Set Theory

Recall that we have special symbols for different sets of numbers:

A _________________________ is a collection of objects called
___________________________________. The elements of a set could
be numbers, letters, or even physical objects in a collection, like coins or
CDs.
Sets can be represented in many ways.

Roster Notation
In roster notation, the elements of a set are listed between curly brackets { }. For example, the set of the
colors of the rainbow could be written in roster notation as:
C = {red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet}
Like a team roster lists all the players on the team, roster notation lists all the elements.
The symbol ___________ means “is an element of.” Read the statement red ∈ C as “red is an element of
the set of colors of the rainbow.”
The symbol ___________ means “is not an element of.”

Example 1: Identifying Elements of a Set You Try 1!

Insert ∈ or ∉ to make each statement true.

Interval Notation
Some sets have an infinite
number of members (too many
to list!), like the set of real
numbers 0 ≤ x < 3.
You can represent these sets with
interval notation.
Interval notation uses the
symbols [ and ] when the
endpoints are included in the set
and the symbols ( and ) when the
endpoints are not included.

[ and ] are another way of representing ________________________________ and ____ or _____.

( and ) are another way of representing ________________________________ and ____ or _____.
Because ∞ and -∞ are not numbers, they cannot be included in a set of numbers.
Parentheses are always used with ∞ and -∞ in interval notation.

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Example 2: Using Interval Notation You Try 2!
Use interval notation to represent each set of numbers.

Another way to represent sets is called set-builder notation. Set-builder notation uses the
properties of elements in the set to define the set. The set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} can be written in set-builder
notation as {x | 1 ≤ x ≤ 5 and x ∈ ℕ}.

Example 3: Set Builder Notation

Rewrite each set in set-builder notation.

The union of sets A and B is the set of all elements that are in both A or B. To indicate the union of sets A
and B, write A ______________ B.
A union is like a ________________________________. When you move in together, you throw out the
items that you have two or more of. (Who needs two blenders?)

Example 4: Finding the Union of Two Sets

Find the union of the sets.

You Try 4!

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 The _______________________________________________ of sets A and B is the set of all
elements that are in both A and B. To indicate the intersection of sets A and B, write A _________ B.
A set with no elements is called the empty set, or the null set. The symbol for the null set is _______.
The intersection of sets C and D in You Try 4b is ∅, because the sets do not have any elements in common.

Example 5: Finding the Intersection of Two Sets

Find the intersection of the sets.

You Try 5!
Find the intersection of the sets.

Set A is a _________________________ of set B if all of the elements of set A are elements of set B.
In You Try 5B, S ⊂ T. The _______________________________________ of subset S is the set of all
elements in T that are not in S. The complement of S in T is {x | -1 ≤ x < 0 or x > 3}.

Example 6: Finding the Complement of a Subset

Determine if set A is a subset of B. If so, find the complement of A in B.

You Try 6!
Is A = { x|0 < x < 3 } a subset of B = { x|0 < x < 10 } ? If so, what is the complement of A in the universe B?

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 Exit Ticket

1. Insert ∈ or ∉ to make each statement true.

2. Use interval notation to represent each set of numbers. –1 < x ≤ 2

Solution: ________________________________________________________

3. Rewrite each set in set-builder notation. (–∞, 4]

Solution: ________________________________________________________

4. Find the union of the sets. A = { 3, 6, 9 } and B = { 2, 4, 6, 8 }

Solution: ________________________________________________________

5. Find the intersection of the sets. M = { 7, 8, 9, 10 } and N = { 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

Solution: ________________________________________________________

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