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CSEC MATHEMATICS

Section 3 - Sets

A set is a clearly defined collection of

objects/items which have common
characteristics.

For example, the set of vowels of the English

alphabet – {a, e, i, o, u} and, the set of multiples
5 less than 25 – {5, 10, 15, 20}.

We note the phrase ‘the set of’ is replaced by

curly braces, { }.
Each item in a set is called an element or a member.

Symbols Meaning
is an element or member of
is not an element or member of

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is a subset of or is contained in

is not a subset of or is not contained

in
union – combine elements
intersection – refer to common
elements
or { } null set or empty set
B1 or the complement of set B or all the
elements in the universal set that
are not in set B
n(P) the number of elements or members
in set P or the cardinal number of P
Equivalent
= Equal
Exercise

Determine whether the following statements are

true or false.
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1. 3 {1, 3, 5, 7}

2. 12 {1, 3, 5, 7, …, 19, 21}

3. – 1 W+

4. 1 is a prime number

5. {pink} {colours}

6. {k, l, o} {consonants}

7. 16 {x: x N and 16 x < 21}

8. {fork, spoon, plate} {rake, shovel, spade}

9. {0, 5, - 3, 7, 13} = {- 3, 0, 5, 7}

10. {4, 5, 6} {integers}

Types of Sets

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A finite set is a set in which it is possible to

count or name all the elements in the set. For
example,

M = {months of the year} or M = {January,

February, March, April, …, November,
December}.

An infinite set is a set for which it is impossible

to count or name all the elements in the set. For
example, Y = {multiples of 7} or Y = {7, 14, 21,
28, 35, 42, …}.

The null or empty set contains no elements. For

example,

H = {human beings on earth who are older than

300 years}.

Exercise

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Describe whether the following sets are finite,

infinite or empty.

1. T = {desks in room 3}

2. P = {integers less than 5}

3. L = {natural numbers greater than 6 but less

than 1}

4. R = {rational numbers less than 1}

5. H = {days of the week beginning with the

letter T}

6. B = {composite numbers greater than 3}

7. Y = {prime numbers greater than 13}

8. T = {real numbers greater than – 6}

9. C = {cars that drive on eight wheels}

10. D = {stars in the sky}

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Two sets are said to be equal sets, if they both

have the same elements. For example,

B ={6, 8, 27} and D ={8, 27, 6}.

Two sets are equivalent sets, if they both have

the same ‘number of elements’. For example,

G = {a, e, i, o, u} and P = {pink, red, blue, white,

black}. That is n(G) = n(P) = 5.

Set Builder Notation

Set Builder Notation is a simple way of

describing the elements of a set without actually
listing all its members. For example, a set builder
notation for the set of integers greater than five,
where
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Z = {6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, …}is {x: x > 5, x Z}.

This is read as ‘the set of all element of x such
that x is greater than 5 and x is a member of the
set of integers’.

Another example, is the set builder notation for

the whole numbers between 1 and 5 is
{x: 1 < x < 5}. This read as “the set of all element
of x is greater than 1 but less than 5”, and is a
member of the set of whole numbers.

Exercise

Write the set that represents each of the

following.

1. {x: x is a letter of the alphabet that follows d

and comes before j}

2. {x: x N and x > 5}

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3. {x: x Z and – 2 < x < 4}

4. the set of Political Parties in Jamaica.

5. {x: x W and – 3 < x < 7}

6. {x: x Z and – 2 ≤ x < 4}

7. {x: x W and – 3 ≤ x ≤ 7}

The members of a set can be described or listed,

where possible. For example,

Describing the set – the set of vowels of the

alphabet or {vowels of the alphabet}.

Listing the set – {a, e, i, o, u}.

Exercise

List the elements of the following sets.

1. A = {even numbers less than 12}

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2. B = {prime numbers between 15 and 30}

3. C = {multiples of 5 between 12 and 47}

4. X = {whole numbers greater than or equal to

10 but less than 20}

5. Y = {letters used in the word ‘mathematics’}

Exercise

Describe each of the following sets.

1. P = {11, 13, 17, 19, 23}

2. R = {w, x, y, z}

3. S = {police, nurse, doctor, teacher}

4. M = {Toyota, ford, Nissan, audi, Honda}

5. T = {best fm, love101, rjr, power 106, irie

fm}

Subsets
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If A and B are two sets and all the elements of A

are contained in B, then we say that A is a subset
of B. That is, A B. For example, H = {2, 9, 0,
6, 15} and K = {0, 6, 9}. That is, K H.

Exercise
Write or on the line to form a true
statement.
1. P = {h, k, j, r} and W = {t, e, u, g}
P ____ W
2. R = {11, 13, 17, 19, 21} and J = {prime
numbers between 9 and 22}
J ______ R
3. D = {pink, red, purple, blue} and Q = {red,
pink}
D _____ Q
4. L = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and H = {even numbers
between 0 and 6}

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H _____ L
5. P = {pencil, eraser, pen, sharpener} and G =
{marker, crayon, ruler}
G ____ P

The total number of subsets of a set can be

calculated using, S = 2n, where n is the ‘number
of elements’ in the set. For example, the total
number of subsets for L = {5, 7, 3} is S = 23 = 8,
since n(L) =3.

