Introduction To Set Theory

Well – defined collections and sets

A collection is well – defined if, given an object, it

can be categorically identified to belong to the
collection or not
Example:
1.Collection of small chairs
This collection is well – defined because to
determine whether a chair is small or not
depends on the observer
2.Collection of white chairs
This collection is not a well – defined
because we know if a chair is white or not.
3.Collection of soft chairs
is collection is well – defined because we
don’t know how soft a chair is to belong to
the collection.
 
Types of sets
1. Empty set(Null set)
 set that does not contain anything. 
 It is symbolized or { }
 Let R = { x | x ∈ N and 7 < x < 8 } = ∅
2. Finite and Infinite sets
 A set which is empty or consist of a definite numbers of elements is
called finite otherwise, the set is called infinite
  the number of people who can fit in an elevator at the same time
(Finite Set)
 millions of cells in the human body(Infinite Set)
3. Equal sets
 when two sets have the same and equal elements, they are called
Equal Sets
 Let N ={Jake, Jane, Rose, Janna} and Let S={Janna, Rose, Jane, Jake},
then N= S
4. Equivalent Sets
 states that two sets comprise an equal number of elements
 Set A={A, B, C, D} and Set B={January, February, March, April}
5. Subsets
 A set A is a subset of another set B if all elements of the
set A are elements of the set B. In other words, the set A
is contained inside the set B
  Animals are a subset of living things
5. Universal Set
  the collection of all objects in a particular context or theory
 Containing all objects, including itself
 Say if A and B are two sets, such as A = {1,2,3} and B = {1,a,b,c},
then the universal set associated with these two sets is given by U =
{1,2,3,a,b,c}.
 Set Operations
 

Union and Intersection

Set Union
 The union of sets A and B, written as and read
as “A union B,” is the set of elements that
belong to A or B(or to both)
Set Intersection
 The intersection of sets A and B, written as
and read as “A intersection B,” is formed by
getting the elements that are common to both
A and B.
Complement of a set
Difference of Two Sets
The difference of Sets A an B (A – B) is the set
whose elements belong to Set A which don’t
belong to set B
PROBLEMS INLOVING SETS
Example:
in a class of 40, 12 students prefer taking French language as elective
subject, 15 prefer Chinese language, and 8 like to learn both languages.
a) How many students prefer French or Chinese language?
b) How many students prefer Chinese but not French?
c) How many students prefer only one of the languages?
d) How many students prefer neither of the languages?