Sets and Subsets

Set – is any well-defined collection or group of objects

The objects in a set can be anything: numbers, letters, symbols, names, things, etc. These objects in a set are called
elements.
Element – is a member of the set
2 Ways of Writing Set

1. Roster form – the elements are listed

Example 1: Write each set described below in roster form

a. Set A consists of the vowels in English alphabet.
b. Set B consists of all the counting numbers.
 
Solutions:

a) A = {a,e,i,o,u}
a series of mark “…” (ellipsis) , to indicate the continuance of a pattern or sequence
b) B = {1,2,3,4,5,6,…}
2. Set-builder form – stating a property or properties that describe all members of a set.

Example 2
a. D = {1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,…}
b. E = {+,- ,x,}
c. F = {millimeter, centimeter, decimeter, meter, dekameter, hectometer, kilometer}

Solutions:
a. D = {x│x is an odd number}
x│x which can be read as “x such that x”

b. E = { x│x is a symbol of 4 fundamental arithmetic operation}

c. F = { x│x is a metric unit of length}

Finite set – contain a definite number of different element.

Infinite set – the number of different elements of those sets cannot come to an end.
 Example 3: Tell whether each set is finite or infinite.
a) G = { g│g is a day of the week}
b) H = {1,4,9,16,25,36,49,…}
c) I = {1,2,3,4,5,6,…,12}
d) J = { h│h is an island on Earth}

Solutions:
a) Set G when written in roster form is
G = {Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday}
G has 7 elements, or the cardinal number (refers to number of element) of G is 7. Thus, G is a finite set.

b) The exact number of elements of H is unknown. Its cardinal number cannot be determined.
Therefore, H is an infinite set.

c) In set I, the ellipsis is written between the elements 6 and 12. This means that there are elements between 6 and
12. This unwritten elements can be identified. Actually, these elements are 7,8,9,10, and 11. That means that there
are 12 elements in I, or the cardinal number of I is 12. Therefore, I is a finite set.

d) Finite set.
 Suppose an object x is an element of Set K. this can be written in symbol as
x K
which can be read as “ x belongs to K” or “ x is an element of K”.
 
In mathematics, it is customary to put a slash (/) through a symbol to indicate the negative meaning of the
symbol. So, if x is not an element of set I, then this can be written in symbol as
x I

To illustrate, if J = { x│x is a consonant}, then r J, o J, and n J.

It is possible that a set has no element. Such set is referred to as an empty set or a null set.
The symbol or { } is used to denote an empty set. For instance, if K = { x│x > 3 and x < 1} then,

K = or K = { }.

The set is empty there exists no number which is greater than 3 and, at the same time, less than 1.
If all the elements of a set A are also elements of set B, then A is a subset of B. This relation between sets A and B
can be written in symbol as
A B
Which is read as “A is a subset of B”.
Example 4: Consider the following sets.
L = { 1,2,3,4,5}
M = {5,4,3,2,1}
N = {1,3,4}
O = {2,4,6}
P={}
Set M is a subset of L because every element of M is also an element of L. Thus,
M L

N L

N M

Note that L is also a subset of M

L M
This means that L and M are equal sets.
 L = { 1,2,3,4,5}
M = {5,4,3,2,1}
N = {1,3,4}
O = {2,4,6}
P={}

Equal Sets - two sets A & B are equal, that is

A= B
if and only if A B and B A.
 

Set N is a subset of L and M because all elements of N are also

elements of L and M. Thus,
N L
N M

But N is not equal to L. In symbol,

N L
also,
N M
L = { 1,2,3,4,5}
Proper subset A B
M = {5,4,3,2,1} Set A is a proper subset of B if A B and A
N = {1,3,4} B
O = {2,4,6}
 
P={}
If all the elements of a set A are also elements of set B, then A is a subset of B.
N L NM OL OM ON

Set P is a null set, and is considered a subset of any set. Remember that the null set is a subset of every set.

Example 5: Write all the subsets of each set and identify all the proper subsets.

a) Q = {x,y} b) R = {∆,O,□}

Solutions:
a) The subsets of Q are {x} , {y} , {x,y} and { }. The proper subsets of Q are {x} and {y}.

b) The subsets of R are {∆}, {O}, {□},{∆,O}, {∆,□}, {O,□}, {∆,O,□} and { }.

The proper subsets of R are {∆}, {O}, {□}, {∆,O}, {∆,□}, {O,□}.
Thank you for listening.