Republic of the Philippines

Mountain Province State Polytechnic College

Bontoc, Mountain Province

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

Module 2 of 7 modules

Mathematics in the Modern World

Somerson Kis-ing
Wendy Cottong
Janisse Gas-ib
Adela Bantasan
Rolly Dagdagui
INTRODUCTION
Mathematics is often referred to as a language with its own vocabulary and rules of
grammar; one of the basic building blocks of the language of mathematics is the language of
sets. Becoming familiar with the terms and symbols and learning to use them correctly will help
you throughout your study of mathematics. When attempting to make precise definitions, we
have to begin by assuming that some terms are already understood. Many of the terms will be
in your English vocabulary and only need a new mathematical interpretation. This module
exemplifies some terms that may give you some idea about the meanings of several of the terms
used and how these are used in the problem solving.
The number of hours allotted for this module shall be for 6 hours. You are expected to
finish the module in two weeks.
In all it’s your turn activity serves as your class standing and post assessment as your
unit test which are all required to be submitted. Use long bond papers in all your outputs or
answers.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. write sound statements using the language, symbols, and conventions of
mathematics; and
2. perform operations on sets, relations, and function.
PRE-TEST
Let us see how much you already know about the basics of the language of sets. Answer
each question below. Take note of the items that you do not yet know.
___1. List all the elements in A={ letters in the word “ SOMOSO”}
a. A={S,O,M} b. A={S,O,M,O,S,O} c. A={S,M} d. A=Ø
___2. Complete the statement correctly: Dog___ the set of all four-legged animals.
a. Є b.  c. = d. >
___3. Which of the following is a well-defined set?
a. {a favourite author by my classmate} b. {a grade seven teacher of LHS}
c. {a tall person} d. { a beautiful lady}
___4. Which of the following is a finite set?
a. The set of all positive even numbers
b. b. The set of counting numbers less than 10
c. The set of sand particles in the dessert
d. The set of counting numbers greater than 10
___5. Which of these sets is equal to { , , , }
a. { , , , } b. { , , , }
c. { , , , } d.{ , , , }
___6. Describe this set in words: {2,3,5,7,11,13}.
a. Set of prime numbers between 2 to 13
b. Set of prime numbers from 2 to 13
c. Set of odd numbers less than 14
d. Set of whole numbers greater than 2 but less than 13
___7. Which of the following statement is TRUE?
a. 7 Є{3,5,7} b. {3} Є(3,6,9,12}
c. 7 Є{xlx is an even number} d. 9 Є{xlx is a prime number}
___8. Which of the following would be an empty set?
a. The set of prime numbers that are odd numbers
b. The set of even numbers that are prime numbers
c. The set of multiples of 3 that are prime numbers
d. The set of odd numbers that are divisible by 2.
___9. Which Venn diagram illustrates this statement: “ All cows are mammals.”
a. b. c. d.
mammals cow
mammals cow mammals cow
cow mammals

___10. Let A={m,a,t,h,c,l,u,b} B={t,a,b,u}. What can be said of A and B?

a. A contains B b. B contains A
c. A is a subset of B d. B is a superset of A
___11. What is represented by the shaded region?

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 a. AUB b. A’ c. A’ U B d. A’∩B
___12. Which notation represents the unshaded region? U

a. A∩B b. A U B c. (A U B)’ d. (A∩B)’

___13. Which of the following statements are true?
a. A relation is a set of inputs and outputs that are related in some way.
b. In every relation, each input has exactly one output.
c. All relations are functions.
d. All of these are true statements.
___14. Which of the following relations are functions?
a. R₁ = {(1, 7) (2, 7) (4, 7) (6, 7)}
b. R₂ = {(1, 2) (1, 3) (1, 4) (1, 5)}
c. R₃ = {(x, y) (y, z) (z, t) (t, v)}
d. R₃ = {(x, y) (y, y) (z, t) (t, v)}
___15. Which of the following arrow diagram represents functions?

LESSON 1: LANGUAGE OF SETS

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. represent sets in different forms;
2. define different types of sets such as , finite and infinite sets, empty sets, equivalent
sets, equal sets, subsets and cite example thereof;
3. represent union and intersection of two sets, universal sets, complement of a set,
difference between two sets by Venn Diagram; and
4. solve real life problems using Venn Diagram

LET’S ENGAGE!
Before defining different terms of this lesson let us consider the following examples:
(i) collection of tall students in your school. (i) collection of those students of your school
whose height is more than 180 cm.
(ii) collection of honest persons in your colony. (ii) collection of those people in your colony who have
never been found involved in any theft case
(iii) collection of interesting books in your school (iii) collection of Mathematics books in your school
library. library.
(iv) collection of intelligent students in your school. (iv) collection of those students in your school who
have secured more than 80% marks in annual
examination.
In all collections written on left hand side of the vertical line the term tallness, interesting, honesty,

