Construction of Subsets and set operations

Construction of Subsets and set operations

A well-defined collection of distinct objects called elements or members.

1️⃣ Set Comprehension: Writing Sets in Comprehensive Form

  • Set comprehension is a way to define a set by describing the properties its members must satisfy instead of listing elements.
  • Notation:
$$ A = \{x \mid \text{property of } x\} $$

Reads as: “Set $ A $ is the set of all $ x $ such that $ x $ satisfies the property.”

  • Example: Set of all even integers:
$$ E = \{x \mid x \in \mathbb{Z} \text{ and } x \text{ is even}\} $$

Venn diagrams illustrating set operations: Union, Intersection, Difference, and Symmetric Difference


2️⃣ Constructing Subsets from a Given Set

  • Given a set $ S = {a, b, c} $, subsets are any sets containing zero or more elements of $ S $.
  • All subsets of $ S $:
$$ \{\emptyset, \{a\}, \{b\}, \{c\}, \{a,b\}, \{a,c\}, \{b,c\}, \{a,b,c\}\} $$
  • Visualized as a power set containing $2^n$ subsets for a set of $n$ elements.
  • Diagram:

Power Set of {a,b,c}


3️⃣ Distinguish Between Closed Interval and Open Interval

  • Closed Interval $[a,b]$: Includes endpoints $a$ and $b$.
$$ [a, b] = \{x | a \leq x \leq b\} $$
  • Open Interval $(a,b)$: Excludes endpoints $a$ and $b$.
$$ (a, b) = \{x | a < x < b\} $$
  • Diagram:

Open vs Closed Interval

🟢 Solid dots indicate inclusion (closed), hollow dots indicate exclusion (open).


4️⃣ Set Operations: Union, Intersection, Set Difference, Complement

A graph illustrating set operations

  • Union ( $ A \cup B $ ): All elements in $ A $ or $ B $ or both. Example: $ A = {1,2}, B = {2,3} \Rightarrow A \cup B = {1,2,3} $
  • Intersection ( $ A \cap B $ ): Elements common to both $ A $ and $ B $. Example: $ A \cap B = {2} $
  • Set Difference ( $ A - B $ ): Elements in $ A $ but not in $ B $. Example: $ A - B = {1} $
  • Complement ( $ A^c $ or $ \bar{A} $ ): Elements not in $ A $ relative to the universal set $ U $.
  • Visual Diagram of Union and Intersection:

Union and Intersection

  • Visual Diagram of Set Difference and Complement:

Set Difference and Complement

Set Difference and Complement


Exercise Questions 🤯

1) Which of the following is a correct representation of set comprehension?

A) $ {x \mid x \in \mathbb{N}, x is even} $ B) $ {x \in \mathbb{Z}, x is even} $ C) $ x is even, x \in \mathbb{N}, x } $ D) $ x is even, x \in \mathbb{Z}, x } $

Detailed Answer:

Proper set comprehension involves curly brackets and a “such that” ($\mid$ or “:”) description. A) is correct as it uses the proper notation:

$$ \{x \mid x \in \mathbb{N}, x \text{ is even}\} $$

B is missing the surrounding curly brackets and “such that”. C and D are not valid set notations.

Correct Answer: A

2) Which of the following is the set of natural numbers that are multiples of 3 or 5?

A) $ {x \mid x \in \mathbb{N}, x \bmod 3 = 0 and x \bmod 5 = 0} $ B) $ {x \mid x \in \mathbb{N}, x \bmod 3 = 0 or x \bmod 5 = 0} $ C) $ {x \mid x \in \mathbb{N}, x \bmod 3 = 0 and x \bmod 5 = 0} $ D) $ {x \mid x \in \mathbb{N}, x \bmod 3 = 0 or x \bmod 5 = 0} $

Detailed Answer:

Multiples of 3 or 5 are numbers divisible by either 3 or 5. So, “or” is appropriate, not “and”. B) and D) are identical and correct.

