[2] SETS OPERATIONS

Recall: In arithmetic, we perform the four basic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication,
and division. Operations are processes performed on two or more numbers to obtain another
number.

With sets, we can also perform operations to obtain another set. The common operations
involving sets are the union, intersection, complement, and Cartesian product.

Union of sets

The union of sets A and B, written as A ∪ B and read as “A union B”, is the set of elements that
belong to either A or B, or to both.

A ∪ B={x ∨x ϵA ∨x ϵ B }

Using Venn diagram to illustrate A ∪ B .

For sets that are not disjoint

A B

For disjoint sets.

A B

Illustration 12.
A={ 2,3,4 }
B= {3,4,5 }

A ∪B= {2,3,4,5 } .

Note that A ∪ B=B ∪ A . [in words, union of sets is commutative.]

Intersection of sets
The intersection of sets A and B, written A ∪B and read as “A intersection B”, is formed by
getting the elements that are common to both A and B.
A ∩ B={ x∨x ϵ A∧x ϵ B }
Using Venn diagram to illustrate A ∩ B.
For sets that are not disjoint

Example 8.
U ={ x|x is a positive integer }
A={1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 }
B={2,4,6,8,10}
C={ x|x is a prime number less than10 }
D={x∨x is an odd number }

A ∩ B= {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 } ∩ { 2,4,6,8,10 }= {2,4,6,8,10 }∨B

A ∩C={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1O } ∩ { x|x is a prime number less than10 }={ 2,3,5,7 )
A ∩ D={1,3,5,7,9}
B∩ C={2 }
B∩ D=∅
C ∩ D={ 3,5,7 }

Illustration 13.
A={2,3,4 }
B={3,4,5}

A ∩ B= {3,4 } .
Note that A ∩ B=B ∩ A . [in words, intersection of sets is commutative.]

Universal Set

:the set consisting of all the elements under consideration, denoted by U

Complement of a set

The complement of a set A, written as A’ and read as “A complement”, is the set of elements in
the universal set U that do not belong to set A.

'
A −{ x∨x ϵ U∧x ∉ A }

Illustration 14.

U ={1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}

A={1,3,5 , 7,9}

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

A' ={2,4,6,8,10}

'
B ={6,7,8,9,10 }

Cartesian Product for Product Set)

The Cartesian Product of two sets A and B, written as A x B, is the set or ordered pairs (a, b)
where a is an element of set A and b is an element of set B”.

A x B is also read as “A cross B”.

A x B= { ( a , b )|a ∈ A∧b ∈ B }

Illustration 15.

A={2,3,4 }

B={3,4,5}

A x B={( 2,3 ) , (2,4 ) , (2,5 ) , ( 3,3 ) , ( 3,4 ) , ( 3,5 ) , ( 4,3 ) , ( 4,4 ) , ( 4,5 ) }

B x A={(3,2) ,(4,2),(5,2) ,(3,3) ,(4,3),(5,3) ,(3,4),(4,4 ),(5,4 )}

n ( A x B )=9

Note that A x B=B x A . [in words, cross product is not commutative.]