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intelligence are not well defined. In fact these notions vary from individual to individual. Hence those
collections can not be considered as sets.
While in all collections written on right hand side of the vertical line, 'height' 'more than 180 cm.'
'mathematics books' 'never been found involved in theft case,' ' marks more than 80%' are well defined
properties. Therefore, these collections can be considered as sets.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
If a collection is a set then each object of this collection is said to be an element of this set. A set
is usually denoted by capital letters of English alphabet and its elements are denoted by small letters.
A.Representation of a Set
1. Using the Set-Roster Notation
If S is a set, the notation x ϵ S means that x is an element of S. the notation x ∉ S means
that x is not an element of S. a set may be specified using the set roster notation by writing all
of its elements between curly braces. For example, {1,2,3} denotes the set whose elements are 1,
2, and 3. A variation of the notation is sometimes used to describe a very large set, as when we
write {1,2,3,…, 100} to refer to the set of all integers from 1 to 100. A similar notation can also
describe an infinite set, as when we write {1,2,3,…} to refer to the set of all positive integers. (The
symbol … is called an ellipsis and is read “and so forth.”)
Examples:
(i) If V be the set of vowels of English alphabet, it can be written in Roster form
as : V = { a, e, i, o, u}
(ii) If A be the set of natural numbers less than 7, then A={1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, is in
the Roster form.
Note : To write a set in Roster form elements are not to be repeated i.e. all elements are
taken as distinct. For example if A be the set of letters used in the word mathematics, then A = {m, a,
t, h, e, i, c, s}
Write the following in set Roster Notation.
a. C={x|xand 50≤x<60}
b. D = {x|x R and x2 – 5x + 6 =0}
Solution:
a. C={50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60}
b. x2 – 5x + 6 =0
(x-3)(x-2)=0
X= 3, 2
D={2, 3}
2. Using the Set-Builder Notation
Let S denote a set and let P(x) be a property that elements of S may or may not satisfy.
We may define a new set to be the set of all elements x in S such that P(x) is true. We
denote this set as follows: {x S|P(x)}
Another in this form elements of the set are not listed but these are represented
by some common property.
Example:
(i) Let V be the set of vowels of English alphabet then V can be written in the set builder
form as:
V = {x | x is a vowel of English alphabet}
(ii) Let A be the set of natural numbers less than 7.
then A = {x|x N and 1≤x<7}
Note : Symbol '|' read as 'such that'
Write the following in set builder Notation.
a. A={-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 }
b. B={3, 6, 9, 12 }
Solution:
a. A= {x|xzand -3≤x≤3}
b. B ={x|xnand n є N, n≤4}
B. Classification of Sets
1. Finite and infinite sets
Let A and B be two sets where
A = {x | x is a natural number}
B = {x | x is a student of your school}
As it is clear that the number of elements in set A is not finite (infinite) while number of elements in set
B is finite. A is said to be an infinite set and B is said to be is finite set
A set is said to be finite if its elements can be counted and it is said to be infinite if it is not possible
to count up to its last element.
Which of the following sets are finite or infinite?
A={x|x is a point on the line}
B={y|y N ≤50}
Solution:

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 As the number of points on the line is uncountable (cannot be counted) so A is
an infinite set while the number of natural numbers upto fifty can be counted
so B is a finite set.
2. Empty (Null) Set
Consider the following set
A={x|x R and x2 + 1 =0 }
B={x|x is a number which is greater than 7 and less than 5}
Set A consists of real numbers whose square is -1. Therefore this set consist of no element.
Similarly there is no such number which is less than 5 and greater than 7. Such set is said to
be null (empty) set.
A set with no element is said to be null/empty or void set denoted by symbol {} or Ø.
Which of the following sets are empty
A= {x|x is irrational and x2 -1 =0}
B={x|x z and -2 ≤x≤2}
Solution:
Set A consist of those irrational numbers which satisfy x2 -1 =0. If we solve x2-
1 =0 we get x= ±1. Clearly, ±1 are not irrational numbers. Therefore, A is an
empty set but B={-2, -1, 0, 1, 2} is not an empty set since it has five elements.
3. Equal and equivalent sets
Consider the following examples
(i) A= {1, 2, 3} , B= { 2, 1, 3}
(ii) D= {1, 2, 3} , E= { a, b, c}
In example (i), set A and B have the same elements. Such sets are said to be equal sets and
it is written as A=B.
In example (ii), set D and E have the same number of elements but elements are different.
Such sets are said to be equivalent sets and are written as D ≈E.
Two sets A and B are said to be equivalent sets if they have same number of elements but
they are said to be equal if they have not only the same number of elements but elements
are also the same.
If A = {x|x is a vowel of English Alphabet} and B={y|y  N and y ≤5}.
(i) Is A=B?
(ii) Is A≈B?
Solution:
A={a, e, i, o, u} and B= {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}. Each set is having five elements but
elements are different. Therefore; A≠B but A≈B.
4. Disjoints sets
Two sets are said to be disjoint if they do not have any common element.
For example, sets A= {1, 3, 5} and B={2, 4, 6} are disjoint sets
Given that
A= {2, 4} and B = {x|x is a solution of x2 + 6x + 8 = 0}. Are A and B disjoints?
Solution:
If we solve x2 + 6x + 8 = 0, we get x =-4, -2
Therefore: B= {-4, -2} and A= {2, 4} , clearly, A and B are disjoint sets as they
do not have any common element.

