Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

University Town, Northern Samar
Web: http://uep.educ.ph; Email: ueppres06@gmail.com

GRADUATE STUDIES

Name: JERVIN D. BALANLAY

Course/ Year: MAME- I
Subject: STRUCTURES OF MATHEMATICS (MATH 821)
Semester: 1ST Semester, SY: 2019-2020
Topic: SETS (Power Sets)
Date: Dec. 21, 2019
Professor: Florence T. Caceres, PhD
________________________________________________________________

INTORDUCTION:

The collection of well-defined distinct objects is known

as a set. The word well-defined refers to a specific property
which makes it easy to identify whether the given object belongs
to the set or not. The word ‘distinct’ means that the objects
of a set must be all different.
We have defined a set as a collection of its elements so, if S
is a set then the collection or family of all subsets of S is
called the power set of S and it is denoted by P(S).
Thus, if S = a, b then the power set of S is given by P(S) =
{{a}, {b}, {a, b}, ∅}
We have defined a set as a collection of its elements if the
element be sets themselves, then we have a family of set or set
of sets.
Thus, A = {{1}, {1, 2, 3}, {2}, {1, 2}} is a family of sets.

The null set or empty set having no element of its own is an

element of the power set; since, it is a subset of all sets. The
set being a subset of itself is also as an element of the power
set.

In mathematics, the power set (or powerset) of any set S is the

set of all subsets of S, including the empty set and S itself,
variously denoted as P(S), 𝒫(S), ℘(S) (using the "Weierstrass
p"), P(S), ℙ(S), or, identifying the power set of S with the
set of all functions from S to a given set of two elements, 2S.
In axiomatic set theory (as developed, for example, in the ZFC
axioms), the existence of the power set of any set is postulated
by the axiom of power set. [1]Definition of power set:

DISCUSSION:

The collection of all subsets of a non-empty set S is a

set of sets. Thus, the power set of a given set is always non-
empty. This set is said to be the power set of S and is
denoted by P(S). If S contains N elements, then P(S) contains
2^n subsets, because a subset of P(S) is either ∅ or a subset
containing r elements of S, r = 1, 2, 3, …….

Let S = {1, 2, 3} then the power set of S is given by P(S) =

{{1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {2, 3}, {1, 3}, ∅, S}.

If S = (a), then P(S) = {(a), ∅}; if again S = ∅, then P(S) =

{∅}. It should be notated that ∅ ≠ {∅}. If S = {1, 2, 3} then
the subset of S {1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}, {1, 2,
3}, ∅.

Hence, P(S) = {{1}, {2}, {3}, {1, 2}, {1, 3}, {2, 3}, {1, 2,
3}, ∅}.

We know, since a set formed of all the subset of a set M as

its elements is called a power set of M and is symbolically
denoted by P(M). So, if M is a void set ∅, then P(M) has just
one element ∅ then the power set of M is given by P(M) = {∅}

An introduction of sets and its definition in mathematics. The

concept of sets is used for the foundation of various topics
in mathematics.
To learn sets we often talk about the collection of objects,
such as a set of vowels, set of negative numbers, a group of
friends, a list of fruits, a bunch of keys, etc.

For example:

1. The collection of children in class VII whose weight

exceeds 35 kg represents a set.

2. The collection of all the intelligent children in class VII

does not represent a set because the word intelligent is
vague. What may appear intelligent to one person may not
appear the same to another person.

Apart from their mathematical usage, we use sets in our daily

life. Let’s check some everyday life examples of sets.

1. In Kitchen
Kitchen-sets

Kitchen is the most relevant example of sets. Our mother

always keeps the kitchen well arranged. The plates are kept
separate from bowls and cups. Sets of similar utensils are
kept separately.
2. School Bags
School Bags- sets

School bags of children is also an example. There are usually

divisions in the school bags, where the sets of notebooks and
textbooks are kept separately.
3. Shopping Malls
Shopping mall-sets

When we go shopping in a mall, we all have noticed that there

are separate portions for each kind of things. For instances,
clothing shops are on another floor whereas the food court is
at another part of the mall.
4. Universe
Galaxy-sets

As we all know that there are millions of galaxies present in

our world which are separated from each other by some
distance. Here, the universe act as a set.
5. Playlist
Playlist-s

Most of us have a different kind of playlists of songs present

in our smartphones and computers. Rock songs are often
separated from classical or any other genre. Hence, playlists
also form the example of sets.
6. Rules
Rules-sets

Every school or company have different sets of rules which

have to follow by every student and employee. There are
disciplinary rules, rules for leave, hostel rules, Timing
rules, and many others. Hence, all different types of rules
are separated from others.
7. Representative House
House of Representatives-sets

Representative houses are examples of sets. Here the people

belonging to various departments have to sit separately from
other departments. For example, the legal department and
finance department dont sit intermixed with each other. It has
the lower house and upper house called Senate, where only
senior members sit whereas the juniors sit in the lower house.
In the discussion of power sets, it was introduced the so
called “Decision tree”. It is one way of identifying the total
number of subsets from a given set. This concept can also be
used in solving real life problems specifically problems in
probability (Combination).

For example:

If there are 12 teams in a basketball tournament and each team

must play every other team in the elimination, how many
elimination games will there be?

Using this formula nCr = n!/r!(n-r)!

The number of elimination games is 66.

TEAMS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

11

10

TOTAL = 66 ELIMINATION GAMES

CONCLUSION:

Sets are basic concept in the study of Mathematics and

Statistics but it has a vast impact in many fields on a daily
basis. Sets are used to represent, collect and study similar
data. Data is a very important aspect in today’s life. Each
and every change taking place today is driven by data. The
study of sets in Mathematics builds our basics for complex and
analytical subjects like Data Science, Programming,
Statistics, Economics, Stock market, etc.

Looking at a bigger picture, there are many things in

life which we learn and think are of no use, but the truth is
knowledge never goes wasted. Each and every humanity has
discovered or invented has taught us something and such basic
concepts (like sets) lead us to a bigger technologies and
apply these basic concepts in utilization and for betterment
in many fields of learning.

References:

http://www.reddit.com.ph

www.math-only-math.com

www.researchgate.net

Studiousguy.com