CHAPTER

01
SETS

Example 1; List the elements of each of the following sets.

(i) The set of vowels in the English alphabet.
(ii) The set of positive odd numbers less than 10.
(iii) The set of prime numbers.
(iv) The set of positive odd numbers.
(v) The set of different letters used in the word 'WOOD'

Example 2; Describe the following sets.

(i) A = {Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday}
(ii) B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
(iii) C = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5....}

Exercise 1a

1. List the members of each of the following sets.

(i) The set of odd numbers less than 20.
(ii) The set of pupils in your class who like cheeseburger.
(iii) The set of teachers teaching your class.
(iv) The set of members of your family.
(v) The set of prime numbers less than 30.
(vi) The set of months in the year whose first letters are A.
(vii) The set of multiples of 3 which are less than 20.

2. Describe the following sets.

(i) A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}
(ii) B = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ...}
(iii) C = {a, b, c, d, e}
(iv) D = {basketball, football, rugby, softball, squash}
(v) E = {Toa Payoh, Queenstown, Bedok, ...}
3. State whether each of the following is true (T) or false (F).
(i) 5 ∈ {1, 3, 5, 7}
(ii) 4 ∈ {1, 3, 5, 7}
(iii) bus ∈ {b, u, s}
(iv) b ∈ {b, u, s}

4. Which of the following statements are true (T) and which are false (F)?
(i) 5 ∉ {3, 7, 11, 14}
(ii) i ∈ {a, i, j, k}
(iii) 4 ∉ {x: x is an even number}
(iv) 5.4 ∈ (x: x is a natural number)
(v) (3 + 1 ) ∈ (x: x is an integer)
(vi) {S, C, O, H, L} ∈ {x: x is a letter of the word 'SCHOOL'}

5. If S = {g, 1, r, l, s}, state which of the following is true (T) and which is false (F).
(i) g ∈S
(ii) girls ∉ S
(iii) s ∈S
(iv) girls ∈ S
(v) b ∈S

6. Pick out the odd element in each of the following sets and describe
the remaining elements in the set.
(i) {Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, China}
(ii) {rubber, coconut, apple, mango, rambutan, oranges}
(iii) {4. 9. 1. 25, 16, 49, 20, 36}
(iv) {8, 1, 64, 75, 27}
(v) {y = 3x + 5, 2y = 4x - 7, 2y = 3x² - 4x, x + 2y = 3}
(vi) {mean, mode, median, pie chart}

7. It is given that I = {isosceles triangles}, O = {obtuse-angled triangles}, E = {equilateral triangles} and

R = {right-angled triangles}. For each of the parts (i) to (v) name the set or sets (I, O, E or R)
to which each triangle belongs. A triangle whose sides are
(i) 6, 7 and 10 cm.
(ii) 2√2, 5 and 2√2 cm
(iii) 2, 2 and 2√2 cm,
(iv) 6, 8 and 10 cm,
(v) 9, 9 and 9 cm.
The Null or Empty Set

Exercise 1b

State which of the following sets are empty sets.

1. The set of polar bears living in the Sahara Desert.
2. The set of cars with 2 doors.
3. The set of buses with 50 seats.
4. The set of bald men with a crew cut.
5. The set of boys who wear skirts to school.
6. The set of Singaporeans who have landed on the moon.
7. The set of girls weighing 200 kilograms each.
8. The set of orators who cannot talk well.
9. The set of odd numbers that are divisible by 4.
10. The set of tigers in Singapore.
11. The set of pandas in Singapore.
12. The set of Members of Parliament in Singapore who are below 22 years old.
13. The set of high jumpers who have cleared 3 metres.
14. The set of Singaporeans who had won a gold medal at the Olympics.
15. The set of triangles having three equal sides.
16. The set of parallelograms having five vertices.
17. The set of points of intersection of the line y = x + 5 and the curve y = x² + 2x + 7.
18. The set of points of intersection of the lines 2x + 3y = 5 and 4x + 6y = 14.
19. The set of ambidextrous people in Singapore.
20. {x: x is a natural number and 2x = 3}.
21. The set of quadrilaterals having three obtuse angles.
22. {x: x is an integer and 4x – 3 = 7}.

In each of the following, state whether A = B.

23. A = {m, a, s}, B = {s, a, m}.
24. A = {R, E, A, D}, B = {D, E, A, R}.
25. A = {0}, B = {∅}.
26. A = Ø, B = {∅}
27. A = {b, o, y}, B = {boy}
28. A = {V, e, n}, B = {different letters in the word “Venn”}
29. A = {6, 7, 8}, B = {7, 8, 6, 7, 8}
30. A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {whole numbers less than 4}.
31. A = {I, O), B = {vowels occurring in the word "WORDING"}.
32. A = (x: x + 3 = 7).
B = (x: x² = 16).
33. A = {Joan, Jane, June, Joanne, Judy, Jean},
B = {all girls' names beginning with J}.
Finite and Infinite Sets (Optional)

Exercise 1c

1. How many elements are there in each of the following sets?

(i) The set of months in the year.
(ii) The set of odd numbers between 10 and 26.
(iii) The set of pupils in your class who are taller than you.
(iv) The set of Singaporeans who have been to Mars.
(v) The set of colours in your school flag.s
(vi) The set of rainbow colours.
(vii) The set of horoscope signs.

2. State whether the following sets are finite (F) or infinite (I).
(i) The set of pebbles on a beach.
(ii) The set of people in Singapore.
(iii) The set of subjects taught in your school.
(iv) The set of human beings having 2 hands.
(v) {1, 5, 9, 13, ...}.
(vi) The set of people in Singapore whose surnames begin with the letter K.
(vii) The set of school text-books available in Singapore book shops.
(viii) The set of hair on your head.
Subsets

Example 3; If A = {car, c, a, t} and B = {c, a, r, t}, is A ⊆ B?

