UNIT FIVE

SET THEORY
Set

A set is a collection of things, usually

numbers. We can list each element or
member of a set inside curly brackets
like this:

{ 1, 2, 9} 1, 2 and 9 are member of the

set.

More Examples

A = {a, b, c} a, b and c are

elements of set A

P = {Kebede, Hana, Adanu, Fenet}

Kebede, Hana, Adanu and Fenet are
members of set P.

Property of Set

Union of Sets

Union of a set is the collection or

combine of different sets. It is one of the
fundamental operations through which
sets can be combine and related each
other.

“U” denotes Union

A U B read as set “A” union set “B” or

Simple read as union of set “A” and “B”

B
A

AUB=C

C
More Examples

1) A = {1, 2, 3}

B = {3, 4, 5}

A U B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

2) W = {Hailu, Beyene, Abebe}

Z = {Beyene, Hana, Hagos}

WUZ={Hailu, Beyene, Abebe, Hana,

Hagos}

Note:

AUB=BUA

AUBUC=CUBUA

A ∪ A=A

Exercise 5.1

Write the union of the following pair

sets

a)A={h,L,4,3}
B={book, pencil }
b) A = {a,b,c}

B = {1, a, d}

c) A = {e, f, 1, 2}

B = {e, 3,4}

d) A = { Abebe,Hana}

B = { Ali, Abebe, Hailu}

Intersection of the sets

The common elements of set “A”

and “B” is intersection set of set
“A” and “B”.

Examples
a)A = {1, 2, 4, 9} b) D = {-2, -3, -9}

B = {3, 4, 9, 12} F = {9, 10, 11}

Hence A ∩ B = {4, 9} D∩ F = { } or Ø

Because4, 9∈A, B Since the set D & F are

Cannot has common

element.
.

Note:

A∩B=B∩A

A∩B∩C=C∩B∩A

Remark ∈ is symbol of element

Exercise5.2

Write the intersection of the following

pair set.

a)A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} b) F={0,3}

B = {5, 6} G = {3}

c) H={-2,-3,-4} d)T={Hana, Hailu, Obsa}

I = {3, 2, 4} W={Hailu, Beyene, Jon}

Relationship of Sets

Sub set

If the all elements of set “A” are the

members of set “B” then set “A” is sub
set of set “B” denoted A  B.
 “” symbol of sub set

“⊈” symbol of not sub set

A⊈B read as not sub set

A  B read as set is sub set of set B

Examples

A = {1, 2, 3} D= {5, 6, 9}

B = {1, 2, 3, 9} F = {H, 6, 9, 12}

A⊆ Bevery element D⊈ F every element of set

Of set A is element D is not element set F

Of set B. 5∉ F

How can you find the sub set of any

set?

Examples

A = {1, 2, 3}

Then sub set of set A are

Ø,{1},{2},{3},{1,2},{1,3},{2,3} and {1, 2, 3}

B = {0, 5}

Then sub set of set B are

Ø, {0}, {5} and {0, 5}

The formula of the sub set of a set is 2n

“n” is the element number of a set

More Examples

1) If the number of elements is four

then the set have 24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 =
16 sub sets.

2) If the number of elements are 5 then

the set have 25 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 =
32 sub set.

Note:-

Any set is the sub set of it self

Empty set is the sub set of any set.

Exercise 5.3

1) Write True if the statement is correct

if not write False
 a) {1, 2, 3, a}  {a, 1, 2, 3}

b) { a, b, c}  {a, b}

c) { 0, 5}  {0, 5, 9}

2) Find the sub set of the following sets

a) {0, 5} b) {a, b, c}

Proper Sub Set

A proper sub set of set B is a subset of

set A that is not equal to A. in other
words, If B is a proper sub set of set A,
the all elements of set B are in A but set
A contains at least one element that is
not in B.

