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Unit 2: Sets, Numbers and Chance

Learning Outcomes

Explore the concept of a set so that you can:

• Understand the concept of a set as a well-defined collection of elements, and that set
equality is a relationship where two sets have the same elements
• Define sets by listing their elements, if finite (including in a two-set Venn diagram) or by
generating rules that define them
• Use and understand set notation and terminology including null set, ∅, subset, ⊂,
complement, element, ∈, universal set, cardinal number, #, intersection, ∩, union, ∪
and set difference, \
• Perform the operations of intersection and union on two sets, set difference and
complement

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01 Set Notation
A set is a collection of well defined and distinct objects.
The objects in a set are called elements.
The elements of a set are always placed within a set of chain (curly) brackets.
Example: The set of positive whole numbers less than 6 could be written as follows:
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
The symbol ∈ stands for ‘is an element of’.
The symbol ∉ stands for ‘is not an element of’.
Example: 2 ∈ {1, 2, 3, 4} and 5 ∉ {1, 2, 3, 4}.

The number of elements (cardinal number) in a set Q is denoted by #Q.

Example: If Q = {8, 9, 10, 11}, then #Q (the cardinal number of Q) = 4.
NOTE: The order in which you list elements is not important.
NOTE: An element may appear once only in a set.
Equal Sets: Two sets are said to be equal if they have the same elements.
Example: The following sets are equal:
A = {1, 4, 9, 16} and B = {16, 4, 9, 1}. We write A = B.

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01 Set Notation
Activity

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01 More Definitions

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01 Set Notation

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01 Set Notation

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01
Practice Questions

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01

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01 Number Sets
Definitions

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01 Number Sets
Definitions

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01 Number Sets
Definitions

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01 Number Sets
Definitions

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01 Number Sets

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01 The Null Set and Subsets

From the list, ∈, ∉, =, ≠, insert the correct symbol in the blank space.
∉
(a) 2 ____________ {1, 3, 5, 7}
∈
(b) 4 ____________ {1, 4, 9, 16}
≠
(c) {1, 2, 3} __________ {2, 3, 5}
=
(d) {11, 13, 17} _________ {17, 13, 11}
If a set has no elements, then it is called the null set, or the empty set. Symbol ∅ or { }.
Example: The set of square numbers between 17 and 24 is an empty set or a null
set, as there are no square numbers between 17 and 24.

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

The symbol ⊂ means ‘is a subset of '. The symbol ⊄ means ‘is not a subset of '.
A = {1, 2, 3}
(a) List all the subsets of A.
(b) How many subsets does the set A have?
(a) ∅, {1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}, {1, 2, 3}
(b) A has 23= 8 subsets.
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01 Venn Diagrams, Union and Intersection

The Venn diagram shown represents the set A = {1, 2, 3, 4}.

The union of the two sets A and B is written as A ∪ B.

The set A ∪ B contains the elements which are in
A or B or both.

NOTE: A ∪ B = B ∪ A. We say that union is a commutative operation.

The intersection of the two sets A and B is written

as A ∩ B. The set A ∩ B contains the elements
which are in both A and B.

NOTE: A ∩ B = B ∩ A. We say that intersection is a commutative operation.

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01 Venn Diagrams, Union and Intersection
X = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6}; Y = {5, 6, 7, 8, 9} (a) X Y
(a) Represent the sets X and Y on a Venn Diagram. 2 7
5
(b) List the elements of X ∪ Y. 3 6 8
(c) List the elements of X ∩ Y. 4 9

(b) X ∪ Y = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}
(c) X ∩ Y = {5, 6}

E F
E = {1, 4, 16} and F = {1, 4, 16, 64}.
(a) List the elements of E ∪ F. 1
4 64
(b) List the elements of E ∩ F. 16
(c) What is #E ?
(d) What is #(E ∩ F )?
(e) What is #(E ∪ F )? (a) E ∪ F = {1, 4, 16, 64}
(b) E ∩ F = {1, 4, 16}
(c) #E = 3
(d) # E ∩ F = 3
(e) # E ∪ F = 4
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01 The Universal Set

The universal set is the set that contains all elements.

Every set is a subset of the universal set.
In a Venn diagram, the universal set is represented by a rectangle.
The letter U is used to denote the universal set.

Represent the following sets on a Venn diagram.

U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}
A = {2, 3, 4}
B = {4, 5, 6}

U
A B

2
4 6 7
3 5 1

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01 Venn Diagrams Questions

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01 Venn Diagrams Questions

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01 Venn Diagrams Questions

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01 Venn Diagrams Questions

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01 Venn Diagrams Questions

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01 Chance

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01 Chance

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01 Chance

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01 Chance

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01 Chance

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