Example 4; If A = {a, b, c, d} and B = {d, b, a, c}, is A ⊆ B? Is B ⊆ A? Is Ø ⊆ A?

Example 5; List the subsets of the set {a, b}.

Exercise 1d

1. Copy the sets given below and fill in the blanks with one of the following
symbols: =, , ⊆, ⊇, ⊂, ⊃. There may be more than one answer in certain cases.
A = {1, 2, 3, 4} B = {a, b, c, d} C = {a, o, u, z}
D = {a, e, i, o, u} E = {2, 3, 4} F = {4, 3, 2}
G = {the vowels in the English alphabet}
H = {the first four letters in the English alphabet}
I = {the first four counting numbers}
Copy and complete the following.
(i) A ….. B (ii) A ….. F (iii) B….. H
(iv) H ….. C (v) G ….. I (vi) F….. E
(vii) F….. I (viii) D….. G (ix) C ….. I
(x) I….. A (xi) E….. A (xii) G….. A

2. List all the subsets of the following sets.

(i) {1,2} (ii) {pen, ink, ruler}
(iii) {Singapore, Malaysia} (iv) {a, e, i, o}

3. If A = {a, {a}, b, {c}, d}, state whether each of the following is true (T) or false (F).
(i) a∈A (ii) {a} ∈ A (iii) c∈A
(iv) {d} ∈ A (v) {a, {a}} ∈ A (vi) {a} ⊆ A
(vii) {{a}} ⊆ A (viii) {a, b} ∈ A (ix) (a, b) ⊆ A
(x) {b, {c}, d} ⊆ A (xi) (a, {a, c}, d} ⊆ A

4. If A = {10, 20, 40, 60, 80}, list the elements of the following subsets of A.
(i) {numbers divisible by 4} (ii) {numbers divisible by 6}
(iii) {numbers divisible by 8} (iv) {numbers divisible by 7}
(v) {numbers divisible by 12} (vi) {numbers divisible by 2}
(vii) {numbers divisible by 10} (viii) {numbers divisible by 11}
Which of the above subsets are equal?

5. List three subsets for each of the following sets.

(i) A= {Japanese cars}
(ii) B= {animals in Mandai Zoo}
(iii) C= {trees found in the Botanic Gardens}
(iv) D= {pupils in your class}
Universal Set. Disjoint Set (Optional), Complement of a Set

Example 6; If ℰ = {3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15}, A = {3, 5, 7}, B = {9, 11, 13} and C = {5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15},
list the elements of the sets A', B' and C’. Name a pair of disjoint sets.

Example 7; If ℰ = {1, 2, 3, …., 9, 10}, A = {3, 5, 7, 9} and B = {1, 2, 7, 8}, are A and B disjoint?
List the elements of A' and B’.

Example 8; ℰ = {plane geometrical figures}, A = {triangles}, B = {quadrilaterals},

C = {parallelograms}, D = {squares} and E = {polygons}.
Are the following statements true or false? Give reasons for your answers.
(i) A⊆B (ii) E⊆D
(iii) B=C (iv) B⊆E

Exercise 1e

1. If ℰ = {1, 2, 3... 20}, A = {multiples of 2}, B = {multiples of 4} and C = {multiples of 3},

list the elements of the following.
(i) A (ii) B (iii) C
(iv) A' (v) B' (vi) C’

2. If ℰ = {30, 31, 32, ..., 45}, list the complements of the following sets.
A = {33, 37, 39, 42, 44}
B = {30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45}
C = {non-prime numbers}
D = {multiples of 4}
E = {multiples of 3}

3. State whether each of the following statements below is true (T) or false (F).
(i) {a, b, c, d} and {x, y, z} are disjoint sets.
(ii) If ℰ = {a, b, c, d, e} and A = {a, b, c}, then A' = {d, e}.
(iii) If a ∈ A and A ⊆ B, then a e B.
(iv) If A Band B ⊆ C, then A ⊆ C.
(v) If a ∈ A and a ∈ B, then A = B.
(vi) If ∅ = A', then A = ℰ.
(vii) If A and B are disjoint sets, then A' ⊆ B'.

4. If the universal set, ℰ = {1, 2, 3, ..., 10} and A = {prime numbers}, B= {even numbers} and
C = {multiples of 5}, list the elements of A, B, C, A', B' and C’.

5. State whether the sets in the following pairs are disjoint.

(i) {2, 4, 6}, {7, 8, 9}

(ii) {3, 4, 5, 6}, {3, 7, 8}
(iii) {2, 5, 8}, {1, 3, 7, 9, 11}
(iv) {x: x < 6}, {6, 7, 8}
(v) {2, 3, 5, 7}, {x: x is an even number}
(vi) {x: x is an even number}, {x: x is a prime number}
Venn diagrams

Example 9; If ℰ = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}, A = {1, 2}, B = {1, 2, 3, 4}, C = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} and D = {9},
draw a Venn diagram to represent the above sets and to illustrate their relationships.

Example 10; Draw a labelled Venn diagram, place the elements in the appropriate regions and identify
A ∩ B in each of the following cases. The universal set ℰ = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}
(i) A = {1, 2, 3, 5, 7}, B = {4, 6).
(ii) A = {multiples of 2}, B = {multiples of 3}.
(iii) A = {multiples of 3}, B = {prime numbers}.
(iv) A = {multiples of 3}, B = {multiples of 6}.