IT’S YOUR TURN:

Activity 1
Answer the following and use a separate paper (long bond paper) for your answers.
1. Which of the following collection are sets?
(i) The collection of days in a week starting with S.
(ii) The collection of natural numbers up to fifty.
(iii) The collection of poems written by Tulsidas.
2. Write the following sets in the set-roster notation
(i) A={x|x z and -5 ≤x≤0}
(ii) B={x|x  R and x2 -1 =0}
(iii) C= {x|x is a letter of the word banana}
3. Write the following sets in the set-builder notation
(i) A={2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
(ii) B={3, 6, 9, …∞}
(iii) C={2, 3, 5, 7}
4. Which of the following sets are finite and which are infinite?
(i) Set of lines which are parallel to a given line.
(ii) Set of animals on earth
(iii) Set of natural numbers less than or equal to fifty
5. In the following check whether A=B or A≈B.

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 (i) A={a}, and B={x|x is an even prime number}
(ii) A={1, 2, 3, 4} and B={x|x is a letter of the word guava}
(iii) A={x|x is a solution of x2 -5x + 6 = 0} and B= {2, 3}
C. Sub-Sets
A. Sub-set
Let set A be a set containing all students of your school and B a set containing all students
of class XII of the school. In this example each element of set B is also an element of set A.
Such a set B is said to be a subset of A. It is written as B A.
Consider D={1,2,3,4….}
E={…-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}
Clearly each element of set D is an element of E also, therefore, D 
If A and B are any of the two sets such that each element of the set A is an element of the set B
also, then A is said to be a subset of B.
Remarks:
(i) Each set is a subset of itself i.e. A
(ii) Null set has no element so the condition of becoming a subset is automatically satisfied.
Therefore, null set is a subset of every set.
(iii) If Aandthen A =B
(iv) If Aand A≠B then A is said to be the proper subset of B and B is said to be a super set of A.
i.e. Aor B A.
Examples:
If A={x|x is a prime number less than 5} and B={y|y is an even prime number} then is B a
proper subset of A?
Solution:
It is given that A={2, 3}, B={2}. Clearly B and≠
We write Band say that B is a proper subset of A.
If A ={1, 2, 3, 4}, B={2, 3, 4, 5}
Is Aor
Solution:
Here 1  A but 1  B  A not 
Also, 5  B but 5  A  B not 
Hence neither A is a subset of B nor B is a subset of A.
If A= {a, e, i, o, u} and B={e, i, o, u, a}, Is AorBor both?
Solution:
Here in the given sets each element of set A is an element of set B also. Therefore, Aand each
element of set B is an element of set A also. Therefore, B
From then, A=B.
B. Power Set
Let A ={a, b}
Subsets of A are Ø, {a}, {b}, {a, b}.
If we consider these subsets as elements of the new set B, then
B={ Ø, {a}, {b}, {a, b}}
Thus, B is said to be the power set of A.
Notation: Power set A is denoted by P(A). Power set of a set A is the set of all the subsets of the
given sets.
Examples:
Write the power set of each of the following sets.
(i) A={x|x  R and x2 +7 =0}
(ii) B={y|y  N and 1≤y≤3}
Solution
(i) Clearly A = Ø (null set), therefore Ø is the only subset of given set
Thus, P(A)= { Ø}
(ii) The set B can be written as {1, 2, 3}
Subsets B are Ø, {1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}, {1, 2, 3}.
Therefore P(B)={ Ø, {1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}, {1, 2, 3}}
C. Universal Set
Consider the following sets.
A= {x|x is the student of your school}
B={y|y is a male student of your school}
C={z|z is a female student of your school}
D={a|a is a student of class XII in you school}
Clearly the set B, C, D are all subsets of A.
Set A can be considered as the universal set for this particular example. Universal set is generally
denoted by U. In a particular problem, a set U is said to be a universal set if all the sets in that
problem are subsets of U.
Remarks:

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 (i) Universal set does not mean a set containing all objects of the universe.
(ii) A set which is a universal set for one problem may not be a universal set for another problem.
Examples
Which of the following set can be considered as a universal set?
X={x|x is a real number}
Y={y|y is a negative integer}
Z={z|z is a natural number}
Solution
As it is clear that both sets Y and Z are subsets of X. Therefore, X is the universal set for this
problem.
D. Venn Diagram
British Mathematician John Venn (1834-1883 AD) introduced the concept of diagrams to
represent sets. According to him universal set is represented by the interior of a rectangle and
other sets are represented by interior of circles.
For example
If U={1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, A={2, 4}, and B={1, 3}, then these sets can be represented as;
U
A B

