Set Theory Problems

1. Question: If two sets A and B have 99 elements in common, then the number of
elements common to each of the sets A x B and B x A are
(a) 299
(b) 992
(c) 100
(d) 18
2. Question: A and B are subsets of a universal set having 12 elements. If A has 7
elements, B has 9 elements and A∩B has 9 elements , then what is the number of
elements in A∪B ?
(a) 11
(b) 16
(c) 22
(d) 10
3. Question: The set of intelligent students in a class is
(a) A null set
(b) A singleton set
(c) A finite set
(d) Not a well defined collection
4. Question: If A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, then the number of non-empty subsets of A is
(a) 16
(b) 15
(c) 32
(d) 3
5. Question: Of the members of three athletic teams in a school, 21 are in the cricket team,
26 are in the hockey team and 29 are in the football team. Among them, 14 play hockey
and cricket, 15 play hockey and football, and 12 play football and cricket. Eight play all
the three games. The total number of members in the three athletic teams is
(a) 43
(b) 76
(c) 49
(d) None of these
6. Question: Which of the following is the empty set?
(a) {x : x is a real number and x2 – 1 = 0}
(b) {x : x is a real number and x2 + 1 = 0}
(c) {x : x is a real number and x2 – 9 = 0
(d) {x : x is a real number and x2 = x + 2
7. Question: If a set A has 3 elements and B has 6 elements, then the minimum number of
elements in A∪B is
(a) 6
(b) 3
(c) 9
(d) None of these
8. Question: If a set A has n elements, then the total number of subsets of A is
(a) n
(b) n2

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 (c) 2n
(d) 2n
9. Question: If (1, 3), (2, 5) and (3, 3) are three elements of A x B and the total number of
elements in A x B is 6, then the remaining elements of A x B are
(a) (1, 5); (2, 3); (3, 5)
(b) (5, 1); (3, 2); (5, 3)
(c) (1, 5); (2, 3); (5, 3)
(d) None of these
10. Question: The set of all prime numbers is
(a) A finite set
(b) A singleton set
(c) An infinite set
(d) None of these
11. Question: A class has 175 students. The following data shows the number of students
obtaining one or more subjects. Mathematics 100; Physics 70; Chemistry 40; Mathematics
and Physics 30; Mathematics and Chemistry 28; Physics and Chemistry 23; Mathematics,
Physics and Chemistry 18. How many students have offered Mathematics alone?
(a) 35
(b) 48
(c) 60
(d) 22
12. Question: The number of proper subsets of the set {1, 2, 3} is
(a) 8
(b) 7
(c) 6
(d) 5
13. Question: In a town of 10000 families it was found that 40% of families buy
newspaper A, 20% buy newspaper B and 10% of families buy newspaper C, 5% of
families buy A and B, 3% buy B and C and 4% buy A and C. If 2% the families buy all the
three newspapers, then number of families which buy A only is
(a) 3100
(b) 3300
(c) 2900
(d) 1400
14. Question: In a city 20 percent of the population travels by car, 50 percent travels by
bus and 10 percent travels by both car and bus. Then persons travelling by car or bus is
(a) 80 percent
(b) 40 percent
(c) 60 percent
(d) 70 percent
15. Question: Let S = {0, 1, 5, 4, 7}. Then the total number of subsets of S is
(a) 64
(b) 32
(c) 40
(d) 20
16. Question: A set contains 2n + 1 elements. The number of subsets of this set
containing more than n elements is equal to
(a) 2n – 1
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 (b) 2n
(c) 2n + 1
(d) 22n
17. Question: 20 teachers of a school either teach mathematics or physics. 12 of them
teach mathematics while 4 teach both the subjects. Then the number of teachers teaching
physics only is
(a) 12
(b) 8
(c) 16
(d) None of these
18. Question: In a battle 70% of the combatants lost one eye, 80% an ear, 75% an arm,
85% a leg, x% lost all the four limbs. The minimum value of x is
(a) 10
(b) 12
(c) 15
(d) None of these
19. Question: If A = {1, 2, 4}, B = {2, 4, 5}, C = {2, 5}, then (A – B) x (B – C) is
(a) {(1, 2), (1, 5), (2, 5)}
(b) {(1, 4)}
(c) (1, 4)
(d) None of these
20. Question: If n(A) = 4, n(B) = 3, n(A x B x C) = 24, then n(C) =
(a) 288
(b) 1
(c) 12
(d) 2
21. Question: In a class of 30 pupils, 12 take needle work, 16 take physics and 18 take
history. If all the 30 students take at least one subject and no one takes all three, then
the number of pupils taking 2 subjects is
(a) 16
(b) 6
(c) 8
(d) 20