The subsets of L are {5}, {7}, {3}, {5,7}, {5, 3},

{7, 3}, {5, 7, 3} and { }.

NOTE The set itself and the empty set is a subset

of any given set.

Exercise

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Write down all the subsets for each of the

following sets.
1. V = {pen, ruler} 2. D = {5, 9, 6}
3. M = {l, y} 4. Z = {b}
5. B = {cup, plate, fork}
Exercise
Calculate the total subsets for each of the
following sets.
1. V = {a, i, o, u, e}
2. A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12}
3. P = {pen, ruler, eraser, pencil}
4. Y = {first seven multiples of 8}
5. E = {factors of 24}
Exercise
Copy and complete the table below

Number of Total Index

elements in a subsets (S) Form (2n)
set(n)

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0
1
2
3
4
5
6

Venn Diagram/Universal Set

A Venn diagram can be represented using a

rectangle to represent the universal set and
circle(s) inside the rectangle to represent a
subset.

The universal set is the set from which all the

elements are taken. The universal set is denoted
by the symbol U.

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U U U
N F A D
J V

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Fig. 1 shows a joint set. This Venn diagram is
used when the two subsets have common
elements.

Fig. 2 shows a disjoint set. This Venn diagram is

used when two sets do not have common
elements.

Fig. 3 shows that V J. This Venn diagram is

used when all the elements of one set is a
member of another set.

Exercise
Use the information below to answer the
questions which follow.

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Given the universal set U = {11, 12,…, 17, 18}

and two subsets, A = {numbers divisible by 3}
and B = {odd numbers}, find:
1. A1 2. B1 3. A1 B1 4. A1 B1

5. A B 6. (A B)1 7. (A B)1

8. A only 9. B only 10. A B1

11. A1 B 12. n(B) 13. n(A1) 14. A B

15. Draw a Venn diagram to represent the

information above.
Note: (A B)1 = A1 B1
(A B)1 = A1 B1
The Cardinal Number of a set G is the
number of elements in the set G. It is denoted
by the symbol n(G)
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8. n(B1) = 9. n(A1 B1) = 10. n((A B)1) =

Performing Set Operations

Find:
1. P1 given that U = {1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6, 7} and P =
{1, 3, 4, 7}
2. {7, 8, 9, 10, 11} {6, 8, 10, 12}
3. {1, 3, 5, 7, 9} {2, 4, 6, 8}
4. {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
5. G1 given that U = {k, r, y, h, z, b} and
G = {r, h, z}
6. {7, 8, 9, 10, 11} {6, 8, 10, 12}
7. {1, 3, 5, 7, 9} {2, 4, 6, 8}
8. {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
9. {l, m, k, t, o} {o, k, l}
10. {5, 7, 8, 9, 10} {0, 1, 7, 9, 10}
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Solving Problems involving Venn Diagrams

NOTE: n(A B) = n(A) + n(B) – n(A B)
Exercise
1. Given n(A B) = 6, n(A) = 3 and
n(A B) = 1, find n(B). Ans: 4
2. Given n(A B) = 25, n(B) = 17 and
n(A B) = 7, find n(A). Ans: 15
3. Given n(P Q) = 28, n(P) = 19 and
n(Q) = 17 find n(P Q). Ans: 8
4. Given n(D E) = 23, n(D) = 39 and
n(E) = 37 find n(E D). Ans:53

A B1 means A only ; B A1 means B only

is associated with ‘and’
is associated with ‘or’
An expression in terms of x does not have an
equal sign.
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An equation in terms of x has an equal sign.

Exercise
Answer the following.
1. The Venn diagram below shows a survey of
the days on which some students studied
U Saturday Sunday
over the weekend. Ashley
Rick Mike
Emily
Hanna
Josh Ethan

Jacob

a. i. How many students were in the survey?

ii. List the set of students in the survey.
b. List the set of students who studied on:
i. Saturday
ii. Sunday
iii. Saturday or Sunday
iv. Saturday and Sunday
v. Saturday and not Sunday
vi. Sunday only
vii. neither Saturday nor Sunday.
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2. The Venn diagram below shows the survey

for some respondents in relation to their
preference of Reggae or Jazz music.
U Reggae Jazz

55 20 70

30

a. How many respondents were in the survey?

b. How many respondents listened to:
i. reggae
ii. jazz
iii. both jazz and reggae
iv. reggae or jazz
v. jazz but not reggae
vi. reggae only
vii. neither jazz nor reggae.
Exercise
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Answer the following.