Example 11; If ℰ = {1, 2, 3, 4, ..., 10}, A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {2, 3, 5, 7}, C = {3, 5, 7, 9} and D = {1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9},
draw Venn diagrams to represent these sets and find the following.
(i) A ∩ B (ii) A ∪ B (iii) A ∩ C (iv) A ∪ D
(v) B ∩ D (vi) C ∩ D (vii) C ∪ D

Exercise 1f

1. Draw labelled Venn diagrams to illustrate the following sets,

placing the elements in the appropriate regions, and in each case,
identify A ∩ B. ℰ = {letters of the English alphabet}.
(i) A = {a, b, c, e, f}, B = {b, c, o, p, q}.
(ii) A = {a, c, e, g}, B = {p, q, r}.
(iii) A = (x, y, z, m, n}, B = {consonants in the word "money").
(iv) A = {consonants in the word "mathematics"},
B = {consonants in the word "statistics").
(v) A = {letters of the word "universal"},
B = {letters of the word "probability"}.
(vi) A = {vowels in the word "transformations"},
B = {vowels in the word "combinations"}.
(vii) A = {vowels in the word "union"},
B = {consonants in the word "intersection").

2. Draw labelled Venn diagrams to illustrate the following sets,

placing the elements in the appropriate regions, and in each case,
find A ∪ B, ℰ = (1, 2, 3, ... 9).
(i) A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {3, 5, 7, 9}.
(ii) A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8}.
(iii) A = {4, 8}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8}.
(iv) A = {7, 8, 9}, B = {1, 2, 3}.
(v) A = {3, 4, 7, 8}, B = {1, 2, 8, 9}.
(vi) A = {3, 5, 9}, B = {2, 3, 5, 7}.
(vii) A = {multiples of 3}, B = {prime numbers}
(viii) A = {multiples of 4}, B = (multiples of 2).

3. If A = {durian, mango, pineapple} and B = {durian, rambutan, mango, soursop},

find A ∪ Band A ∩ B.

4. Find the union and intersection of each of the following pairs of sets.
(i) A = {3, 6, 9, 12}, B = {6, 8, 9}.
(ii) C = {a, b, x, y}, D = {m, n, o, p}
(iii) E = {monkey, goat, lion}, F = {tiger, goat}.
(iv) G = {a, m, k, y} H = ∅.
5. Copy and shade, on diagram (i), the set representing (A ∪ B)’ and on (ii),
the set A' ∩ B'. What do you notice about these two sets?

(i), A B (ii), A B

6. Copy and shade, on diagram (i), the set representing (A’ ∩ B)’ and
on diagram (ii), the set representing A' ∪ B'. What do you notice about the two sets?

(i), A B (ii), A B

7. Copy the Venn diagrams provided and shade the region representing
each of the following sets.

(i), A
(ii), A
(iii), A
B
C
B B
C
C

(C ∩ B’ ∩ A) C ∪ ( A ∩ B) (A ∩ B ) ∪ AC

(iv), B (v), P
(vi), L
A P M

R N

(A’ ∩ B’ ∩ C’) (P ∪ Q ) ∩ R (L’ ∩ ( M ∪ N)

8. In the Venn diagram below, lower case letters represent pupils.

ℰ = {pupils at a dinner table}, M = {pupils who like meat}.
N = {pupils who like noodles} and F = {pupils who like fish balls}.
N
Describe and list the members of the following sets. M F
(i) M∩N a
(ii) N∪F b
c d e f
(iii) M' ∩ N
(iv) F' ∪ M 𝜀 h
g
(v) M' ∩ N’
(vi) M∩F
9. Write down, using set symbols, expressions for the sets indicated by
the shaded regions in the following diagrams.

(i), (ii),
P Q
P Q

R
(iii), B (iv), Q
A P

C R

10. Joan needs to select a partner for a tea party. She describes ten of her male friends
(ℰ) under three categories: tall (T), handsome (H) and strong (S).
The Venn diagram indicates the boys and their qualities.
(i) To attend her best friend's party, Joan wants her date to be tall and handsome.
List the members of the set of boys she may date.
(ii) On another occasion she is prepared to date any boy who is strong.
Which set of boys is excluded?
(iii) Normally Joan will date a boy if he possesses at least two of the qualities.
How many boys could she date?
(iv) She has to decide whether Aravin or John will take her to a dinner. Describe this set.

11. If A = {s, i, n, g, a}, B = {s, u, n} and C = {s, e, n, g}, list the elements of the sets
(A ∪ B) ∩ C and (A ∩ B) ∪ C.

12. (i) If A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, B = {2, 4, 6, 8} and C = {1, 3, 5, 7},

list the members of the following.
(a) (A ∪ B) ∩ C
(b) (A ∪ C) ∩ B
(ii) If A = {a, b, c, d}, B = {a, b, c} and C = {a, e}, find A ∩ (B ∪ C).
(iii) Simplify the following.
(a) P ∩ (Q ∪ Q)
(b) (P ∩ P’) ∪ Q

13. Illustrate, on a Venn diagram, the relationship between the sets A, B

and C if B ⊆ A, C ⊆ B' and A ∩ C ∅.

14. Draw a Venn diagram to show the relationships between the following sets of plane figures.
C = {polygons}, A = {quadrilaterals}, B = {parallelograms}, C = {squares}, and D {triangles}.

15. The universal set & is the set of all triangles. Given that A = {isosceles triangles},
B = {equilateral triangles} and C = {obtuse-angled triangles},
illustrate the sets A, B and C within a Venn diagram.
Miscellaneous Exercise 1g

1. List the elements of the following sets.

(i) {x: x is a natural number, x = 3y and 2 ≤ y ≤ 10}
(ii) {x: x is a whole number and 3x + 2 = 14}
(iii) {x: x is a positive integer and 2x + 1 ≤ 12}
(iv) {x: x is a rational number and 2x – 3 = 8}

2. State which of the following sets are empty sets.

(i) The set of long jumpers who have jumped more than 8 metres.
(ii) The set of pentagons having 4 acute angles.
(iii) The set of polygons having 5 obtuse angles.
(iv) The set of points of intersection of the curves y = 5x² + 7x - 5 and y = 2x² + 15x - 60.
(v) The set of points of intersection of the straight lines 3x + y = 5 and 2y = 10 - 6x.