Correct Answer: B or D

3) Which of the following sets represents students from Madras University who play both cricket and basketball?

Options: A) {Abbas, Akhil, Rakesh} B) {Bhuvan, Charan, Dayal, Kiran} C) {Kiran, Charan, Rakesh} D) {Aditya, Jaivardhan, Nithin, Rakesh}

Detailed Answer:

Find students in both the cricket and basketball sets.

  • Basketball: {Abbas, Akhil, Aditya, Bhuvan, Charan, Dayal, Deepak, Kiran, Jaivardhan, Nithin, Rakesh}
  • Cricket: {Kiran, Charan, Rakesh, Kiran, Chidambaram, Balachandra}

Intersection = {Kiran, Charan, Rakesh}

Correct Answer: C

4) What is the number of students who play all the three sports?

Options: 1 2 3 4

Detailed Answer:

Find students who are in the intersection of all three sets.

Volleyball: {Akhil, Charan, Deepak, Sunil, Karthik, Rakesh} Basketball: {Abbas, Akhil, Aditya, Bhuvan, Charan, Dayal, Deepak, Kiran, Jaivardhan, Nithin, Rakesh} Cricket: {Kiran, Charan, Rakesh, Kiran, Chidambaram, Balachandra}

Students present in all three: Check each name: Charan and Rakesh only.

So, number is 2.

Correct Answer: 2

5) Which of the following set represents the students from Madras University who play volleyball but not cricket?

Options: A) {Akhil, Rakesh, Sunil, Karthik} B) {Sunil, Karthik} C) {Deepak, Sunil, Bhuvan, Dayal, Nithin} D) {Abbas, Aditya, Bhuvan, Dayal, Kiran, Jaivardhan, Nithin}

Detailed Answer:

Volleyball: {Akhil, Charan, Deepak, Sunil, Karthik, Rakesh} Cricket: {Kiran, Charan, Rakesh, Kiran, Chidambaram, Balachandra}

Volleyball ∖ Cricket: Remove Charan and Rakesh from volleyball set. {Akhil, Deepak, Sunil, Karthik}

Correct Answer: A

6) Which of the following sets represent the students from Madras University who are not playing cricket?

Options: A) {Dayal, Deepak, Kiran, Jaivardhan} B) {Rakesh, Kiran, Chidambaram, Balachandra} C) {Bhuvan, Jaivardhan, Sunil, Chidambaram} D) {Sunil, Chidambaram, Karthik, Balachandra}

Detailed Answer:

Find students not in the cricket set.

Cricket: {Kiran, Charan, Rakesh, Kiran, Chidambaram, Balachandra}

Check who is not listed in this set. From the student list, the only correct option is D.

Correct Answer: D

7) If exams A and B are going to be conducted simultaneously, then what are the items that are required to be carried by the student to the exam centre?

Given sets: A: {Hall ticket, Pen, Calculator, Ruler, Pencil} B: {Compass, Pencil, Drafter, Ruler, Eraser, Sharpener, Hall ticket}

Options: A) {Hall ticket, Ruler, Pencil, Eraser, Sharpener, Pen, Drafter, Compass, Calculator} B) {Calculator, Ruler, Pencil, Hall ticket, Pen, Paper, Compass, Drafter} C) {Pen, Calculator, Pencil, Hall ticket, Ruler, Compass, Drafter, Eraser} D) {Ruler, Pencil, Compass, Drafter, Eraser, Sharpener, Hall ticket, Calculator}

Detailed Answer:

The student needs all items from both sets (union):

{Hall ticket, Pen, Calculator, Ruler, Pencil, Compass, Drafter, Eraser, Sharpener}

Option A covers all these exactly.

Correct Answer: A

8) If a student forgets to bring her Calculator, which exam will she not be allowed to write?

Options: A) Exam B B) She can write both exams C) Exam A D) None of the above

Detailed Answer:

Calculator is required only for Exam A (not listed for B).

Correct Answer: C