Module 2
Mathematical
Language and
Symbols
Sets:
Its Basic Concepts &
Operations
02
Sets
A set is a well-defined collection of objects represented by uppercase letters A, B,
C,D, . . .
Example:
1. The set of distinct letters in the word “Mathematics.”
2. The set of colors in the rainbow.
Element
If a is an object that belongs to set A, then a is called an element of set A, written as
𝑎 ∈ 𝐴.
Otherwise, we write 𝑎 ∉ 𝐴.
Cardinality of a set
The cardinality of set A gives the number of elements in the set.
Symbol: |A|
Example: Given A={m, a, t, h, e, i, c, s}.
1. |A|=____
8
2. 𝑎___𝐴
∈
3. o___A
∉
Equivalent sets
Set A is equivalent to set B, denoted by 𝐴 ∼ 𝐵, if and only if A and B have the same
cardinality.
Equal sets
Two sets A and B are equal, written A=B, if both have the same elements.
Example: Given
A is the set of distinct letters in the word “stoop”
B is the set of letters in the word “spot”
Then,
𝐴∼𝐵
𝐴 = 𝐵.
Writing Sets
Roster Method
• Lists all elements of a set inside a pair of braces, commas are
used to separate the elements, and the order is immaterial.
Example: Write the following sets in roster method.
[Link] set of distinct letters in the word “Mathematics.”
[Link] set of colors in the rainbow.
Answer:
1. A={m, a, t, h, e, i, c, s}
2. B={red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet}
Special Sets
Writing Sets
Set-builder Notation
• Describes a set using symbols, includes one or more variables
and a rule that defines which elements belong and do not belong
to the set.
Example: Write the following sets in set-builder notation.
[Link] numbers less than 10.
[Link] numbers between -1 and 1.
Answer:
1. {𝑥 ∈ ℕ|𝑥 < 10}
2. {𝑎 ∈ ℝ| − 1 < 𝑎 < 1}
Subset
A set A is said to be a subset of another set B if and only if every element of A is also
an element of B. We write
𝐴 ⊆ 𝐵.
Otherwise, we write 𝐴 ⊈ 𝐵.
Proper Subset
A set A is said to be a proper subset of B if A is a subset of B and 𝐴 ≠ 𝐵, written as
𝐴 ⊂ 𝐵.
Otherwise, we write A ⊄ 𝐵.
Superset
A set A is a superset of another set B if and only if every element of B is also an
element of A. We write
𝐴 ⊃ 𝐵.
Otherwise, we write 𝐴 ⊅ 𝐵.
Example: Given A={m, a, t, h, e, i, c, s}, B={s, t, a, i, c}, C={t, i, s, a, c}, D={s, t, a, y}.
1. B____A
⊂
2. ⊆
𝐵___𝐶
3. A___C
⊃
4. D___A
⊄
More Sets
Empty set
A set with no elements, denoted by ∅.
Universal set
The set of all elements that are under consideration, denoted by U.
Disjoint sets
Two sets A and B are said to be disjoint if they have no elements in common.
Set Operations
Operation Notation Meaning
Intersection 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 and 𝑥 ∈ 𝐵} Contains all elements which
are both in A and B.
Union 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 = {𝑥|𝑥 ∈ 𝐴 or 𝑥 ∈ 𝐵} Contains all elements which
are either in A or B (or both).
Difference 𝐴−𝐵 Contains all elements which
are in A but not in B.
Complement 𝐴𝑐 Contains all elements of the
universal set which are not in
A.
Example:
If the universal set is given by 𝑆 = 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and
𝐴 = 1,3,5,7,9 , 𝐵 = 2,3,4,8 , 𝐶 = {2,4,6,8}
Find: a. 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 b. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 c. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶 d. 𝐴 − 𝐵
e. 𝐵𝑐 f. 𝐴𝑐 ∪ 𝐵 g. (𝐵𝑐 − 𝐴)𝑐 h. A ∩ 𝐵 ∪ 𝐶
Answers:
a. 𝐴 ∪ 𝐵 = 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9
b. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = 3
c. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶 = ∅
d. 𝐴 − 𝐵 = 1,5,7,9
e. 𝐵𝑐 = 1,5,6,7,9,10
f. 𝐴𝑐 ∪ 𝐵 = 2,4,6,8,10 ∪ 2,3,4,8 = 2,3,4,6,8,10
g. (𝐵𝑐 − 𝐴)𝑐 = {6,10}𝑐 = {1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9}
h. A ∩ 𝐵 ∪ 𝐶 = {2,3,4,6,8}
References:
• Exploring the Basics of Mathematics in the Modern
World by A.Q. Sollano, J.S. Dionsay, J.A. Dayap, & R.B.
Villeta
• Mathematics in the Modern World Fourth Edition by
R.N. Aufmann, J. S. Lockwood, R.D. Nation, D.K. Clegg