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Topic 11: Introduction of Set Example:

a) Draw a Venn diagram to represent


11.1 Set each of the following sets.
b) State the number of elements for
1. A set is a collection of objects according each of the set.
to certain characteristics. A = {2, 3, 5, 7}
2. The objects in a set are known B = {k, m, r, t, y}
as elements. Solution:
3. Sets are usually denoted by capital a)
letters and notation used for sets
is braces, { }. Example: A = {1, 3, 5, 7,
9}.
4. In set notation, the symbol ∈ means ‘is
an element of’ or ‘belongs to’ and ∉
means ‘is not an element of’ or ‘does b) n (A) = 4, n (B) = 5
not belong to’.
Determine whether a set is an empty
Example: set
Given that P = {factors of 15} and Q =
{positive perfect squares less than 28}. 7. A set with no elements is called
By using the symbol ∈ or ∉∈ or ∉, an empty set or null set. The
complete each of the following: symbol φ or empty braces, { }, denotes
a) 5___P empty set. For example, if set A is an
b) 20___P empty set, then A = { } or A = φ and
c) 25___Q n (A) = 0.
d) 8___Q 8. If B = {0} or {φ} does not denote
Solution: that B is an empty set. B = {0} means
P = {1, 3, 5, 15} that there is an element ‘0’ in set B. B =
Q = {1, 4, 9, 16, 25} {φ} means that there is an element ‘φ’
a) 5 ∈P ← 5 is an element of set P in set B.
b) 20 ∉ P ← 20 is not an element of s
et P 11.2 Venn Diagrams, Universal Sets,
c) 25 ∈Q ← 25 is an element of set Q Complement of a Set and Subsets
d) 8 ∉ Q ← 8 is not an element of set
Q Universal Set

1. Universal set is a set that contains all


Represent sets by using Venn diagram the elements under consideration.
2. In set notation, the symbol ξ denotes a
5. A set can be represented by a Venn universal set.
diagram using closed geometry shapes
such as circles, rectangles, triangles Example:
and etc. Given that the universal set, ξ = {whole
6. A dot to the left of an object in a Venn numbers less than 9}, A = {prime number}
diagram indicates that the object is an and B = {multiple of 4}.
element of the set. a) List all the elements of set A and
set B.
b) Illustrate the relationships The complement of set B is
between the following sets using represented by the shaded region
Venn diagrams. inside the universal set, ξ, but outside
i. ξ and A set B.
ii. ξ, A and B
Solution:
Subsets
a) ξ = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
A = {2, 3, 5, 7}
5. If every element of a set A is also an
B = {4, 8}
element of a set B, then set A is
b) i.
called subset of set B.
6. The symbol ⊂ is used to denote ‘is a
subset of’. Therefore, set A is a subset
of set B. In set notation, it is written as
A⊂B.

Example:
A = {11, 12, 13} and B = {10, 11, 12, 13,
ii.
14}
Every element of set A is an element of
set B. Therefore A⊂B.

7. A⊂B can be illustrated using Venn


diagram as below:

Complement of a Set

3. The complement of set B is the set of


all elements in the universal set, ξ,
which are not elements of set B, and
is denoted by B’.
8. The symbol ⊄ is used to denote ‘is not
Example: a subset of’.
If ξ = {17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23} and B = 9. An empty set is a subset of any set. For
{17, 20, 21} then B’ = {18, 19, 22, 23}. example, ∅⊂A.
10. A set is a subset of itself. For
4. The Venn diagram below shows example, B⊂B.
the relationship between B, B’ and the 11. The number of subsets for a set
universal set, ξ. with n elements is 2n.

Example:
List all possible subsets of A = {3, 7, 8}.
Solution:
n = 3, then number of subsets of set A =
23 = 8. All the subsets of set A are { },
{3}, {7}, {8}, {3, 7}, {3, 8}, {7, 8} and {3, 7,
8}.

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