2 4 1 3
5

Diagrammatical representation of sets is known as Venn Diagram

E. Difference of Sets
Consider the sets A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and B= {2, 4, 6}.
A new set having those elements which are in A but not B is said to be the difference of sets
A and B and it is denoted by A-B.
Therefore, A-B= {1, 3, 5}
Similarly a set of those elements which are in B but not in A is said to be the difference of B
and A and it is devoted by B - A.
Therefore, B - A = {6}
In general, if A and B are two sets then
A-B = { x | x  A and x  B}
B-A = {x | xB and x A }
F. Complement of a set
Let X denote the universal set and Y, Z its subset where
X={x|x is any member of the family}
Y={x|x is a male member of the family}
Z={x|x is a female member of the family}
X-Y is a set having female members of the family
X-Z is a set having male members of the family
X-Y is said to be the complement of Y and is usually denoted by Y’ or Y c.
X-Z is said to be the complement of Z and denoted by Z’ or Zc.

If U is the universal set and A is its subset subset then the complement of A is a set of those
elements which are in U which are not in A. It is denoted by A’ or A c.
A’ = U-A = {x|x  U and x  A}
The complement of set can be represented using Venn Diagram as shown in figure 1.:

A’ or A Ac
A

Figure 1

Remarks:
(i) Difference of two sets can be found even if none is a subset of the other but complement
of a set can be found only when the set is a subset of some universal set.
(ii) Øc = U
(iii) Uc = Ø

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 Example
Given that A={x|x is a even natural number less than or equal to 10}
And B={x|x is an odd natural number less than or equal to 10}
Find the following
(i) A-B
(ii) B-C
(iii) Is A-b = B-A?
Solution
It is given that A= {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}, B={1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
Therefore:
(i) A-B= {2, 4, 6, 8,10}
(ii) B-A= {1, ,3, 5, 7, 9}
(iii) Clearly from (i) and (ii) A-B ≠B-A
Let U be the universal set and A its subset where U= {x|x N and x≤10}
A={y|y is a prime number less than 10}
(i) Find Ac and represent Ac in a Venn diagram
Solution
It is given that U={1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10} and A={2, 3, 5, 7}
Ac= U-A={1, 4 ,6, 8, 9, 10}
U
1 6 9 4 8 10
A
235 7

IT’S YOUR TURN!

Activity 2
Answer the following and use a separate paper (long bond paper) for your answers.
1. Insert the appropriate symbol in the blank spaces given that A={1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
(i) Ø__________A
(ii) 3 _________A
(iii) 10________A
2. Given that A= {a, b}, how many elements P(A) has?
3. Let A= { Ø, {1}, {2}, {1, 2}}, which of the following is true or false?
(i) {1, 2} A
(ii) Ø A
4. Which or the following statements are true or false?
(i) Set of all boys is contained in the set of all students of your school
(ii) Set of all boy students of your school, is contained in the set of all students of
your school.
(iii) Set of all rectangles is contained in the set of all quadrilaterals.
(iv) Set of all circles having center at origin is contained in the set of all ellipses
having centre at the origin.
5. If A={1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, B={5, 6 ,7}. Find A-B
6. Let N be the universal set and A, B, C, D bet its subsets given by
A={x|x is a even natural number}
B={x|x  N and x is a multiple of 3}
C={x|x  N and x5}
D={x|x  N and x10}
Find the complement of A, B, C, and D respectively

G. Operation of Sets
A. Intersection of sets
Consider the sets A={1, 2, 3, 4} and B={2, 4, 6}. It is clear, that there are some elements
which are common to both the sets A and B. Set of these common elements is said to be the
intersection of A and B and is denoted by AB.
AB = {2, 4}
If A and B are two sets then the set of those elements which belong to both the sets is said
to be the intersection of A and B. It is denoted by
AB= {x|x  A and x B}
AB can be represented by Venn diagram as shown in figure 2

A B
AB

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 Figure 2
Remarks
If AB= Ø, then A and B are said to be disjoint sets.

Example
Given that A={x|x is a king out of 52 playing cards} and B={y|y is a spade of 52
playing cards}.
Find AB and represent using the Venn diagram.
Solution:
As there are only four kings out of 52 playing cards, therefore set A has only four elements.
The set B has 13 elements as there are 13 spade cards but out of this 13 spade cards
there is one king also. Therefore there is one common element in A and B. As AB= {king
of spade}

A B
AB={king of spade}

B. Union of sets
Consider the following examples
(i) A is a set having all players of Indian men cricket team and B is a set having all
players of Indian women cricket team. Clearly A and B are disjoints sets. Union of
these two sets is a set having all players of both teams and it is denoted by AB.
(ii) D is a set having all players of cricket team and E is the set having all players of
Hockety team of your school. Suppose three players are common on both the
teams but three common players to be written once only.

If A and B are only two sets, then the union of A and B is the set of those elements
which belong to A or B.