For Example

If A = {1, 3, 5}, B = {1, 5} &

C = {1, 3, 5} then, set B is a proper sub
set of set A & C = {1, 3, 5} is a subset of
set A but not proper sub set of set A
BECAUSE set C = set A.
“⊂” denotes of proper sub set.
A ⊂ B read, as set A is proper sub set of
set B.
“⊄’ denotes not proper sub set
More Examples

A = {1, 4, 5} C) = {1, b, c}
B = {1, 5} D) = {1, b, 4, 9}

B  A set B is sub C ⊄ D set C is not

set of set A & B⊂A proper subset D
Set B is a proper because c∉ D
Sub set of set A (c is not element
of set D)

Note:-

2n -1 is formula of proper sub set. If n is

numbers of elements
More Examples

Find proper sub set of each set

a) { 1, 2}

{1, 2}, { }, {1}, {2} are proper sub set of

set {1, 2}

b) {5}

{ } is proper sub set of set { 5 }

c) { 5, 9, 3, 7}

{ }, {5}, {9}, {3}, {7}, {5, 9}, {5, 3}, {5, 7},
{9, 3}, {9, 7}, {3,7}, {5, 9, 3}, {5, 9, 7},
{5, 3, 7}and {9, 3, 7}Are proper sub set
of set {5, 9, 3, 7}
Note:

Empty set { } is proper sub set of any set

Any set is not proper sub set of it self

Exercise 5.4

1) Find proper sub set of each set

a. {1, 2}
b. {1, 2, 5}
c. {a}

2) True or False

a. {1, 2, 3}  {1, 2, 3}

b. {5, 6}  {1, 2, 5, 6}

c. {3, 9, 4}  {0, 3, 9, 4}

d. {a, b}  {1, 2, 3}

e. {1, a, b, h}  {1, a, b}

Equivalent Sets

If two sets have equal number of

elements then the sets are equivalent
sets.

Denoted by A B

A B set A is equivalent to set B

Examples

A = {1, 2, 3} D = {c, p, r}

B = {a, c, d } F ={ 9, 4, b}
M = {1, 9, 4} D F

A B

A M

B M

Equal Sets

If all elements of set “A” is the elements

of set “B” and all elements of set “B”
also elements of set “A” then the sets is
called equal sets

Denoted A=B

A = B read as set A is equal to set B

 Examples

A = {1, 2, 4} C = {6, 9, 4}
B = {1, 2, 4} D = {5, 6, 9}
A=B C ≠ D because 4∉D

& 5∉ D

Note:-

 All equal set is also equivalent sets

Exercise 5.5

Identify which is equal set and equivalent set or

both.

a) {7, 8, 9} b) {1, 10, 19} c) {9, 11, 18}

{7, 10, 11} {2, 10, 19} {9, 11, 18}

Venn diagram

A Venn diagram is a drawing, in which circular

areas represent groups of items usually sharing
common properties. The drawing consists of two or
more circles, each representing a specific group or
set.

A B

1 5
2, 4
3 6
How can you represent sets using

Venn diagram?

Example A = {1, 2, 3, 4} B = {2, 4, 5, 6}

A ∩ B = {2, 4}

A ∩ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Show the following pair sets using Venn

diagram.

D F

a) D = {a, b, 5}

F = {1, 2, 3} a b
5
1 2
3

A∩B=Ø

A⋃ B= {
A⋃B = {a, b, 5, 1, 2, 3}
G H

4, 6
8
b) G = {4, 6, 8}

H = {4, 6, 8}

Exercise5.6
Write the elements of each set from Venn diagram. 2)
1) A B

A B
1) 2) 2
4 5
6
a 1 5
b 2 6

A B
A B

3) 1 7 3
a
b 4) c
d
4 8 5
6
Review Exercises on Unit 5

I) compute the following

C D
A B

a 5 4
a 5 1 h 9
b 6 2 k 2
c 9 4

a) Write an element of set A

b) Write an element of set B

c) A∩B

d) Write an element of set C

e) Write an element of set D

f) C ∩ D

g) A⋃B

h) C⋃D
II) True or False

a. {1, 2, 3, 4}  {1, 2, 3}
b. {a, b}  {b, c}
c. {a, b}  {a, b, c}

d. {1, 2, 3} ∩ {a, b, c} = Ø
e. {x, y, m}  {1, 2, 3} = Ø
f. {1, 2, 3}  {1, 2, 3}

III) Compute each of the following

If A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and A = {4, 5, 6, 7}

then find a) A  B

b)A∩B

IV) The following sets are equal,

equivalent, or both.

1. {1, 2, 3} and {a, b, c}

2. {5, 9, 4} and {4, 5, 9}

3. {a, b, 5} and {5, a, b}

4. {10, 11, 12} and {10, 11