Short Answer Questions (2 Marks Questions)

1. Represent the given sets in Roster Form.
(i) U = {x : x is an integer and – 3 ≤ x < 7}
(ii) B = {x : x is a Natural Number which is less than 6}
2. Represent the Venn Diagram for (A ∩ B)’.
Ques. Are the following pair of sets equal?

A = {x:x is a letter in the word SORROW}

B = {y:y is a letter in the word SOW}

3. Ques. If A = {3, 5, 7, 9, 10}, B = {7, 9, 10, 13}, and C = {10, 13, 15}. Find (A ∩ B) ∩ (
B ∪ C).
4. Ques. Given, X = {a, b, c, d} and Y = {f, b, d, g}, determine the final value of X – Y and
Y – X.

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5. Ques. Given, X = {a, b, c, d} and Y = {f, b, d, g}, determine the final value of X – Y and
Y – X.
6. Represent the given sets in the Roster Form.

(i) A = {x | x is a positive integer which is less than 10 and 2x – 1 is an odd number}

(ii) B = {x : x2 + 7x – 8 = 0, x ∈ R}

7. Given sets are A = {a, b}, and B = {a, b, c}. Is A ⊂ B? Find A ∪ B.

8. If U = {x : x ∈ N, x ≤ 9}, A = {x : x is an even number, 0 < x < 10}, and B = {2, 3, 5,
7}, what will be the Set (A U B)?

Long Answer Questions (3 Marks Questions)

9. Set S = {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30} is given in the roster form. Rewrite it in,
(i) Set Builder Form
(ii) Semantic Form
10.Let A and B be two sets containing 3 and 5 elements respectively. What is the maximum
and the minimum number of elements in A ∪ B?

11.If ∪ = {a, e, i, o, u} and

 A = {a, e, i}
 B = {e, o, u}
 C = {a, i, u}
Verify whether the value is true or not: A ∩ (B - C) = (A ∩ B) - (A ∩ C).
12.Ques. According to a survey, 73% of Kashmiris actually like apples, while around 65% of
them like oranges. Determine the percentage of Kashmiris who like both apples and
oranges.
13.Ques. In a college, 20 professors teach mathematics or physics. If 12 teach maths and 4
teach both physics and maths, How many teach Physics?

Very Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Questions)

14.Ques. There are 100 students in a Student Activity Club of which 35 like drawing and 45
like music. 10 students are interested in both drawing and music. Find the number of
students that like either of them or neither of them.
15.Ques. Let set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, and set B = {3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13}. Find:
(i) A U B
(ii) A ∩ B
(iii) (A ∩ B)’
16.Ques. There are 200 individuals with a dermatological disorder. 120 were exposed to the
chemical C1, 50 to chemical C2, and 30 to both the chemicals C1 and C2. What is the
number of individuals exposed to
(i) Chemical C1 but not chemical C2?
(ii) Chemical C2 but not chemical C1?
(iii) Chemical C1 or chemical C2?
17.Ques. In a Sports Academy, there are players that play either Baseball or Football or both.
The number of players who play Baseball or Football or both is 11, 12 and 3 respectively.
What will be the number of students playing either cricket or badminton?
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Answer
1 Answer. (b) 6. Answer. (b) 11. Answer. (c) 16. Answer. (d) 21. Answer. (a)

2. Answer. (d) 7. Answer. (a) 12. Answer. (c) 17. Answer. (a)

3. Answer. (d) 8. Answer. (c) 13. Answer. (b) 18. Answer. (a)

4. Answer. (b) 9. Answer. (a) 14. Answer. (c) 19. Answer. (b)

5. Answer. (a) 10. Answer. (c) 15. Answer. (b) 20. Answer. (d)

Short Answer Questions (2 Marks Questions)

Ques. Represent the given sets in Roster Form.

(i) U = {x : x is an integer and – 3 ≤ x < 7}

(ii) B = {x : x is a Natural Number which is less than 6}

Ans. (i) Given that, A = {x : x is an integer and –3 ≤ x < 7}

According to the condition, the integers will be -5, -4, -3, -2, -2, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,…..

