SETS

(HANDOUT)

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

University of Santo Tomas
 SET - a collection of well-defined and distinct
objects of perception or thought

Every member or element of a set must be

unique and distinct from the other
elements.
Example:
A = { 1, 2,3}
Set A is a set of counting numbers less than 4

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

University of Santo Tomas
 2 METHODS OF SPECIFYING THE MEMBERS OF A SET

1. List or Roster method of specification – the elements of a set

are listed, if practicable, and enclosed within braces.
Ex. {m, a, t, h}

2. Description or Rule method or specification - a description of

the set is enclosed within braces
Ex. {x x is a letter in the word “math”}
- read as the set of all x’s such that x is a letter in the word “math”

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

University of Santo Tomas
 TYPES OF SETS
1. Unit set – a set that contains only one element
Ex. {Blackboard Learn}
2. Null set (Empty set) - a set that contains no element
Ex. { } or Φ
3. Finite set – a set consisting of finite number of elements
Ex. {2, 4, 6, 8}
4. Infinite set – a set consisting of infinite number of elements
Ex. {2, 4, 6, 8, …}
Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST
University of Santo Tomas
 SET RELATIONS
1. Equal sets – two sets consisting of exactly the same
elements
Ex. If A = { 1, 2,3} and B = { 1, 2,3}, then A = B.

2. Equivalent sets – two sets having the same number of

elements
Ex. If A = { 1, 2,3} and B = {a, b, c},
since n(A) = n(B), then A ↔ B.
where: n(A) is the cardinal number of set A indicating the total number of elements set A contains

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

University of Santo Tomas
 SET RELATIONS
3. Subset
A set is said to be a subset of another set if every element
which belongs to it also belongs to the other set.

Ex. If A = { 1, 2,3} and B = { 1, 2, 3, 4} then A is a subset of B.

In symbols, .

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

University of Santo Tomas
 Proper Subset

Set A is said to be a proper subset of set B if every

element of A is found in B but B contains at least one
element which does not belong to A.
Ex. If A = { 1, 2,3} and Ex. If A = { 1, 2,3} and
B = { 1, 2, 3, 4} B = { 1, 2, 3}
then A is a proper subset of B. Although A is a subset of B, it is not
a proper subset of B.
In symbols, A ⊂ B. In symbols, A ⊆ B or A ⊄ B
Since A = B, then A is subset of itself.
Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST
University of Santo Tomas
 POWER SET
Power set is defined as a set of every possible subset
of the given set.
If the cardinal number of A is n, then the cardinal number of
the power set is as every element has two options either to
belong to a subset or not.

Ex. If A = { 1, 2,3} and n(A) = 3, then the total number of

subsets set A has is and the power set contains the ff:
{ }, {1}, {2}, {3}, {1,2}, {1,3}, {2,3}, {1, 2, 3}
Note: All of them are proper subsets except the last one.

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

University of Santo Tomas
SET OPERATIONS

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

UNION OF SETS

The union of two sets A and B is a

set containing all elements that are in A or
in B (or both).
Ex.

• We say that if and only if or Graphically, the shaded area

shows the set A U B in the
• Note that . Venn Diagram above..

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

INTERSECTION
OF SETS

The intersection of two sets A and

B is a set containing all elements that are
both in A and B.
Ex. Graphically, the shaded area
shows the set A B in the
Venn Diagram above.

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

COMPLEMENT OF
A SET U

The complement of set A, denoted

as A’, is a set containing all elements that
are in the universal set but not in A.
Ex. If U=
Graphically, the shaded area
Then, A’ = shows the set A’ in the
Venn Diagram above.

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

DIFFERENCE OF
SETS
The difference (subtraction) between sets
A and B denoted as (A – B) is a set containing
elements that are in A but not in B.
Ex. If A=
B
then, A - B = Graphically, the shaded area
shows the set A – B in the
Note: A – B ≠ B – A Venn Diagram above.

Ex. If A=
B
then, B - A = Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST
 EXERCISE:
SET OPERATIONS

Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST

University of Santo Tomas
Given: U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
A = {1, 2, 4, 6, 8}
B = {2, 3, 4, 5}
C = {4, 5, 6, 8, 9}
Find: 1. AUB
2. A∩B∩C
3. (A U B)’
4. (A U B)’ ∩ (A ∩ B ∩ C)
5. U - (A U B)’
Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST
University of Santo Tomas
Given: U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
A = {1, 2, 4, 6, 8}
B = {2, 3, 4, 5}
C = {4, 5, 6, 8, 9}

Find: 6. C ∩ B’
7. (A U B U C) – (A ∩ B ∩ C)
8. A’ U C’
9. (C ∩ B)’ ∩ (A U B)
10. (B U C) ∩ (A ∩ B)
Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST
University of Santo Tomas
Answers: 1. A U B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8}
2. A ∩ B ∩ C= {4}
3. (A U B)’ = {7, 9, 10}
4. (A U B)’ ∩ (A ∩ B ∩ C) = { }
5. U - (A U B)’ = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8}
6. C ∩ B’ = {6, 8, 9}
7. (A U B U C) – (A ∩ B ∩ C) = {1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9}
8. A’ U C’ = {1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10}
9. (C ∩ B)’ ∩ (A U B) = {1, 2, 3, 6, 8}
10. (B U C) ∩ (A ∩ B) = {2, 4}
Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST
University of Santo Tomas
THANK YOU
Prepared by: Assoc. Prof. Florencia F. Ledesma, MS, MST
University of Santo Tomas