SET OPERATIONS

SET OPERATIONS
Definition: The union of two sets A and B is defined to
be the set of elements that belong to A or to B.
Symbols: = +

Note: In mathematics, or means x can be in A or in

B or both.

SET UNION EXAMPLES

1. If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {2, 3, 4, 5}, then
= *1, 2, 3, 4, 5+
2. If X = {red, white, blue} and
Y = {blue, yellow, green},
then = *red, white, blue, yellow, green}
3. If P = {a, b} and Q = {c, d, e}, then
then = *a, b, c, d, e}

SET UNION DIAGRAM

A

The region representing is the entire shaded

region.

SET OPERATIONS
Definition: The intersection of two sets A and B is
defined to be the set of all elements that belong to
both A and B.
Symbols: = +

SET INTERSECTION EXAMPLES

1. If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {2, 3, 4, 5}, then
= *2, 3+
2. If X = {red, white, blue} and
Y = {blue, yellow, green},
then = *blue}
3. If P = {a, b} and Q = {c, d, e}, then
then =

REMARK
When the intersection of two sets is empty,
then the two sets are said to be disjoint.

SET INTERSECTION DIAGRAM

A

The region representing is the region that was

shaded twice.

EXERCISE 1
Given: U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, B = {2, 8, 10} and C = {4, 5, 6, 7}
Find the following:
1.
6.
2.
7.
3.
8. ( )
4.
9. ( )
5. ( )
10. ( )

EXERCISE 2
Draw diagram representations of the sets in
the previous exercise.
1.
6.
2.
7.
3.
8. ( )
4.
9. ( )
5. ( )
10. ( )

RULES FOR SET OPERATIONS

1. Commutativity
=
=
2. Associativity
( ) = ( )
( ) = ( )

RULES FOR SET OPERATIONS

3. Distributivity
= ( ) ( )
= ( ) ( )
4. De Morgans Law
( ) =
( ) =

5. Double Complement
=

REMARK
CARDINALITY OF SET UNION

= + ( )

WORD PROBLEM 1
A survey of 200 families showed that 55 used Brand A
soap, 110 used brand B soap and 40 used both
brands. How many used
a. Brand A only?
b. Brand B only?
c. neither of the two brands?
d. at least one of the two brands?

WORD PROBLEM 2
In a survey of 260 college students, 64 are taking
Math, 94 are taking Science, 58 are taking English, 28
are taking both Math and English, 26 are taking both
Math and Science, 22 are taking both Science and
English and 14 are taking all three. Of the students
surveyed,
a. how many are taking math only?
b. how many are taking none of the three courses?