{ x: x > 3, x is a whole number} describes the set with elements 4, 5, 6,….

Therefore, { x: x > 3, x is a whole number} is the same as {4,5,6,…}. { x: x >

A SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAM REVIEW 3} describes all numbers greater than 3. This set of numbers cannot be
Set Theory and Set of Real Numbers represented as a list and is represented using a number line graph.

A set is a group of objects, numbers, and so forth. {1,2,3} is a set

Roster is a method of naming a set by listing its members. {1,2,3} is the
consisting of the numbers 1,2, and 3. Verbally, “3 is an element of the set
set consisting of only the elements 1,2, and 3. There are many ways to
{1,2,3}.” To show this symbolically, use the symbol ∈, which is read as “is
represent this set using a rule. Two correct methods are as follows: { x: x
an element of” or “is a member of.” Therefore, you could have written: 3
< 4, x is a natural number} or { x:0 < x < 4, x is a whole number}
∈ {1,2,3}
An incorrect method would be { x:0 < x < 4} because this rule includes

Special sets ALL numbers between 0 and 4, not just the numbers 1, 2, and 3.

A subset is a set contained within another set, or it can be the entire set
itself. The set {1,2} is a subset of the set {1,2,3}, and the set {1,2,3} is a Types of sets

subset of the set {1,2,3}. When the subset is missing some elements that Finite sets have a countable number of elements. For example, {
are in the set it is being compared to, it is a proper subset. When the a,b,c,d,e} is a set of five elements, thus it is a finite set.
subset is the set itself, it is an improper subset. The symbol used to
Infinite sets contain an uncountable number of elements. For example,
indicate “is a proper subset of” is ⊂. When there is the possibility of
{1,2,3, …} is a set with an infinite number of elements, thus it is an infinite
using an improper subset, the symbol used is ⊆. Therefore, {1,2} ⊂
set.
{1,2,3} and {1,2,3} ⊆ {1,2,3}. The universal set is the general category
set, or the set of all those elements under consideration. The empty set,
Comparing sets
or null set, is the set with no elements or members. The empty set, or
Equal sets are those that have the exact same members — {1, 2, 3} = {3,
null set, is represented by ⊘, or { }. However, it is never represented by
2, 1}.
{⊘}. Both the universal set and the empty set are subsets of every set.
Equivalent sets are sets that have the same number of members — {1,
Describing sets
2, 3} | { a, b, c}.
Rule is a method of naming a set by describing its elements.
Disjoint sets are sets that have no elements in common Ex. There are 100 students in Grade 12. Thirty of them like Math, 46 like
SET OPERATIONS Science, 52 like English, 7 like both Math and Science, 12 like both Math
● Union of Sets (A U B) - the set which consists of all elements that and English, 19 like both Science and English and 3 like all subjects.
belong either to one or both sets
1. How many students like Math only?
● Intersection of Sets (A ∩ B) - set of all elements common to both
2. How many students like Science but not English
sets ● Complement of a Set (A’) - set of all elements in the universal set,
3. How many students like at least two subjects?
U, that are not in A
4. How many students like exactly one subject?
Exercises: Given: U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8},
5. How many students do not like any of the three subjects?
A = {1, 3, 5, 7}, B = {2, 3, 5} and C = {5, 6, 7, 8}
Find: SET OF REAL NUMBERS
1. n(A) 5. A U B U C Real Numbers, R
2. A’ 6. A ∩ B ∩ C
3. A U B 7. (A U C)’ ∩ B Rational, Q Irrational, Q
’
4. A ∩ B 8. (A’ ∩ B)’ U C’
Integers, Z Non-Integer Fractions
VENN DIAGRAM - is a diagram of relationships of sets which are
represented by circles. Negative Int
egers Whole Numbers, W

U=
Zero Natural or Counting Numbers, N
Math Science

A rational number is a number that may be expressed as a ratio of

two integers otherwise it is irrational.
English
Integers: …-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …
Whole numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, …
Natural or Counting numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, …