Discrete Structures / Discrete Mathematics

Lesson 1: Introduction to Set Theory

Vision

A distinctively strong Christian

University integrating faith, character
and service in building up and
enhancing the quality of life.
Mission
We, at Philippine Christian University, a church-related
academic institution, commit ourselves to;
• Provide an education that will enhance the
development of Christian character.
• Promote academic excellence and the highest
quality education.
• Be responsive to Philippine needs and conditions.
• Become responsible stewards of God’s creation
and resources.
• Foster international understanding and goodwill.
• Support the ecumenical movement.
Introduction

• WHAT IS DISCRETE MATHEMATICS/STRUCTURE?

Discrete Mathematics
is the study of mathematical structures that are
fundamentally discrete rather than continuous.

simply as the mathematics that is necessary for

decision making in noncontinuous situations.

Discrete structures are structures that are used in

describing discrete mathematics.
 WHY DO WE NEED DISCRETE MATHEMATICS?

WAN
LAN Network Nodes

1, 0

DM is the branch of mathematics dealing

with objects that can assume only
distinct, separated values.
Note:
• The term "discrete mathematics" is therefore used in
contrast with "continuous mathematics," which is the
branch of mathematics dealing with objects that can
vary smoothly (and which includes, for example,
calculus). Whereas discrete objects can often be
characterized by integers, continuous objects require
real numbers.
• The study of how discrete objects combine with one
another and the probabilities of various outcomes is
known as combinatorics.
• Other fields of mathematics that are considered to be
part of discrete mathematics include: graph theory and
the theory of computation. Topics in number theory
such as congruence and recurrence relations are also
considered part of discrete mathematics.
SET
The Notion of a Set
• The set is a collection of well-defined objects
called the elements.
Example: x = {2,4,6,8,…}

• Elements and Members are the objects in a Set

• The order in which the elements of the set is
listed is not important.
Example: (Important Set Notation)
N = Z+ the set of positive integers (natural numbers),
Z = the set of integers,
Q = { m n |m, n ∈ Z, n , 0} the set of rational numbers,
R+ = the set of positive real numbers,
R = the set of real numbers,
C = the set of complex numbers
Methods of Describing Set

1. Word Description Method

2. Describing the elements or Roster Method
3. Set-builder or Set former Notation
Methods of Describing Set
1. Word Description Method
Example:
W is the set of days of the week
Methods of Describing Set
2. Roster Method or Describing the elements
The set can be defined by listing all its elements,
separated by commas and enclosed within braces.
Example:
W = {Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday,Sunday}
B = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10} 
X = {a, b, c, d, e}
Methods of Describing Set
3. Set-builder Notation or Set former
Example:
C = {x : x is an integer, x > 3 <10} 
This is read as:
“C is the set of elements x such that x is an integer
greater than >3<10.”

D= {x: x is a river in Manila}

The relation "is an element of", also called set
membership, is denoted by the symbol “  ".
Writing:
x  A means that "x is an element of A".

Equivalent expressions are:

"x is a member of A",
"x belongs to A",
"x is in A" and "x lies in A".
Note:
• The expressions "A includes x" and "A contains x" are
also used to mean set membership, however some
authors use them to mean instead “x is a subset of A”

• Logician George Boolos strongly urged that "contains"

be used for membership only and "includes" for the
subset relation only
Note:
Another possible notation for the same relation is A Ӭ X.

meaning "A contains x", though it is used less often.

Note:

• The negation of set membership is denoted by the

symbol ””.
• In writing, it means that "x is not an element of A".
Empty Set
• Also called the null set
• Set that contains no element
• Represented by { } or ∅
• The empty set is NOT represented by {∅}. This
notation represents containing the element ᴓ.
Example.
- Set of all numbers less than 4 and greater than 10.
Finite and Infinite Sets
In mathematics, a finite set is a set that has
a finite number of elements.
Example,
x = {2,4,6,8,10}

is a finite set with five elements. The number of

elements of a finite set is a natural number (a non-
negative integer) and is called the cardinality of the set.
Finite and Infinite Sets
A set that is not finite is called infinite.
For example, the set of all positive integers is infinite:
Example:
{1,2,3,…}
Assignment

1. Surprise Quiz 1 prelim

2. Continuation of finite and infinite sets
3. Relation Between Sets
4. Venn diagram