In set builder notation:

AB ={x|x  A or x B}
AB can be represented using Venn Diagram as shown in figure 3

A B
AB

A B
AB

Figure 3
Example
A={x|x  z+ and ≤5}
B={y|y is a prime number less than 10}
Find AB and represent using Venn diagram
Solution
We have A={1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and B={2, 3, 5, 7}
AB ={1, ,2, 3, 4, 5, 7}
AB represented using Venn Diagram as:

A 3 B
1 4 2 7 AB
5

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 IT’S YOUR TURN!
Activity 3
Answer the following and use a separate paper (long bond paper) for your answers.
1. Which of the following pairs of sets are disjoints and which are not?
(i) {x|x is an even natural number}, {y|y is an odd natural number}
(ii) {x|x is a prime number and a divisor of 12}, {y|yN and 3≤y≤5}
2. Find the intersection of A and B in each of the following.
(i) A={x|x u z}, B={x|x  N}
(ii) A={Ram, Rahim, Govind, Gautam}, B={Sita, Mera, Fatima, Manprit}
3. If A={2, 4, 6, 8, 10}, B={8, 10, 12, 14}, C={14, 16, 18, 20}
Find (i)A(BC) (ii) A(BC)
4. Let U={1, 2, 3,…, 10}, A= {2, 4 , 6, 8, 10}, B={1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10}
Find (i) (AB)’ (ii) (AB)’
5. Draw Venn diagram for each of the following
(i) AB when BA
(ii) AB when A and B are disjoint sets
H. Ordered Pair
Given elements a and b, the symbol (a,b) denotes the ordered pair consisting of a and
b together with the specification that a is the first element of the pair and b is the second
element. Two ordered pairs (a, b) and (c,d) are equal if, and only if, a = c and b = d. symbolically:
(a, b) = (c, d) means that a = c and b = d.
Example
a. Is (1,2) = (2,1)?
5 1
b. Is (3, ) = (√9, )?
10 2
c. What is the first element of (1, 1)?

Solution
a. No, by definition of equality of ordered pairs,
(1,2)= (2,1) if, and only if, 1 = 2 and 2 = 1.
But 1= 2, and so the ordered pairs are not equal.
b. Yes, By definition of equality of ordered pairs.
5 1 5 1
(3, ) = (√9, ) if, and only if, 3 = √9 and = .
10 2 10 2
Because these equations are both true, the ordered pairs are equal.
c. In the ordered pair (1,1), the first and the second elements are both 1.
I. Cartesian Products of Two sets
Consider two sets A and B where A={1, 2}, B= {3, 4, 5}.
Set of all ordered pairs of elements of A and B is {(1,3), (1,4), (1,5), (2,3), (2,4), (2,5)}
This set is denoted by A × B and is called the Cartesian product of sets A and B.
Example A×B = {(1, 3), (1, 4),(1, 5),(2, 3),(2, 4),(2, 5)}
Cartesian product of B sets and A is denoted by B×A.
In the present example, it is given by B×A = {(3, 1),(3, 2),(4, 1),(4, 2),(5, 1),(5, 2)}
Clearly A×B ≠ B×A
In the set builder form :
A×B = {(a,b) | a  A and b  B}
B×A = {(b,a) | b  B and a  A }
Note : If A = Ø or B = Ø or A,B= Ø, then A × B= B × A = Ø.
Example:
Let A={a,b,c}, B={d,e}, C={a,d}. Find
(i) A×B
(ii) B×A
(iii) A×(B  C )
(iv) (A  C) × B
(v) (A  B) × C
(vi) A × (B - C)
Solution:
(i) A×B = {(a, d),(a, e), (b, d), (b, e), (c, d), (c, e)}.
(ii) B×A = {(d, a),(d, b), (d, c), (e, a) (e, b),(e, c)}.
(iii) A = {a, b, c}, B  C ={a,d,e}.
Therefore, A × (B C) = {(a, a),(a, d),(a, e),(b, a),(b, d),(b, e), (c, a),(c, d),(c,
e).
(iv) A  C = {a}, B= {d, e}.
Therefore, (A  C) × B= {(a, d), (a, e)}
(v) A  B = Ø, C={a,d}, therefore, A  B × C = Ø
(vi) A = {a,b,c}, B - C = {e}, therefore, A × (B-C) = {(a,e),(b,e),(c,e)}
(vii) If f(x) = 2x + 3, what is f(5)?

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 (viii) 7 b. -13 c. 13 d. 5

IT’S YOUR TURN!

Activity 4
Answer the following and use a separate paper (long bond paper) for your answers.
1. Which of the following are true statements?
a. Is (0, 10) = (10, 0)?
b. Is (4, 33) = (22, 27)?
c. What is the first element of (2, 5)?
2. Let Y = {a, b, c} and Z = {1, 2}.
a. Find Y x Z.
b. Find Z x Y.
c. Find Y x Y.
d. How many elements are in Y x Z, Z x Y,Z x Z and Y x Y?