Thus, A = {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

(ii) Given that, B = {x : x is a Natural Number less than 6}

The natural numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, ……

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

Ques. Represent the Venn Diagram for (A ∩ B)’.

Ans. The Venn Diagram for (A ∩ B)’ is as follows:

Ques. Are the following pair of sets equal?

 A = {x:x is a letter in the word SORROW}

 B = {y:y is a letter in the word SOW}
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Ans. Elements of Sets are:

 A= {S, O, W}
 B = {S, O, W}

Hence, A = B.

Ques. If A = {3, 5, 7, 9, 10}, B = {7, 9, 10, 13}, and C = {10, 13, 15}. Find (A ∩ B) ∩ ( B ∪ C).

Ans. Given sets are:

 A = {3, 5, 7, 9, 10}
 B = {7, 9, 10, 13}
 C = {10, 13, 15}

A ∩ B = {7, 9, 10}

B ∪ C = {7, 9, 10, 13, 15}

(A ∩ B) ∩ (B ∪ C) = {7, 9, 10}

Ques. Given, X = {a, b, c, d} and Y = {f, b, d, g}, determine the final value of X – Y and Y – X.

Ans. Given Sets are:

 X = {a, b, c, d}
 Y = {f, b, d, g}

X – Y = {a, b, c, d} – {f, b, d, g} = {a, c}

Y – X = {f, b, d, g} – {a, b, c, d} = {f, g}

Ques. Represent the given sets in the Roster Form.

(i) A = {x | x is a positive integer which is less than 10 and 2x – 1 is an odd number}

(ii) B = {x : x2 + 7x – 8 = 0, x ∈ R}

Ans. (i) Since 2x is an even number, 2x – 1 is an odd number for all positive integral values of x.

In simpler terms, 2x – 1 is an odd number for x = 1, 2, … , 9.

Thus, A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}

(ii) x2 + 7x – 8 = 0

On simplification,

(x + 8) (x – 1) = 0

x = – 8 or x = 1

Thus, B = {– 8, 1}
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Ques. Given sets are A = {a, b}, and B = {a, b, c}. Is A ⊂ B? Find A ∪ B.

Ans. Given sets are

 B = {a, b, c}
 A = {a, b}

Yes, A ⊂ B, Therefore, the union of the set's pairings can be expressed as

A∪ B = {a, b, c} = B

Ques. If U = {x : x ∈ N, x ≤ 9}, A = {x : x is an even number, 0 < x < 10}, and B = {2, 3, 5, 7},
what will be the Set (A U B)?

Ans. It is given that,

 U = {x : x ∈ N, x ≤ 9}
 A = {x : x is an even number, 0 < x < 10}
 B = {2, 3, 5, 7}

Thus, in roster form, the sets will be

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

A U B = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

(A U B)’ = {1, 9}

Long Answer Questions (3 Marks Questions)

Ques. Set S = {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30} is given in the roster form. Rewrite it in,
(i) Set Builder Form
(ii) Semantic Form

Ans. The given set is S = {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30}.

(i) In set-builder notation, it will be written as S = {x : x is a multiple of 5 and 1 < x < 35, x ∈ N}.

(ii) in semantic form, it will be written as S = {Multiples of 5 less than 35 and greater than 0}.

Ques. Let A and B be two sets containing 3 and 5 elements respectively. What is the
maximum and the minimum number of elements in A ∪ B?

Ans. There can be 3 elements that are common, at least, between both the given sets.

Let

 A = {a, b, c}
 B = {a, b, c, d, e}

Therefore, A ∪ B = {a, b, c, d, e,} implies that the minimum number of elements in A ∪ B are 6.

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It can also be that, there are no elements that are common between both sets.

For example,

 A = {a, b, c}
 B = {d, e, g, h, i}

Thus, A ∪ B = {a, b, c, d, e, g, h, i}. It implies that the maximum number of elements in A ∪ B is 8.

Ques. If ∪ = {a, e, i, o, u} and

 A = {a, e, i}
 B = {e, o, u}
 C = {a, i, u}

Verify whether the value is true or not: A ∩ (B - C) = (A ∩ B) - (A ∩ C).