3. State which of the following pairs of sets are equal.

(i) A = Ø, B = {0}.
(ii) A = {1, 3, 5} ∩ {2, 4}, B = {x: x is prime and 5x - 4 = 1}.
(iii) A = {x: x2 = 9}, B = {x: 2x - 5 = 1}.
(iv) A = {rhombus} ∩ {rectangles}, B = {squares} ∩ {parallelograms}.
(v) A = {1, 2, 3, 4}, B = {4, 3, 2, 1, 4}

4. If A = {months of the year},

B = {months with only 30 days},
C = {months with less than 30 days},
D = {months with 31 days},
E = {months with less than 31 days}.
which of the following statements are true?
(i) B⊆E (ii) C⊆E
(iii) E⊂A (iv) D⊆B
(v) D⊆A (vi) C⊂D
(vii) B ⊆ D (viii) D ⊈ A

5. If A = {1, 3, 5, 6} and B = {2, 4, 6, 8}, find the following.

(i) A∩B
(ii) A∪B

6. State whether each of the following statements below is true (T) or false (F).
(i) {7, 9, 13} and {9, 11, 15} are disjoint sets.
(ii) {a, e, i, o, u} and {a, c, d} are disjoint sets.
(iii) {3, 9, 15, 17} and {2, 8, 10, 14} are disjoint sets.
(iv) If 𝜀 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} and A = {1, 3, 5}, then A and A' are disjoint sets.
(vi) If 𝜀 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}, A = {2, 5, 7} and B = {2, 4, 8, 9}, then B’ ⊆ A’
(vi) If 𝜀 = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h}, A = {a, e, h} and B = {c, d, g} then A' and B' are disjoint sets.

7. What is the union of the set of prime numbers less than 18 and the set of
all even numbers between 1 and 15?

8. If A = {positive odd numbers less than 20} and B = {prime numbers less than 20},
find the following.
(i) A ∪ B
(ii) A ∩ B
9. If A = {a, b, c, x, y, z}, B = {m, n, x, y, s}, C = {a, s} and D = {s}, find the following.
(i) A∩B (ii) A∪B (iii) A∩C
(iv) A∪C (v) A∩D (vi) B∩C
(vii) B ∪ C (viii) C ∩ D (ix) A ∩ (B ∩ C)
(x) (A ∩ B) ∩ C (xi) A ∪ (B ∪ C) (xii) (A ∪ B) ∪ C
(xiii) A ∪ (B ∩ C) (xiv) (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ C) (xv) A ∩ (B ∪ C)
(xvi) (A ∩ B) ∪ (A ∩ C) (xvii) (A ∩ B) ∪ C (xviii) (A ∪ C) ∩ (B ∪ C)

10. Given that 𝜀 = {x: x is an integer, 2 < x ≤ 18}, A = {x: 5 ≤ x < 17} and P = A’,
list the elements of the following.
(i) A (ii) P’

11. Given that 𝜀 = {a, b, c, d}, X = {a, b, c} and Y = {b, c, d},

list the elements of the following.
(I) (Χ ∩ Y)’ (ii) X ∪ Y
𝜀 A
12. If 𝜀 = {all triangles}, A = {obtuse-angled triangles},
B = {right-angled triangles}, C = {isosceles triangles}
and D ⊂ C, D ∩ A = Ø, D ∩ B = Ø, what does D represent?
Copy and complete the Venn diagram to show
the relationship between A, B, C and D.

13. Let 𝐼 = {isosceles triangles}, E = {equilateral triangles}, R = {right-angled triangles},

A = {acute-angled triangles} and O = {obtuse-angled triangles}.
Draw a Venn diagram to illustrate the relationship between the sets in each
of the following cases.
(i) I, E and R. (ii) I, E and O.
(iii) I, E and A. (iv) I, E, R, O and A.

Challenge Yourself

1. If A = {2, 3, 4} and B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, find a set C such that A ∪ C = B. Is C unique?

2. If A = {a, b, c, d} and B = {a, c}, find a set C such that A ∩ C = B. Is C unique?

3. Given that P and Q are disjoint sets and Q and R are also disjoint sets,
does this imply that P and R are also disjoint?

4. The universal set is the set of positive integers less than a given integer N.
Three subsets of N are defined as follows:
A = {x: x is a multiple of 3}
B = {x: x is a multiple of 4}
C = {x: x is a multiple of 5}
Given that n(A ∩ B) = 12, ind the largest and smallest possible values of N and,
hence or otherwise, find the value of n(A ∩ B ∩ C).

5. If A*B denotes (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∩ B) and 𝜀 = {x: x is a positive integer}, list the members of

(i) {1,2,3} * {2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
(ii) {prime factors of 84} * {prime factors of 90}.

6. If 𝜀 = {pupils of a school}, F = {fat pupils}, H = {hungry pupils}, D = {dangerous pupils} and

M = {mischievous pupils}, use any of the set symbols, ∩, ∪, ⊆, = and ∅ to express each of the
following statements in set notation.
(i) All fat pupils are not hungry.
(ii) No mischievous pupil is fat.
(iii) All pupils who are mischievous and hungry are dangerous.
7. If 𝜀 = {dogs}, G = {greedy dogs}, H = {healthy dogs}, F = {fat dogs},
write the following statements in set notation.
(i) All healthy dogs are greedy.
(ii) Some healthy dogs are not fat.
(iii) All healthy dogs are greedy and fat.
(iv) All fat dogs are either greedy or healthy or both.

