THEME 1.

1: REAL NUMBER LINE

DUE DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2024

This worksheet will be based upon the Lecture videos 0-0 Prelim SetTheory-
1 0 Prelim Part 0, 1 Prelim Part 1 and 2 Prelim Part 2.

There is a total of 5 questions. Total marks: 44.

1. Basic Set Theory

Watch the video 0-0 Prelim SetTheory-1 0 Prelim Part 0 before attempting.

Question 1. [2, 1, 1, 2, 2 marks]

Let R denote the set of all real numbers and let A :“ tx P R|0 ă x ď 2u and
B :“ tx P R|1 ď x ď 4u.

(i) Draw the intervals on the real number line for sets A and B.

(ii) Find each of the following:

B (b) Ac (c) pA Bqc (d) A4B.

Ť Ş
(a) A

(Here Ac denotes
Ť the complement set RzA; A4B denotes the symmetric set differ-
ence AzB BzA.)

Question 2. [6, 3 marks]

(ii) Prove the following distributive laws:

Ş Ť Ş Ť Ş
A pB Cq “ pA Bq pA Cq.

(iii) Prove that the symmetric difference is commutative:

A4B “ B4A.

2. Linear Order
Watch the video 0 Prelim Part 0 before attempting.

Question 3. [3, 4 marks] Prove the following:

(i) Given a ą 0 and b ą a, prove that

(1) b3 ą a3 .
(HINT: b3 ´ a3 “ pb ´ aqpa2 ` ab ` b2 q.)

(ii) Show that the inequality (1) still holds for a ă 0.

1
THEME 1.1: REAL NUMBER LINE DUE DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2024

3. Sign Table Technique

Watch the video (1 Prelim Part 1) before attempting.

Question 4. [7 marks] Solve the inequality in terms of intervals and illustrate

and re-express the solutions as one-dimensional balls on the real number line:
4 2
ą
6´x 3x ´ 4
(Hint: Use the sign table technique)

4. Algebra of Absolute Value

Watch the video (2 Prelim Part 2) before attempting.

Question 5. [5, 3 marks]

(a) Solve the following inequality and re-express the solution as one-dimensional
balls on the real number line:

2
| ´ 2| ă 1.
s

(b) Prove that |a ` b ` c| ď |a| ` |b| ` |c|.

5. Geometry of Absolute Value

Question 6. [5 marks]

Solve the inequalities/equalities geometrically by interpreting the absolute value

as a statement about distances on the real line:
s s
(1) | ´ 2| “ | |
2 2