1.1 SETS, REAL NUMBERS AND INEQUALITIES The idea of "set" is used extensive !

in "athe"ati#s and is su#h a $asi# #on#e%t that it is not &iven a fo'"a definition. (e #an sa! that a set is a #o e#tion of o$)e#ts, and the o$)e#ts in a set a'e #a ed the e e"ents of a set. (e "a! s%ea* of the set of $oo*s in the Ne+ ,o'* -u$ i# Li$'a'!, the set of #iti.ens of the United States, the set of t'ees in /o den /ate -a'*, and so on. In #a #u us, +e a'e #on#e'ned +ith the set of 'ea nu"$e's. Befo'e dis#ussin& this set, +e int'odu#e so"e notation and definitions. (e +ant eve'! set to $e +e defined0 that is, the'e shou d $e so"e 'u e o' %'o%e't! that ena$ es one to de#ide +hethe' a &iven o$)e#t is o' is not an e e"ent of a s%e#ifi# set. A %ai' of $'a#es 1 2 used +ith +o'ds o' s!"$o s #an des#'i$e a set. If S is the set of natu'a nu"$e's ess than 3,+e #an +'ite the set S as 11,4,5,6,72 (e #an a so +'ite the set S as 1x, su#h that x is a natu'a nu"$e' ess than 32 +he'e the s!"$o . "x" is #a ed a"va'ia$ e." A va'ia$ e is a s!"$o used to 'e%'esent an! e e"ent of a &iven set. Anothe' +a! of +'itin& the a$ove set S is to use +hat is #a ed set8$ui de' notation, +he'e a ve'ti#a $a' is used in % a#e of the +o'ds "su#h that." Usin& set8$ui de' notation to des#'i$e the set S, +e have 1x x is a natu'a nu"$e' ess than 32 +hi#h is 'ead "the set of a x su#h that x is a natu'a nu"$e' ess than /." The set of natu'a nu"$e's +i $e denoted $! N. The'efo'e, +e "a! +'ite the set N as 1 1, 4 , 5 , ... 2 +he'e the th'ee dots a'e used to indi#ate that the ist &oes on and on +ith no ast nu"$e'. (ith set8$ui de' notation the set N "a! $e +'itten as 1x x is a natu'a nu"$e'2. The s!"$o " e " is used to indi#ate that a s%e#ifi# e e"ent $e on&s to a set. 9en#e, +e "a! +'ite : ; N, +hi#h is 'ead ": is an e e"ent of N.,, The notation a,$ e S indi#ates that $oth a and$ a'e e e"ents of S. The s!"$o fi is 'ead "is not an e e"ent of." Thus, +e 'ead < ; + as "= is not an e e"ent of N." (e denote the set of a inte&e's $! >. Be#ause eve'! e e"ent of N is a so an e e"ent of > ?that is, eve'! natu'a nu"$e' is an inte&e'@, +e sa! that N is a "su$set" of >, +'itten N E >.