8. Given that 𝜀 = {dogs}, F = {fat dogs}, L = {lean dogs}, H = {hungry dogs} and
D = {dangerous dogs}, use the set symbols, ∩, ∪, ⊆, = and ∅ to express
the following statements.
(i) All lean dogs are hungry.
(ii) All dogs which are lean and hungry are dangerous.
(iii) No dangerous dog is fat.
CHAPTER

02
Application of Sets to Problem Sums

A publishing company publishes three magazines "Bon Apétite", "Great Fashion" and "Shoppers"
Weekly". In an effort to persuade advertisers to place advertisements in their magazines, the company
sends out the following statement to possible advertisers:
Use of Venn Diagrams in Problem Sums Venn diagrams may be used to solve problems on classification and
cataloguing. The following examples illustrate their applications.

Example 1; In a class of 40 pupils, 27 play basketball, 25 play tennis while 17 play both.
Draw a Venn diagram to represent this information and hence deduce
the number of students who play neither game.

Example 2; In a class of 30 pupils, 18 like folk music and 22 like classical music.
If all the pupils like at least one of the two types of music, how many like both types?

Example 3; ln a certain school, the pupils have to study Mathematics, Science or Geography.
Each pupil must study at least one of the three subjects. Among a group of 40 pupils,
20 are studying Mathematics, 22 Science and 28 Geography; 12 are studying Mathematics and
Science, 14 are studying Science and Geography and 15 are studying Mathematics and Geography.
How many pupils are studying all the three subjects?

Example 4; In a group of girls, 20 play volleyball, 21 play badminton and 18 play table-tennis;
7 play volleyball only, 9 play badminton only: 6 play volleyball and badminton only
and 2 play badminton and table-tennis only.
(i) How many play all the three games?
(ii) How many play volleyball and table tennis only?
(iii) How many play table-tennis only?
(iv) How many girls are there altogether?

Example 5; If n(A) = 15 and n(B) = 10, what are the greatest and the least values of (A ∪ B)?
Draw Venn diagrams to illustrate the cases in which n(A ∪ B) has these extreme values.
Exercise 2a

1. If n (A ∪ B) = 44, n (A ∩ B) = 5 and n(A) = 20, ind the value of n(B) with the help of a Venn diagram.

2. If n(A) = 10, n(B) = 6 and n (A ∩ B) = 3, state the value of n (A U B).

3. All the 35 families in an estate possess either a car or a motor-cycle, or both,

18 have cars and 27 have motor-cycles. Represent these facts in a Venn diagram.
How many families have both cars and motor-cycles?
How many of them have cars but not motor-cycles?

4. In a group of 120 pupils, 80 can play the guitar only and 25 can play the piano only.
How many pupils can play both instruments if there are 3 pupils who can play neither?

5. In a school, 60% of the pupils have savings accounts with POS Bank and
72% of them have savings accounts with Commercial banks. Find the percentage of pupils
who have savings accounts in both POS Bank and Commercial banks if all the pupils have
at least one savings account?

6. In a group of 40 community leaders, 35 can speak English and 12 can speak Mandarin.
How many can speak both English and Mandarin if each of them can speak at least
one of the two languages?

7. If A and B are disjoint sets such that n(A) = 84, n(B) = 16, find n (A ∩ B) and n (A ∪ B).

8. If A ⊆ B, n(A) = 42, n(B) = 75, find n (A ∩ B) and n (A U B).

9. During a Mathematics lesson, 22 pupils had forgotten to bring their compasses and
18 had forgotten their protractors. 'Go to the next class and borrow one,' said the teacher.
27 pupils left the room. How many pupils had forgotten to bring both instruments?

10. If n(A) = p, n(B) = q and n (A ∪ B) = r, find n (A ∩ B) in terms of p, q and r

11. In a group of 160 pupils, 46 pupils failed Mathematics, 52 pupils failed History and
50 pupils failed Geography; 31 pupils failed Mathematics and History,
33 pupils failed History and Geography, 36 failed Mathematics and Geography and
24 failed all three subjects. Draw a Venn diagram to illustrate this information and
find the number of pupils who failed at least one subject.

12. In a school, each pupil is required to take part in at least one of the following events:
swimming, judo or tennis. A prefect reported that in his class of 45.
22 pupils participated in swimming, 14 in judo, and 32 in tennis; 5 in both swimming and judo,
8 in both judo and tennis, 7 in both swimming and tennis and 2 in all three events.
Was the prefect conveying the correct information? Show your argument
by means of a Venn diagram.

13. If n(A) = 24, n(B) = 17, n (𝜀) = 40, find the greatest and the least values of the following.
(i) n (A ∩ B) (ii) n (A ∪ B)

14. In a certain community centre, there are 90 youths. Of these, 43 take up dancing,
42 sewing and 48 swimming; 16 dancing and sewing. 17 sewing and swimming and
22 swimming and dancing. If each takes up at least one activity and x youths take up
all the three activities, express these facts in a Venn diagram. Show clearly the number in each
separate region in terms of x, and form an equation satisfied by x.
Hence, find the value of x.
15. 68 elderly men failed a medical test because of defects in at least one of these organs:
the heart, lungs and kidneys. 30 had heart disease, 30 lung disease and 33 kidney disease.
7 of them had both lung and heart diseases, 10 had lung and kidney diseases while
11 had kidney and heart diseases. Draw a Venn diagram to illustrate this information.
How many of these elderly men suffered from all the three diseases?
How many had only lung disease?

16. A number of people were asked whether they liked drinks of orange, lemon
or grape flavour. The replies showed:
85 liked orange 45 liked orange and lemon
65 liked grape 40 liked lemon and grape
90 liked lemon 15 liked lemon, orange and grape
30 liked orange and grape 25 liked none of the three
Find the total number of people interviewed, and the number who liked orange alone,
lemon alone and grape alone.

