals are used to represent other subsets of the universal set.

Venn diagrams in different situations
If a set A is a subset of set B, then the circle representing set A is drawn inside the circle
representing set B.

If set A and set B have some elements in common, then to represent them, we draw two
circles which are overlapping.

If set A and set B are disjoint, then they are represented by two non-intersecting circles.

In this diagrams, the universal set is represented by a rectangular region and its subsets by circles
inside the rectangle. We represented disjoint set by disjoint circles and intersecting sets by
intersecting circles.