LESSON 2. The Language of Relations and Functions

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. define relation, function and cite examples thereof;
2. find the domain and range of the function
LET’S ENGAGE
This topic “Relations and Functions” is a foundation or fundamental of algebra in
mathematics. Relations and functions are two different words having different meaning
mathematically. Many us you might be confused in their difference. We shall study both these
concepts in detail here. Same as the relations which we have in our daily life, a kind of relations
also exists in algebra. In daily life, relations are like brother and sister, friends, student and
teacher and many more. In mathematics also we see some relations like a line is parallel or
perpendicular to another, any one variable is greater or less than the another variable. Any Set
A is subset of B, all these are examples of relations. One thing which we see in common while
studying relations, that it required two different objects to link two different objects via relations.
There are many kinds of relationships in the world. For instance, we say that two people
are related by blood if they share a common ancestor and they are related by marriage if one
shares a common ancestor with the spouse of the other. We also speak of relationship between
teacher and student, between people who work for the same employer, and between people who
share a common ethnic background.
Similarly, the objects of mathematics may be related in various ways. A set A may be
said to be related to a set B if A is a subset of B, or If A is not a subset of B, or if A and B have
at least one element in common. A number x may be said to be related to a number y if x<y, of
if x is a factor of y, or if x2 + y2 = 1. Two identifiers in a computer program may be said to be
related if they have the same first eight characters, or if the same memory location is used to
store their values when the program is executed. And the list could go on!

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

A. Relations
A relation is a correspondence between two things or quantities. It is a set of ordered pairs
such that the set of all first coordinates of the ordered pairs is called Domain and the set of
all the second coordinates of the ordered pairs is called Range.
A relation maybe expressed a statement, arrow diagram, table, equation, set-builder
notation and graph.
Understanding Relations requires basic knowledge of sets. A Set is a collection of well-
defined objects of particular kind. For Example a set of outcomes of dice, a set of English
alphabet. Relation is always studied between two sets. If we have two non void (or null/empty)
sets A and B then the relation R from set A to set B is represented by aRb, where a is the set
of elements belonging to set A while b belongs to set B. Relation from a set A to a set B is the
subset of the Cartesian product of A and B i.e. subset of A x B. Relation in other way can
also be defined as an collection of ordered pairs (a, b) where a belongs to the elements from
set A and b from set B and the relation is from A to B but not vice versa.

1 2
2 4
3 6
A B

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 Figure 4

From figure 4, we can see that Relation from A to B i.e. R will be set f {(1,4), (1,2), (3,4),
(3,2)}. This relation is a subset of the Cartesian product of two sets A X B.
Let’s take another example where, set A = {1, 2, 3} and set B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}.
If the Relation between A and B is as: elements of B is the squares of elements of set A, then the
relation is written in the form of sets as:
R = {(a,b): where b is square of a and a ∈ A & b ∈ B}
Then R {(1,1), (2,4), (3,9)}
Same as sets, relation may also be represented algebraically either by the Roster method or by
the Set-builder method.
Relation can also be defined as a linear operation which establishes relationship between the
element’s of two set’s according to some definite rule of relationship.
R = {(a, b) | (a, b) ∈ A x B and a R b}
Example
A is {2, 3, 5}
B is {1, 4, 9, 25, 30}
If a R b → b is square of a Discrete element of relation are {(2, 4), (3, 9), (5, 25)}
A = {Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bhopal}
B = {Rajasthan, Uttar pradesh, Madhya Pradesh}
aRb → a is capital of b,
A X B = {(Jaipur, Rajasthan), (Lucknow, Uttar Pradseh), (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh}
Consider the following example :
A={Mohan, Sohan, David, Karim}
B={Rita, Marry, Fatima}
Suppose Rita has two brothers Mohan and Sohan, Marry has one brother David, and Fatima has
one brother Karim. If we define a relation R " is a brother of" between the elements of A and B
then clearly.

Mohan R Rita, Sohan R Rita, David R Marry, Karim R Fatima

After omiting R between two names these can be written in the form of ordered pairs as : (Mohan,
Rita), (Sohan, Rita), (David, Marry), (Karima, Fatima)

The above information can also be written in the form of a set R of ordered pairs as R= {(Mohan,
Rita), (Sohan, Rita), (David, Marry), (Karim, Fatima)}
Clearly R  A × B, R = {(a,b) | a  A,b  B and aRb}
If A and B are two sets then a relation R from A to B is a sub set of A×B.
If
(i) R = Ø , R is called a void relation.
(ii) R=A×B, R is called a universal relation.
(iii) If R is a relation defined from A to A, it is called a relation defined on A.
(iv) R = { (a,a) a  A } , is called the identity relation.
B. Domain and Range of a Relation.
If R is a relation between two sets then the set of its first elements (components) of all the
ordered pairs of R is called Domain and set of 2nd elements of all the ordered pairs of R is
called range, of the given relation.
Consider previous example given above.
Domain = {Mohan, Sohan, David, Karim}
Range = {Rita, Marry, Fatima}
Example:
Given that A = {2, 4, 5, 6, 7}, B = {2, 3}
R is a relation from A to B defined by
R = {(a, b) |a  A, b  B and a is divisible by b}
Find
(i) R in the roster form
(ii) Domain of R
(iii) Range of R
(iv) Represent R diagramatically.
Solution:
(i) R = {(2, 2), (4, 2), (6, 2), (6, 3)}

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 (ii) Domain of R = {2, 4, 6}
(iii) Range of R = {2, 3}

If R is a relation 'is greater than' from A to B, where A= {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and B = {1,2,6}.

