Set and Set Operations Grab a sheet from front

Introduction A set is a collection of objects. The objects in a set are called elements of the set.

Notation When talking about a set we usually denote the set with a capital letter. Roster notation is the method of describing a set by listing each element of the set. Example: Let set A = The set of odd numbers greater than zero, and less than 10. The roster notation of A={1, 3, 5, 7, 9}

More on Notation Sometimes we can’t list all the elements of a set. For instance, Z = The set of integer numbers. We can’t write out all the integers, there infinitely many integers. So we adopt a convention using dots … The dots mean continue on in this pattern forever and ever. Z = { …-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …} W = {0, 1, 2, 3, …} = This is the set of whole numbers.

Set – Builder Notation When it is not convenient to list all the elements of a set, we use a notation the employs the rules in which an element is a member of the set. This is called set – builder notation. A = {x | x > 5} = This is the set A that has all real numbers greater than 5. The symbol | is read as such that.

Universal Set and Subsets The Universal Set denoted by U or Ω is the set of all possible elements used in a problem. When every element of one set is also an element of another set, we say the first set is a subset. Example A={1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and B={2, 3} We say that B is a subset of A. The notation we use is B A.

The Empty Set The empty set is a special set. It contains no elements. It is usually denoted as { } or

Intersection of sets When an element of a set belongs to two or more sets we say the sets will intersect. The intersection of a set A and a set B is denoted by A ∩ B. A ∩ B = {x| x is in A and x is in B} Example A={1, 3, 5, 7, 9} and B={1, 2, 3, 4, 5} Then A ∩ B = {1, 3, 5}. Note that 1, 3, 5 are in both A and B. Venn Diagram- overlapping part

Union of sets The union of two sets A, B is denoted by A U B. A U B = {x| x is in A or x is in B} Using the set A and the set B from the previous slide, then the union of A, B is A U B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9}. The elements of the union are in A or in B or in both. If elements are in both sets, we do not repeat them. Venn Diagram: all elements from both sets

Complement of a Set The complement of set A is denoted by A’ or by AC. A’ = {x| x is not in set A}. Example Say U={1,2,3,4,5}, A={1,2}, then A’ = {3,4,5}.