defined collection of objects of

The language of Set objects.

The foundation of being good in
Mathematics lies on the factor of  Illustrative Example 4
having a good understanding its
            The following are
language. Language serves as the
examples of sets
tool in the study of Mathematics.
Mathematically speaking, the
1.    A = {Ateneo, Adamson, UE,
language of mathematics will show
de LaSalle, UP, UST,  FEU, NU}
us the different structural
composition of ideas as our 2.    B = {San Beda, San
pedagogical tool in understanding Sebastian, JRU, Arellano, St.
how, what and why things are Benilde , Mapua, Letran}
said. To better understand the
language of mathematics, we need 3.    C = { x /x is a multiple of
to familiarize ourselves with the 5 less than 50}
four basic concepts about it.
4.    D = {x / x is the consonant
 A. The Language of Sets. letters of the alphabet}

One of the fundamental  Intuitively, set is about the

disciplines in Math is the Set collections of objects in the
theory introduced by Georg Cantor universal discourse. These
(1845 -1918), a German objects are what we called
Mathematician. This discipline of the elements or members of the
Mathematics focused on the set.  We often use the symbol ,
studies of sets. It is often to indicate that an object belong
dubbed as the mathematical to the set. A set is usually
science of the infinite. denoted by capital letters and
Nonetheless, set theory focused elements are denoted by small
on sets, which is one of the letters.     
basic concepts in mathematical
language. Illustrative Example 5
 A set is a collection of             The given statement
distinct objects or what we call illustrates that an object
the elements which have common belongs to set
property. Further, set speaks
about well-defined collections of 1.    10
items in the universal discourse.
Say, nurses, medical 2.    Jose Rizal   Filipino
technologist, doctors, Heroes
pharmacist, radiologic
technologist and physical  Now, observed how the set in
therapist. The common thing about illustrative example 4 are
them is that they are all allied written. Items number 1 and 2,
health workers. Hence, when we the elements of the set are
talked about the language of set, listed individually. Item 1 is
we simply say set is a well- the schools that comprise the
UAAP, while item number are the
schools that belong to the NCAA. c.    A = { x / x is the multiple
The type of presentation is of 8 between 10 and 40}
called the roster method. Roster
method is when we list the 2. Infinite set
elements of the set individually
and separated by coma. It is A set with have infinite
often times called the tabular number of elements. It is not
method. countable and the last element is
difficult to identify
Items 3 and 4 illustrate the
other form of writing a set. In  Illustrative Example 7
the example what we can see only
is the general idea about the set           The following are
or the common description of the examples of finite sets.
elements of the set.  This method
is what we called the set builder a.  M= {1, 2, 3 …}
notation method.   It is the
method of presenting a set by b.  I = {x / x is Real Number}
mentioning the description or the
commonality of the members or c.  A = {x / x is the multiple of
elements of a set. It is denoted 8}
as { x / P(x)}.
3. Unit Set
 Let say, the roster method
It is a set with only one
notation {a, e, i, o, u}, when
element. It is also called the
written in set builder notation
singleton set.
method is E = { x/ x is the vowel
letters of English alphabet}. The
set builder notation method is Illustrative Example 7
also known as rule method. 
          The following are
examples of finite sets.
 Types of Set
 a.  G= {1, 2, 3, …}
1. Finite set
b.  L= {x / x is the capital city
This type of set has limited of Philippines}
or countable elements and the
last element can be identified 4. Equivalent sets
easily. 
Two sets are said to be
 Illustrative Example 6 equivalent sets if they have same
number of elements.
         The following are
examples of finite sets. Illustrative Example 7

a.    S = {1, 2, 3}         The given sets

illustrates an equivalent set
b.    T = { x / x is the General
Education Mathematics  A = {a, b, c, d}
Instructors}
B = {e, f, g, h} Here A and B are overlapping sets
because elements 3 and 4 are
 Here, A and B are equivalent common in both sets.
sets because both sets have 4
elements. 7. Disjoint Sets

5. Equal Sets Two sets are said to be disjoint

sets if they don't have common
Two sets are said to be equal element/s.
sets if they both have exactly
same elements.  Illustrative Example 9

 Illustrative Example 8 A = {1, 2, 3, 4}

The given sets illustrate B = {5, 6}

equal sets. Although the two sets
have the same number of elements  Here A and B are disjoint sets
as the equivalent set, the unique because these two sets don't have
characteristics in equal set is common element.
that all elements are the of the
same kind.   8. Empty or Null Set ( )

