1. Section 2.1 Sets and Whole Numbers
Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers - 4th Edition
O’DAFFER, CHARLES, COONEY, DOSSEY, SCHIELACK

2. How do you think the idea of numbers developed?
How could a child who doesn’t know how to count verify that 2 sets have the same number of objects? That one set has more than another set?

3. Sets and Whole Numbers - Section 2.1
A set is a collection of objects
or ideas that can be listed or described
A set is usually listed with a capital letter
A set can be represented using braces { }
A = {a, e, i, o, u}
C = {Blue, Red, Yellow}
A set can also be represented using a circle
C =
Blue
Red
Yellow
A = o i e u a

4. Each object in the set is called an element of the set
Blue
Red
Yellow
Blue is an element of set C
Orange is not an element of set C

5. Definition of a One-to-One Correspondence
Sets A and B have a one-to-one correspondence if and only if each element of A is paired with exactly one element of B and each element of B is paired with exactly one element of A.
Set A 1 2 3
Set B c b a
The order of the elements does not matter

6. Definition of Equal Sets
Sets A and B are equal sets if and only if each element of A is also an element of B and each element of B is also an element of A
A = {Mary, Juan, Lan}
B = {Lan, Juan, Mary}
Then, A = B
So equal sets are when both sets contain the same elements - but the order of the elements does not matter

7. Definition of Equivalent Sets
Sets A and B are equivalent sets if and only if there is a one-to-one correspondence between A and B
Set A
one
two
three
Set B
Frog
Cat
Dog A ~ B

8. Definition of a Subset of a Set
Set A
Set B
For all sets A and B, A is a subset of B if and only if each element of A is also an element of B
Example: The Natural Numbers and the Whole Numbers
N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, }
W = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, }
Natural
Numbers
Whole Numbers

9. A = {dog, cat, fox, monkey, rabbit}
If set A contains elements that are not also in B, then set A is not a subset of set B
A⊈B
Example:
A = {dog, cat, fox, monkey, rabbit}
B = {dog, cat, fox, elephant, deer}
set A contains animals that are not in set B
Thus, A⊈B

10. Definition of a Proper Subset of a Set
For all sets A and B, A is a proper subset of B, if and only if A is a subset of B and there is at least one element of B that is not an element of A.
A ⊂ B
Set A
Set B
Natural
Numbers
Whole Numbers
N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, }
W = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, }
N ⊂ W

11. The Universal Set, U
The Universal set is either given or assumed from the context. If set A is the primary colors, then U could be assumed to be the set of all colors
The universal set is generally shown in a venn diagram as a rectangular area
Red
Blue
Yellow U

12. Symbols for the empty set: { } or ∅
A set with no elements
Symbols for the empty set: { } or ∅
Complement of a set
The complement of a set A is all the elements in the universal set that are not in A

13. A set with a limited number of elements
Finite Set
A set with a limited number of elements
Example: A = {Dog, Cat, Fish, Frog}
Infinite Set
A set with an unlimited number of elements
Example: N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, }

14. Number of Elements in a Finite Set
To show the number of elements in a finite set we use the symbol: n(name of set)
Example: A = {Dog, Cat, Frog, Mouse}
n(A) = 4
So, if two sets are equivalent (have the same number of elements) we use the symbol:
n(A) = n(B)
To show the empty set has no elements:
n(∅) = 0 or n( { } ) = 0

15. Counting and Sets
“Counting is the process that enables people systematically to associate a whole number with a set of objects.” (class text, p. 65)
“To determine the number of objects in a set we use the counting process to set up a one-to-one correspondence between the number names and the objects in the set. That is, we say the number names in order and point at an object for each name. The last name said is the whole number of objects in the set.” (class text, p. 65)
A = {Dog, Cat, Frog, Mouse}
B = { 1, 2, 3, 4 }

16. Less Than and Greater Than
For whole numbers a and b and sets A and B, where n(A) = a and n(B) = b, a is less than b, (a<b), if and only if A is equivalent to a proper subset of B. Also, a is greater than b, (a>b), whenever b<a.
Example:
A = {dog, cat, fox, rabbit}
n(A) = 4
B = {dog, cat, fox, monkey, rabbit}
n(B) = 5
4 is less than 5 (4 < 5)
Set A is equivalent to a proper subset of B

17. The Set of Whole Numbers
Important Subsets of the Whole Numbers
The Set of Natural Numbers or Counting Numbers
N = { 1, 2, 3, 4, }
The Set of Even Numbers
E = { 0, 2, 4, 6, }
The Set of Odd Numbers
O = { 1, 3, 5, 7, }
Sets N, E and O are all proper subsets of Set W

18. The Sets of Whole Numbers (W), Natural Numbers (N), Even Numbers (E), and Odd Numbers (O) are all infinite sets
The elements of any of these sets can be matched in a one-to-one correspondence with the elements of any other of these sets.
Unlike a finite set, an infinite set can have a one-to-one correspondence with one of its proper subsets
In fact, the definition of an infinite set is a set that can be put in a one-to-one correspondence with a proper subset of itself

19. Finding All the Subsets of a Finite Set of Whole Numbers
Example: What are the subsets of set A = {a, b, c} ?
{ }, {a}, {b}, {c}, {a,b}, {a,c}, {b,c}, and {a,b,c}
Every set has the empty set as well as the entire set in their list of subsets
The number of subsets of a finite set = 2n, where n equals the number of elements in the finite set.
Example: What are the number of subsets for set A ?
23 = 8 subsets for set A

20. The End
Section 2.1
Linda Roper