17. 80 boys took the G.C.E. examination in the three subjects: Chinese, English and Mathematics,
and none of them failed in all three subjects. It was noted that 3 passed in English only and
10 passed in Mathematics only; 7 passed in Mathematics and Chinese but not in English,
40 passed in English and Mathematics and 21 passed in English and Chinese.
Altogether, 54 passed in English. Draw a Venn diagram to represent this information and from it,
find
(i) how many pupils passed in Chinese only,
(ii) how many pupils passed in all three subjects.
Further Examples on Sets

Example 6; If 𝜀 = {x; x is an odd number, 10 ≤ x ≤ 40}, A = {x: x is a prime number} and

B = {y: y is a multiple of 13}, list the members of the following.
(i) A∩B (ii) A∪B (iii) A ∩ B’

Example 7; If 𝜀 = {x: x is a real number, -15 ≤ x ≤ 15}, A = {x: -15 < x < 15}, B = {x: 5 ≤ x ≤ 15},
C = {x: -10 < x ≤ 10} and D = {x: -15 ≤ x ≤ 8}, write expressions for the following.
(i) A' (ii) B∩C (iii) C∩D
(iv) B∪D (v) B ∩ D’

Example 8; P = {(x, y): (x, y) lies on the curve y = x² + 2} and

Q = {(x, y): (x, y) lies on the line y = x + 4}. Find n(P ∪ Q).

Example 9; A = {(x, y): (x, y) lies on the line y = 2x + 3} and B = {(x, y): (x, y) lies on the line y = kx + h}.
If n (A ∩ B) = 0, state the value of k and give a possible value for h.

Exercise 2b

1. 𝜀 = {x: x is an odd integer and 1 ≤ x ≤ 25}, A = {x: x is a multiple of 3} and

B = {x: x is a multiple of 5}. Write down the members of the following.
(i) A ∩ B (ii) A ∩ B’

2. 𝜀 = {x: x is a prime number}, A = {x: 10 < x < 42} and B = {x: 20 < x < 50}.
List the elements of the following.
(i) A ∩ B (ii) A ∪ B

3. Given that 𝜀 = {x: -20 ≤ x ≤ 20}, A = {x: -20 < x < 20}, B = {x: -15 < x ≤ 8} and
C = {x: 8 ≤ x < 12}, write down expressions for the following.
(i) A' (ii) B ∩ C (iii) B ∪ C (iv) B ∩ A’

4. 𝜀 = {x: -20 ≤ x ≤ 25}, A = {x: -20 < x < 25}, B = {x: -5 < x ≤7} and C = {x: 7 ≤ x < 15}.
Write down expressions for the following.
(i) A' (ii) B∩C (iii) B∪C (iv) C ∩ A’

5. If A = {x: 10 ≤ x ≤ 80 and x is divisible by 2} and B = {x: 10 ≤ x ≤ 60 and x is divisible by 5},

find the following.
(i) n (A) (ii) n (B) (iii) n (A ∩ B)

6. Given that 𝜀 = {x: x is an integer, 4 ≤ x ≤ 15}, A = {x: x is a prime number} and

B = {x: x is a multiple of 7},
(i) find n (A ∩ B). (ii) list the elements of the set (A ∪ B).

7. Given that 𝜀 = {x: x is an integer, 1 ≤ x ≤ 50}, A = {x: 20 < x < 45} and
B = {x: x is a prime number}, find the value of the following.
(i) n(A) (ii) n (A ∩ B)

8. Given that 𝜀 = {x: x is a positive integer}, A = {x: 13 < 4x < 47} and B = {x: x + 5 < 20 < x + 12},
list the elements of the following.
(i) A∪B (ii) A∩B

9. Given that 𝜀 = {x: x is a positive integer and 20 ≤ x ≤ 90}, A = {x: x is a multiple of 3},
B = {x: x is a perfect square} and C = {x: unit digit of r is 1},
(i) list the elements of
(a) A∩B (b) A∩C
(ii) find n (B ∩ C).
10. Given that 𝜀 = {x: x is an integer and 20 ≤ x ≤ 100}, A = {x: x divided by 12 leaves a remainder of 4},
and B = (x; x divided by 14 leaves a remainder of 6}.
(i) list the members of A and B, (ii) find n (A ∩ B).

11. If A = {parallelograms}, B = {rectangles} and C = {squares}, simplify the following.

(i) A∪B (ii) B∩C (iii) A∩C

12. If 𝜀 = {x: x ≤ 12 and x is a positive integer}, A = {x: x < 6},

B = {x: 3 < x < 9}, C = {3, 5} and D = {x: x is an even number},
(i) write down a pair of disjoint subsets of 𝜀,
(ii) place the sign ⊆ between two of the subsets to give a true mathematical statement.

13. Two sets P and Q are such that P ∪ Q = 𝜀 and P ∩ Q = Q. Simplify the following.
(i) P∪Q (ii) Q ∩ P’

14. If 𝜀 = {rectangles of length x metres and breadth y metres, where x and y are integers and x > y},
A = {rectangles each with an area of 24 m²} and B = {rectangles each with length which is a multiple
of 3 and an area of 24 m²}, find the following.
(i) n(A) (ii) n(B) (iii) n (A ∩ B)

15. The universal set 𝜀 is the set of all triangles. A = {isosceles triangles}, B = {equilateral triangles},
C = {right-angled triangles} and ∅ is the empty set. Simplify the following.
(i) A∪B (ii) B∩C (iii) A∩B

Summary

1. Venn diagrams are useful in solving problems involving classification and catalogue.
2. n(A ∪ B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A ∩ B)

