3.

1 Set
3.1 Set
1. A set is a collection of objects according to certain
characteristics
2. The objects in a set are known as elements.
3. Sets are usually denoted by capital 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

ofor belongs to and

means is not an element

of ordoes not belong to.

Example 1:
Given that P = {factors of 15} and Q = {positive perfect
squares less than 28}. By using the symbol

or

or , complete each of the following:

(a) 5 ___ P
(d) 8 ___ Q

(b) 20 ___ P

(c) 25 ___ Q

Solution:
P = {1, 3, 5, 15}, Q = {1, 4, 9, 16, 25}

(a) 5 P 5 is an element of set P

(b) 20 P 20 is not an element of set P

(c) 25 Q 25 is an element of set Q

(d) 8 Q 8 is not an element of set Q

(a) 5 P 5 is an element of set P (b) 20 P 20 is no

(A) Represent sets by using Venn diagram

5. A set can be represented by a Venn diagram using
closed geometry shapes such as circles, rectangles, triangles
and etc.
6. A dot to the left of an object in a Venn diagram indicates
that the object is an element of the set.
7. When a Venn diagram represents the number of elements
in a set, no dot is placed to the left of the number.
Example 2:
(a) Draw a Venn diagram to represent each of the following
sets.
(b) State the number of elements for each of the set.
A = {2, 3, 5, 7}
B = {k, m, r, t, y}
Solution:
(a)

(b)

n (A) = 4
n (B) = 5

(B) Determine whether a set is an empty set

8. A set with no elements is called an empty set or null
set. The symbol or empty braces, { }, denotes empty
set.
For example, if set A is an empty set, then A = { }
or A= and
n (A) = 0.
9. If B = {0} or {} does not denote that B is an empty
set.B = {0} means that there is an element 0 in set B.
B = {} means that there is an element in set B.