Find
(i) R in the roster form.
(ii) Domain of R
(iii) Range of R.
Solution:
(i) R = {(3, 1), (3, 2), (4, 1), (4, 2), (5, 1), (5, 2)}
(ii) Domain of R = {3, 4, 5}
(iii) Range of R = {1, 2}

C. Function
Functions are the special class of relation or we can say that special types of
relations are called as Functions. Function is one of the most important concepts in
mathematics as every situation in real life are solved and analysed first by writing its
mathematical equation or function.
A function is like a machine which gives unique output for each input that is
fed into it as reflected in figure 5. But every machine is designed for certain defined inputs for
e.g. a washing machine is designed for washing cloths and not the wood. Similarly the
functions are defined for certain inputs which are called as its domain and corresponding
outputs are called Range.

Figure 5
Let A and B be two sets and let there exist a rule or manner or correspondence ‘f’ which
associates to each element of A to a unique element in B, then f is called
a Function or Mapping from A to B. It is denoted by symbol

Which reads ‘f is a function from A to B' or' f maps A to B.

If an elements a ∈ A is associated with an element b ∈ B then b is called ‘the f image of a’ or
‘image of a under f' or ‘the value of the function f at a’. Also a is called the pre – image of b or
argument of b under the function f. we write it as
f:(a, b) or f:a → b or b = f(a)

A function f from a set A to set B is a relation with a domain A and co-domain B that
satisfies the following two properties.
1. For every element x in A, there is an element y in B such that (x, y)  F.
2. For all elements x in A and y and z in B,
If (x ,y)  F and (x, z)  F, then y=z.

Properties (1) and (2) can be stated formally as follows; A relation F from A to B is
a function if, and only if:
1. Every element of A is the first element of an ordered pair of F.
2. No distinct ordered pairs in F have the same first element.
In most mathematical situations we think of a function as sending elements from one set,
the domain, to elements of another set, the co-domain. Because of the definition of function,
each element in the domain corresponds to one only one element of each co-domain.
More precisely, if F is a function from set A to set B, then given any element x in A property
(1) from the function definition guarantees that there is at least one element of B that is related
to x by F and property (2) guarantees that there is at most one such element. This makes
possible to give the element that corresponds to x a special name. Observe as reflected in figure
6.

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 Figure 6

Notation: If A and B are sets and F is a function from A to B, then given any element x in A,
the unique element B that is related to x by F is denoted by F(x), which reads “F of x”
Consider the relation f = {(a, 1), (b, 2), (c, 3), (d, 5)}
In this relation we see that each element of A has a unique image in B as shown in figure 7.

Figure 7

This relation f from set A to B where every element of A has a unique image in B is defined
as a function from A to B. So we observe that in a function no two ordered pairs have the same
first element.

Example
Let A={2, 4, 6} and B={1, 3, 5}. Which of the relations R, S and T defined below are
functions from A to B.
(i) R= {(2, 5), (4, 1), (4,3), (6,5)}
(ii) For all, (x,y)  A x B, (x,y)  S means that y= x+ 1
(iii) T is defined by the diagram

2 1

4 3

6 5

Solution:
(i) R is not a function because it does not satisfy property (2). The ordered pairs
(4, 1) and (4, 3) have the same first element but different second elements.
(ii) S is not a function because it does not satisfy property (1). It is not true that
every element of A is the first element of an ordered pair in S. For example 6 
Abut there is no y in B such that y = 6+1 =7
(iii) T is a function. Each element in {2, 4, 6} is related to some element in {1, 3, 5}
and no element in {2, 4, 6} is related to more than one element in in {1, 3, 5}.
Let F be the successor function defined as F(x)= x +2.
(i) Find F(2),
(ii) F(0),
(iii) F(-5
Solution
(i) F(2)= 2+2 =4
(ii) F(0)= 0+2= 2
(iii) F(-5)= -5 +2= -3

IT’S YOUR TURN!

Activity 5
Answer the following and use a separate paper (long bond paper) for your answers.

1. Let A= {2, 3, 4} and B={6, 8, 10} and define a relation R from A to B as follows: For all (x,y) 
A x B,
(x,y)  R means that y/x is an integer.
a. Is 4R6? Is 4R8? Is (3,8)  R? Is (2,10)  R?
b. Write R as a set of ordered pairs.