Ans. According to the sets given,

 B – C = {e, o}
 A ∩ (B - C) = e
 A ∩ B = {e}
 A ∩ C = {a}

(A ∩ B) - (A ∩ C) = e

Now, A ∩ (B - C) = e and (A ∩ B) - (A ∩ C) = e.

Thus, A ∩ (B - C) = (A ∩ B) - (A ∩ C)

Hence Proved.

Ques. According to a survey, 73% of Kashmiris actually like apples, while around 65% of
them like oranges. Determine the percentage of Kashmiris who like both apples and
oranges.

Ans. Let us assume that,

 A = Set of Kashmiris who like Apples

 B = Set of Kashmiris who like Oranges

Thus,

 n (A) = 73
 n (B) = 65

n (A∪B) = 100

n(A∩B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A∪B)

= 73 + 65 – 100

= 38
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Thus, about 38% of the Kashmiris like both apples and oranges.

Ques. In a college, 20 professors teach mathematics or physics. If 12 teach maths and 4

teach both physics and maths, How many teach Physics?

Ans. Given that,

 Total Teachers n(M∪P) = 20

 Teachers teaching Maths n(M) = 12
 Teachers teaching both Maths and Physics n(M∩P) = 4
 Teachers teaching Physics n(P) =?

Thus,

n(M∪P) = n(M) + n(P) - n(M∩P)

n(P) =12

Thus, there are 12 teachers teaching Physics.

Very Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Questions)

Ques. There are 100 students in a Student Activity Club of which 35 like drawing and 45 like
music. 10 students are interested in both drawing and music. Find the number of students
that like either of them or neither of them.

Ans. Given that,

 Total Number of Students = 100

 Number of Students liking Painting, n(P) = 35
 Number of Students liking Dancing, n(D) = 45
 Number of Students liking Both Painting and Dancing, n(P∩D) = 10

The number of students who like either of them (n(P ∪ D)) and the number of students who like
neither (n(P∪D)) needs to be calculated.

Using Sets Formula,

n(P∪D) = n(P) + n(D) – n(P∩D)

45 + 35 - 10 = 70

Therefore, there are 70 students who like either music or drawing.

Number of Students Who like Neither Painting or Dancing = Total Students – n(P∪D) = 100 – 70 =
30

Therefore, there are 30 students who like neither music nor drawing.

Ques. Let set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}, and set B = {3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13}. Find:
(i) A U B

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(ii) A ∩ B
(iii) (A ∩ B)’

Ans. Given sets are:

 A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
 B = {3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13}

(i) A U B

Union of sets is the unique elements of both sets as a whole without being repeated. Thus,

A U B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13}

(ii) A ∩ B

Inverted U means an intersection that finds elements common to both sets.

A ∩ B = {3, 5, 7}

(iii) (A ∩ B)’

It is a complement of the set operation. Thus,

(A ∩ B)’ = {1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13}

Ques. There are 200 individuals with a dermatological disorder. 120 were exposed to the
chemical C1, 50 to chemical C2, and 30 to both the chemicals C1 and C2. What is the number
of individuals exposed to
(i) Chemical C1 but not chemical C2?
(ii) Chemical C2 but not chemical C1?
(iii) Chemical C1 or chemical C2?

Ans. Set A signifies the set of individuals exposed to the chemical C1, while B denotes the set of
individuals exposed to the chemical C2.

 n (U) = 200
 n (A) = 120
 n (B) = 50
 n (A∩B) = 30

Thus,

(i) n(A-B) = n(A) - n(A∩B) = 120-30 = 90

(ii) n(B-A) = n(B) - n(A∩B) = 50 - 30 = 20

(iii) n(A∪B) =n(A)+ n(B)- n(A∩B) = 120 + 50 - 30 = 140

Ques. In a Sports Academy, there are players that play either Baseball or Football or both.
The number of players who play Baseball or Football or both is 11, 12 and 3 respectively.
What will be the number of students playing either cricket or badminton?

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Ans. Consider that,

 n(Baseball) = n(P)
 n(Football) = n(Q)
 n(Either Baseball or Football) = n(P∪Q)
 n(Baseball and Football) = n(P∩Q)

Given that,

 n(P) = 12
 n(Q) = 12
 (P∩Q) = 3

Using the Sets Formula,

n(P∪Q) = n(P) + n(Q) - n(P∩Q) = 11 + 12 - 3 = 20

Thus, there are 20 players that are playing either cricket or badminton.

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