Miscellaneous Exercise 2c

1. If A = {a, e, i, o, u} and B = {l, m, n, o, p, q}, state which of the following statements are true.
(i) a ∈ B (ii) i ∈ B (iii) O ∉ A
(iv) l ∉ A (v) n ∉ A (vi) e ∈ A
(vii) u ∈ A (viii) m ∈ B (ix) i ∉ A

2. Which of the following statements are true (T) and which are false (F)?
(i) 3 ∈ {3, 5, 7}
(ii) 7 ∉ {2, 3, 6}
(iii) c ∉ {a, e, i, o, u}
(iv) 6 ∉ {x: x is an even number}
(v) 15 ∉ {x: x is a prime number}
(vi) If A = {x: 2 < x ≤ 9, x is an integer}, then 2 ∈ Α.
(vii) If A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {whole numbers less than 4}, then A = B.
(viii) If A = {x: x is a positive even integer and prime}, then A = Ø.
(ix) If A is an empty set, then A = {Ø}.
(x) Every subset of a finite set is finite.
(xi) Every subset of an infinite set is infinite.
(xii) The empty set is the only set without a subset.
(xiii) If A = {a, e, i, o, u} and B = {a, b, c, d}, then A and B are disjoint.
(xiv) {2, 8, 12, 18}, and {3, 5, 11, 17} are disjoint sets.
(xv) If A ⊆ B, then A' ⊆ B'.
(xvi) If A ⊆ B and B ∩ C = Ø, then A ∩ C = Ø.
3. State whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F).
(i) If A ∩ B = Ø then (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∩ B) = Ø.
(ii) If 𝜀 = {rational numbers}, A = {x: x 4}, B = {x: x ≤ 7}, and C = {4, 5, 6}, then C ⊆ (A ∩ B).
(iii) If A ∪ B = B, then B ⊆ A.
(iv) If A is a subset of B, then A ∪ B = B.
(v) If A = {0, 1, 2, 0, 2, 2, 1, 1}, B = {2, 1, 0}, then A = B.
(vi) If A = {rectangles with five vertices}, B = {odd numbers that are divisible by 12}, then A = B.
(vii) There are 32 subsets in the set {a, e, i, o, u}.
(viii) If A ∩ B = A, then A ∪ B = B.
(ix) If A, P and Q are sets, then A ∩ P = A ∩ Q ⇒ P = Q.

4. If A = {1, 2, 3, 4} and B = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}, state which of the following statements are true.
(i) B ⊆ (A ∪ B) (ii) (A ∩ B) ⊆ B
(iii) (A ∩ B) ⊆ (A ∪ B) (iv) A ⊆ (A ∩ B)

5. The sets A and B are such that n(A) = 28, n (A ∩ B) = 12 and n (A ∪ B) = 45.
Find the value of n(B).

6. Of the 44 houses in the neighborhood of Jalan Chantek, 32 have mango trees and
28 have rambutan trees. How many houses have both mango and rambutan trees
if 2 houses have neither?

7. (i) If n(A) = 75, n(B) = 28 and n (A ∩ B) = 15, ind n (A ∪ B).

(ii) If n(P) = 46, n(Q) = 24 and P ∩ Q = Ø, find n (P ∪ Q).
(iii) If n(R) = 43, n(S) = 74 and R ⊆ S, find n (R ∩ S).

8. Well serve Trading Company has 43 employees and they drink either tea or coffee.
If 28 of them drink tea and 10 of them drink tea but not coffee,
how many employees drink coffee but not tea?

9. If 𝜀 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, A = {1, 2, 4} and B = {1, 4, 5}, list the elements of the set (A ∪ B) ∩ (Α ∩ Β)’.

10. In a junior college, all pre-university one students must take part in athletics or swimming.
If 170 take part in athletics and 192 take part in swimming, how many pre-universities one students
are there if
(i) no pre-university one students can take part in both athletics and swimming?
(ii) all pre-university one students can take part in both sports and 35 students do so?

11. If 𝜀 = {integers from 1 to 12, both inclusive}, P = {prime numbers} and Q = {odd numbers},
list the elements of the following.
(i) P∩Q (ii) P∪Q (iii) P’ ∪ Q’
(iv) P’ ∩ Q’ (v) P ∩ Q’

12. Draw three intersecting sets as shown in Fig. for each of the following parts and
shade the region representing each of the given set.
(i) (A ∪ B)' ∩ C (ii) (A ∩ C) ∪ B A B
(iii) A ∪ (B ∩ C) (iv) A ∩ (B ∪ C)
(v) A' ∩ B ∩ C’ (vi) A' ∩ B' ∩ C’
(vii) (A ∩ B) ∪ (A ∩ C) (viii) (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ C)
(ix) (A ∩ B) ∩ (A ∩ C) (x) (A ∩ B) ∪ (A ∩ C) ∪ (B ∩ C) C
13. Write down, using set symbols, expressions for the sets indicated by the shaded regions
in the following Venn diagrams.
(i) (ii) Q
A B P

R
C

(iii) B (iv) P Q
A

R
C

14. The universal set is the set of integers from 1 to 25, both inclusive.
The sets P, Q and R are defined as
P = {p: p is a multiple of 2} Q = {q: q is a multiple of 3} R = {r: r is a multiple of 9}
Illustrate the relationship of P, Q and R in a Venn diagram and mark in each
region the members which each contains.

15. If A ⊆ B, n (A ∩ C) = 0 and n (B ∩ C) > 0, illustrate with a Venn diagram

the relationship between A, B and C.

16. The sets A, B and C satisfy the following three conditions:

B ⊆ A, A ∩ C ∅, B ∩ C = ∅.
Represent these sets on a clearly-labelled Venn diagram.