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2. Let C=D={-3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3} and define a relation S from C to D as follows: For all (x,y)  C x
D,
1 1
(x,y)  S means that ( − ) is an integer.
𝑥 𝑦
a. Is 2S2? Is -1S-1? Is (2, 2)  S? Is (2, -2)  S?
b. Draw an arrow diagram for S.
3. Let E= {1, 2, 3} and F= {-2, -1, 0} and define a relation T from E to F as follows: For all (x, y)
 E x F.
𝑥−𝑦
(x, y)  T means that ( ) is an integer.
3
a. Is 3T0? Is 1T-1? Is (2, -1) T?
b. Write T as a set of ordered pairs.
4. Let A {2, 4, 6} and B= {t, u, v}. Define a function F: AB by the following arrow diagram.

A B

2 t

4 u

6 v

a. Write the domain and co-domain of F.

b. Find F(2), F(4), F(6)
5.
6. Let F be the squaring function defined as F(x)= x2.
a. Find F(2), and F(4)

POST ASSESSMENT
I. Instructions: Read each carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer on a separate sheet
of papers.
___1. Write {even whole numbers between 3 to 15} using the roster method.
a. {3,5,7,9,11,13,15} b. {5,7,9,11,13}
c. {4,6,8,10,12,14} d. {2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16}
___2. Consider U={integers from 6 to 15} and A={even numbers in the range 9 to 14}. List the
elements of A’
a. A’={6,7,9,11,13,15} b. A’={10,12,14}
c. A’={7,9} d. A’={8,10}
___3. Let U={0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7} A={1,3,5,7} B=[1,2,3} C={3,4,5,6}.
Find (C’∩ A)U(C’∩B)
a. {1,3,5,7} b. {1,2,5,7} c. {1,2,7} d. {4,5,6}
___4. Which of the following is TRUE?
a. A∩C’=A-C b. A∩C=A-C c. AUC’=A-C d. A∩C’=AUC
___5. Which of the following statement is FALSE?
a. A∩B=B∩A b. A’∩B=B-A c. A’∩B=A-B d. (A’)’=A
___6. Let U={0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7} A={1,3,5,7}, B={0,2,4,6} C={0,1,2,3,4}
Find: A U C
a. {0,1,2,3,4,5,7} b. {1,3} c. {0,2,4} d.{ }
___7. Of the 263 freshman attending Mapukpukaw High school, 95 expressed interest in
math team, 190 expressed an interest in athletics and 27 expressed interest in both.
How many freshman have not expressed an interest in either the math team or
athletics?
a. 5 b. 68 c. 163 d. 27
A survey of 65 seventh graders at MBC Junior High School showed the following:
36 are kapamilya
32 are kapatid
32 are kapuso
16 are both kapuso and kapatid
16 are both kapuso and kapamilya
14 are both kapamilya and kapatid
6 are kapuso, kapatid and kapamilya
How many students:
___8. ________________ are loyal kapamilya.
a. 12 b. 32
c. 36 d.5
___9. Which of these diagrams a is NOT a function?

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 a. b. c. d.

___10. What are the Domain of the Relation R= {(6,3),(8,-1), (7,0), (4,2)}
a. {6,8,7,4} c. {1,2,3,4}
b. {3,-1, 0, 2} d. {6,8,7,4,1}
___11. What are the Range of the Relation R= {(6,3),(8,-1), (7,0), (4,2)}
c. {6,8,7,4} c. {1,2,3,4}
d. {3,-1, 0, 2} d. {6,8,7,4,1}
___12. Which of the following satisfies the relation of A= (1,2,3) and B= (1,2,3,4,5)
defined by a|b, (a,b)Є R
a. {(1,2), (1,3),(1,4), (1,5), (2,4)} c. {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3),(1,4), (1,5), (2,2), (2,4), (3,6)}
b. {(1,1), (1,3),(1,4), (2,2),(3,3)} d. {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3),(1,4), (1,5), (2,2), (2,4), (3,3)}
___13. Which of the following sets of ordered pairs does not define a function?
a. {(4,1),(3,2),(2,3),(1,4)} c. {(6,3),(8,-1), (7,0), (4,2)}
b. {(2,3),(6,4),(6,5), (8,9)} d. {(2,4), (7,9), (-2,3), (1,2)}
___14. It refers to a rule of correspondence that assigns to each element x in set A and
exactly one element y in set B.
a. Domain b. Function c. Range d. Relation
___15. If f(x)= 6x -5, find f(-3)=
a. 23 b. -23 c. 13 d. -13
REFERENCES

1. AskIITians Online Coaching. Sets, Relations and Functions.

https://www.askiitians.com/iit-jee-algebra/set-relations-functions/
2. Bham, S. (2020), Module Functions Sets, Relations and Functions
https://www.academia.edu/37220564/MODULE_-
IV_Functions_Sets_Relations_and_Functions_15_SETS_RELATIONS_AND_FUNCTIONS
3. Cengage Learning Asia (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World. Rex Bookstore Inc.

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