Operations on Sets
INTRODUCTION
This chapter will equip the students with adequate knowledge on different
operations of a set.
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. Identify different operations on set.
2. Understand the Properties of Complement sets
In set theory, the operations of the sets are carried when two or more sets combine to
form a single set under some of the given conditions. The basic operations on sets are:
Union of sets
Intersection of sets
A complement of a set
Cartesian product of sets.
Set difference
Basically, we work more on union and intersection of sets operations, using Venn
diagrams.
Union of Sets
elements of set A and set B. It is denoted as A ∪ B.
If set A and set B are two sets, then A union B is the set that contains all the
A ∪ B = {1,2,3,4,5,6}
Example: Set A = {1,2,3} and B = {4,5,6}, then A union B is:
Example:
Set A = {1, 4, 6, 8}
A ∪ B = {1,2,4,6,8,9}
Set B = {2, 4, 8, 9},
Intersection of Sets
If set A and set B are two sets, then A intersection B is the set that contains only
the common elements between set A and set B. It is denoted as A ∩ B.
Example 1: Set A = {1,2,3} and B = {4,5,6}, then A intersection B is:
A ∩ B = { } or Ø
Since A and B do not have any elements in common, so their intersection will give null
set.
Example 2:
Set A = {1, 4, 6, 8}
Set B = {0, 2, 4, 8, 9}
A ∩ B = {4,8}
Draw a Venn Diagram for A ∩ B
Complement of Sets
The complement of any set, say P, is the set of all elements in the universal set
that are not in set P. It is denoted by P’.
Example 1:
U = {1,2,3,4,5}
Set A = {1, 4, 6, 8}
P’= {2, 3, 5}
Example 2:
U = {1,2,3,4,5, 7,9}
Set B = {2, 4, 6, 8}
P’= {1, 3, 5,7,9}
1. P ∪ P′ = U
Properties of Complement sets
2. P ∩ P′ = Φ
3. Law of double complement : (P′ )′ = P
4. Laws of empty/null set(Φ) and universal set(U), Φ′ = U and U′ = Φ.
Cartesian Product of sets
If set A and set B are two sets then the cartesian product of set A and set B is a set
of all ordered pairs (a,b), such that a is an element of A and b is an element of B. It is
denoted by A × B.
A × B = {(a, b) : a ∈ A and b ∈ B}
We can represent it in set-builder form, such as:
Example: set A = {1,2,3} and set B = {Bat, Ball}, then;
A × B = {(1,Bat),(1,Ball),(2,Bat),(2,Ball),(3,Bat),(3,Ball)}
Difference of Sets
If set A and set B are two sets, then set A difference set B is a set which has
elements of A but no elements of B. It is denoted as A – B.
Example: A = {1,2,3} and B = {2,3,4}
A – B = {1}
Sets Formulas
Some of the most important set formulas are:
For any three sets A, B and C
n ( A ∪ B ) = n(A) + n(B) – n ( A ∩ B)
If A ∩ B = ∅, then n ( A ∪ B ) = n(A) + n(B)
n( A – B) + n( A ∩ B ) = n(A)
n( B – A) + n( A ∩ B ) = n(B)
n( A – B) + n ( A ∩ B) + n( B – A) = n ( A ∪ B )
n ( A ∪ B ∪ C ) = n(A) + n(B) + n(C) – n ( A ∩ B) – n ( B ∩ C) – n ( C ∩ A) + n ( A ∩ B ∩ C)
Properties of Sets
Commutative Property :
A∪B = B∪A
A∩B = B∩A
A ∪ ( B ∪ C) = ( A ∪ B) ∪ C
Associative Property :
A ∩ ( B ∩ C) = ( A ∩ B) ∩ C
Distributive Property :
A ∪ ( B ∩ C) = ( A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ C)
A ∩ ( B ∪ C) = ( A ∩ B) ∪ ( A ∩ C)
: ( A ∪ B )’ = A’ ∩ B’
De morgan’s Law :
Law of intersection : ( A ∩ B )’ = A’ ∪ B’
Law of union
A ∪ A’ = A’ ∪ A =U
Complement Law :
A ∩ A’ = ∅
Idempotent Law And Law of a null and universal set :
A∪A=A
For any finite set A
∅’ = U
A∩A=A
∅ = U’
Example of Sets
Here are a few examples, given to represent the elements of a set.
Example 1:
Write the given statement in three methods of representation of a set:
The set of all integers that lies between -1 and 5
Solution:
The methods of representations of sets are:
Statement Form: { I is the set of integers that lies between -1 and 5}
Set-builder Form: I = { x: x ∈ I, -1 < x < 5 }
Roster Form: I = { 0,1, 2, 3,4 }
Find A U B and A ⋂ B and A – B.
Example 2:
If A = {a, b, c, d} and B = {c, d}.
Solution:
A = {a, b, c, d} and B = {c, d}
A ⋂ B = {c, d} and
A U B = {a, b, c, d}
A – B = {a, b}
Quiz number two. Answer the following questions (5 points each). Write your
answer on a sheet of paper with your name at the top. Take picture of your
answer and send it as attachment in our classroom.
TEST 2. Answer the following based on your understanding. (15 points each)
If U = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
A = {1,2,3,4,5,6}
B = {1,2,3,5,7}
C = {2,4} and D = {8,9}
Find:
2. A ∪ B
1. A ∩ B
3. A'
5. A ∪ C
4. A ∩ C
7. B ∪ D
6. B ∩ D
8. B'
10. (A ∪ B)'
9. A ∩ B ∩ C
1. Study in advance topic about binary Relations