17. P = {Parallelograms}, Q = {Quadrilaterals}, and R = {Rectangles}.

Draw a clearly-labelled Venn diagram to show the relationship
between the sets P, Q and R.

18. I = {Isosceles triangles}, A = {Acute-angled triangles}, E = {Equilateral triangles},

R = {Right-angled triangles} and 𝜀 = {All triangles}. Illustrate the relationship
between these sets on a clearly-labelled Vean diagram.

19. Given that n (𝜀) = 80, n(A) = 60 and n(B) = 55, find the greatest and the least possible values
of n (A ∩ B). Illustrate your answer in both cases with a Venn diagram.

20. A recent T.V. survey revealed the following:

59% of the TV viewers watched Channel 8, 48% watched Channel 5 and 46% watched Channel 12;
29% watched Channels 5 and 8: 20% watched Channels 5 and 12, 30% watched Channels 8 and 12
while 9% watched all the 3 channels. Find the percentage of viewers who
(i) watched Channels 5 and 8 but not Channel 12,
(ii) watched exactly two channels,
(iii) did not watch any of the channels.

21. In an examination, Part A was attempted by 70 students, Part B by 50 and Part C by 42.
30 students attempted both parts A and B, 8 attempted both Parts B and C,
28 attempted both Parts A and C, and 3 attempted all three parts.
(i) How many students attempted Part A but not Parts B and C?
(ii) How many students attempted Part B but not Parts A and C?
(iii) How many students attempted at least 2 parts?
22. Fatty's Delight sells chicken, duck and 'char siew' rice. Of the 160 customers he had one day,
45 had chicken rice, 52 had duck rice and 51 had 'char siew' rice. 31 customers ordered chicken and
duck rice. 33 ordered duck and 'char siew' rice, 37 ordered chicken and 'char siew' rice and 24
ordered all the three types. Draw a Venn diagram showing this data and find the number of
customers who
(i) ordered more than one type of rice,
(ii) visited Fatty's, Delight but decided not to patronise the stall.

23. A trade development board organised conventions abroad for its 150 members
in the jewellery industry. The conventions, fell under three categories: trading, manufacturing and
design. 52 attended the trading category, 46 the manufacturing and 32 the design; 20 attended the
trading and manufacturing category and 18 the trading and design; 8 attended the manufacturing
and design but not the trading category and 14 attended the trading and manufacturing but not the
design category. Draw a Venn diagram to illustrate the above information and find the number of
members who attended
(i) none of the conventions.
(ii) at least two categories of the conventions,
(iii) all the three categories of the conventions.

24. The 200 members of a country club have a choice of three games: tennis (T0),
squash (S) and badminton (B). The table shows the number of members who
play some or all the games.

Games T S B only T and S S and B T and B All 3

No. of members 68 62 58 22 20 15 8

Draw a Venn diagram to represent this information and use it to find the number
of members who
(i) play tennis only,
(ii) play squash only.
(iii) play badminton.
(iv) do not play any of the games.

25. 280 housewives responded to a survey on the use of three products A, B and C.
158 of them use A, 100 use only A and 23 use all the three: 15 use A and C but not B,
40 use B and C and 47 use only B.
(i) Which product is the most popular according to this survey?
(ii) How many housewives use product C only?
(iii) What fraction of the respondents use at least two products?
(iv) How many use only one of the products?

26. A cricket club has 120 members. 𝜀 is the set of all the boys 𝜀
Y
who play cricket. X is the set of batsmen. Y is the set of bowlers. X
The letters a, b and c in the Venn diagram (see Fig.) represent a b c
the number of members in each subset of X and Y.
The letter d represents the number of members who are neither
d
batsmen nor bowlers. Given that n(𝜀) = 120, n(X) = 80 and n(Y) = 48, find
(i) the value of b if d = 0.
(ii) the value of d if b = c.
(iii) the largest possible number of members who are neither
batsmen nor bowlers.
27. Each of the 56 pupils in the Fourth Year of a school studies at least one of
the subjects History, English and Agriculture.
𝜀
Of the 14 pupils who study Agriculture. H E
4 also study History and English,
3 study neither History nor English, and
5 study English but not History.
Of the 42 pupils who do not study Agriculture.
6 study both History and English, A
x study only History, and
2x study only English.
Copy Fig. and on your copy show the number of pupils in each subset.
Hence find
(i) the value of x.
(ii) the total number of pupils studying English.

Challenge Yourself

1. A, B and C are subsets of the set of real numbers.

A = {x: 0 < x < 1} B = {x: 1 < x < 2} C = {x: 0 < x < 2}
Simplify the following sets.
(i) A ∪ B ∪ C (ii) A ∩ B ∩ C

2. For any two sets A and B, A * B is defined as

A * B = {x: x ∈ A, x ∉ B) ∪ {x: x ∈ B, x ∉ A).
By means of clearly labelled Venn diagrams, show that
(A * B) ∩ C = (A ∩ C) * (B ∩ C).

3. For any two sets A and B, the difference (A - B) is defined as the set consisting of
those elements of A that are not in B.
By means of clearly labelled Venn diagrams, show the following.
(i) A - (B ∪ C) = (A - B) ∩ (A - C)
(ii) A - (B ∩ C) = (A - B) ∪ (A - C)

4. Three sets A, B and C satisfy the following conditions.

A ∪ B = B, A ∩ C = ∅, B ∪ C B and n (B ∩ C) > 0
Represent these sets on a clearly labelled Venn diagram.

5. A ° B denotes the set of elements which are in the universal set & but which
are neither in A nor in B. Use separate Venn diagrams as shown in Fig. to illustrate,
by shading, the regions representing the following.
(i) (A ° B)’ 𝜀 A
E
(ii) A ° B’
(iii) A ° (A ° B)
(iv) A' ° (A ∩ B)