1. In a class of 30 students, 20 played cricket, 17
played football and 7 played both cricket
and football. Each student played either cricket
or football.
a. Draw a Venn diagram to represent the
information above
b. How many students played:
i. cricket only ii. football only

2. In a class of 30 students, 21 like Mathematics,

12 like Physics and 6 like neither Mathematics
nor Physics.
a. Draw a Venn diagram to represent the
information above.
b. Determine the number of students who like:
i. both Mathematics and Physics
ii. Mathematics only
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iii. Physics only

3. In a community of 100 people, 31 like to run,

65 like to walk and 22 neither like to walk nor
run.
a. Draw a Venn diagram to represent this
information.
b. Determine the number of people who like:
i. both to run and walk
ii. to run only.
iii. to walk only.

4. The Venn diagram below shows the number

of students who play the guitar (G) or the
violin (V) in a class of 40 students.
U G V

2x x 4

12

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a. How many students play neither the guitar nor

the violin?

b. Write an expression in terms of x, which

represents the total number of students in the

class.

c. Write an equation which may be used to

determine the total number of students in the

class.

d. How many students play the guitar?

MAY 2015 Ques. 3a

e. How many students play the guitar only?

f. How many students play the violin only?

g. How many students do not play the violin?

5. In a survey of 30 families, the findings were

that:
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15 families owned dogs

12 families owned cats
x families owned both dogs and cats
8 families owned neither dogs nor cats
a. Given that U = {families in the survey},
C = {families who owned cats},

D ={families who owned dogs}, use the given

information to complete the Venn diagram

below. U C D

b. Write an expression, in x, which represents

the total number of families in the survey.

c. Write an equation which may be used to solve

for x. JANUARY 2014 Ques. 3a

d. How many families owned dogs only?

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6. The universal set, U, is defined as the set of

integers between 11 and 26. A and B are

subsets of U such that: A = {even numbers}

and B = {multiples of 3}

a. How many members are in the universal set,

U?

b. List the members of the subset A.

c. List the members of the subset B.

d. Draw a Venn diagram to represent the

relationships among A, B and U.

MAY 2014 Ques. 3a

7. In a class of 32 students, All the students

study Spanish (S) and 20 of the students study
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French (F).

a. Represent this information on a Venn

diagram.

b. Calculate the number of students who study

Spanish (S) but not French (F).

c. Write, using set notation, the relationship

between F and S. JANUARY 2014 Ques. 3a

8. A survey of 30 students in Form 5 showed

that some students used cameras (C) or mobile

phones (M) to take photographs.

20 students used mobile phones

4x students used only cameras

x students used both mobile phones and

cameras
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2 students did not use either cameras or

mobile phones
a.Copy the Venn diagram below and complete
it to show, in terms of x, the number of

students in each region.

U M C

b. Write an expression, in terms of x, which

represents the total number of students in

the survey.

c. Determine the number of students in Form 5

who used only cameras. MAY 2013 Ques. 3a

d. How many students did not use a mobile

phone?

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e. How many students did not use a camera

phone?

9. There are 50 students in a class. Students in

the class was given awards for Mathematics

or Science.

36 students received awards in either

Mathematics or Science.
6 students received awards in both
Mathematics and Science.
2x students received awards for Mathematics
only.
x students received awards for Science only

In the Venn diagram below:

U = {all the students in the class},

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M = {students who received awards for

Mathematics},

S = {students who received awards for Science}

U M S

a. Copy and complete the Venn diagram to

represent the information about the awards given,

showing the number of students in each subset.

b. Write an expression in terms of x to represent

the number of students in the class.

c. Calculate the value of x. 10 students

JANUARY 2013 Ques. 3a

d. How many students did not receive an award

in Mathematics or Science? 14 students

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10. In a survey of 36 students, it was found that

30 play tennis

x play volleyball only

9x play both tennis and volleyball

4 play neither tennis nor volleyball

a. Given that U = {students in the survey},

V = {students who play Volleyball},

T = {students who play Tennis}

Copy and complete the Venn diagram below to

show the number of students in the subsets
U
marked y and z. V T

x 9x y

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b. Write an expression in x to represent the total

number of students in the survey.

c. Write an equation in x to represent the total

number of students in the survey and hence

solve for x. MAY 2012 Ques. 3a

11. The Venn Diagram below represents

information on the types of games played by

members of a youth club. All members of the

club play at least one game.

U T H

Leo
Mia Neil
S

S represents the set of members who play squash.

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T represents the set of members who play tennis.

H represents the set of members who play

hockey.

Leo, Mia and Neil are three members of the

youth club.

a. State what game(s) is/are played by:

i. Leo

ii. Mia

iii. Neil

b. Describe in words the members of the set H1

S. MAY 2007 Ques. 3a

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12 a. Describe, using set notation only, the

shaded region in each Venn diagram below. The
first one is done for you.
U
U U
A B
A B A B

A B i. _________ ii. ________

U U
A B A B

iii. __________ iv. ___________

12. Draw a Venn diagram and shade the region

which represents each of the following set

notation.

a. B1 b. (A B)1 c. B1 A
d. B1 A1

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