A = {1, 2, 3, 4} Any set that has no element is

considered as null set. Also, it
B = {2, 4, 3, 1} is always a subset of a given
set.
Here, A and B are equal sets
because both set have same  Subset and Cardinality of a Set
elements (order of elements
doesn't matter).  A set P is a subset of set Q if
every element of set P is also
Note that not all equivalent set the member of set Q.  Simply, if
are also equal set. Always set P is contained in set Q, P is
remember that in equals set, the called subset of superset Q. It
sets have the same cardinality is denoted by P ⊆ Q.
and the same type of elements
regardless of their sequence.  Illustrative Example 10
6. Overlapping Sets P = {1, 2, 3}

Two sets are said to be Q = {1, 2, 4, 3, 9}

overlapping sets if they have at
least one element common. Here, all three elements 1, 2,
and 3 of set P is also member of
 Illustrative Example 9 set Q. Hence, P is subset of Q.
Moreover, we can also say ∅ ⊆ Q.
A = {1, 2, 3, 4} Remember, empty set is always a
subset of a given set.
B = {3, 4, 5}
Some ideas about Subsets
The symbol ⊂ stands for ‘is a Here n(L) = 3
subset of’ or ‘is contained in’
M = {apple, orange, citrus,
• Every set is a subset of lemon}
itself, i.e., A ⊂ A, B ⊂ B.
Here n(M) = 4
• Empty set is a subset of every
set. We observe that, all the elements
of L are present in M but the
• Symbol ‘⊆’ is used to denote element ‘lemon’ of M is not
‘is a subset of’ or ‘is contained present in L.
in’.
So, we say that L is a proper
subset of M.
• A ⊆ B means A is a subset of B
or A is contained in B.
Symbolically, we write it as L ⊂
M
• B ⊆ A means B contains A.

 Super Set Notes:

Whenever a set A is a subset of No set is a proper subset of

set B, we say the B is a superset itself.
of A and we write, B ⊇ A.
Null set or ∅ is a proper subset
of every set.
Symbol ⊇ is used to denote ‘is a
super set of’ 
2.

Illustrative Example 11 G = {2, 3, 4}

L= {0, 2, 4, 6, 8 } L = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

A = {0, 1, 3, ............., 9} Here G is a proper subset of L as

all the elements of set G are in
Here L ⊆ A i.e., L is a subset of set L and also G ≠ L.
A but A ⊇ L i.e., A is a super
set of L Power Set:

Proper Subset: The collection of all subsets of

set A is called the power set of
If L and M are two sets, then L A. It is denoted by P(A). In
is called the proper subset of M P(A), every element is a set.
if L ⊆ M but M ⊇ L i.e., L ≠ M.
The symbol ‘⊂’  is used to denote  
proper subset. Symbolically, we
write L ⊂ M. Illustrative Example 13

Illustrative Example 12: If A = {p, q} then all the

subsets of A will be
1. L = {apple, orange, citrus}
P(A) = {∅, {p}, {q}, {p, q}}
Number of elements of P(A) = 3.    A = { 2, 3, 4,  a, b, c,
n[P(A)] = 4 = 22 d } 

In general, n[P(A)] = Solutions:

2m where m is the number of
elements in set A. 1.    S = { x / x is the powers
of two between 40 and 80}
Universal Set
To determine the cardinal number
A set which contains all the of S, let us identify first the
elements of other given sets is powers of two
called a universal set. The
symbol for denoting a universal This is the power of 2 between 40
set is ∪ or ξ. and 80. Therefore n(S) = 1
21 = 2                        
25 = 32
Illustrative Example 14
22 = 4                           
1. If L= {a, b, c}      E = {b, 26 = 64
c, d}      V = {c, e, g} then U =
23 = 8                           
{a, b, c, d, e, g}
27 = 128
[Here L ⊆ U, E ⊆ U, V ⊆ U and U
               24 = 16
⊇ L, U ⊇ E, U ⊇ V]
2.    P = { x / x is the letters
2. If W is a set of all whole of the word XAVIER}
numbers and T is a set of all
negative numbers then the We rewrite the given set in
universal set is a set of all roster method and that is P = {X,
integers. A, V, I, E, R}. Based from the
roster method we have 6 letters
3. If P = {a, b, c}      C= {d, of the word XAVIER. So n(P)  = 6
e}      A = {f, g, h, i} then U =
{a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i} can 3.    A = { 2, 3, 4,  a, b, c,
be taken as universal set.  d }

          The cardinal number of n(A) = 7

a set refers to the number of
elements that contains in a set.  Operations on Set
It is denoted by n(A).
              Set just like in
Illustrative Example 15 simple arithmetic has its own
sets of operations like union,
            Find the cardinality intersection, complement,
of the given sets. symmetric and symmetry
differences of sets. One of the
1.    S = { x / x is the powers best ways to illustrate the
of two between 40 and 80} operations of sets is through the
use of Venn diagram.
2.    P = { x / x is the letters
of the word XAVIER} 1. Union of Two Sets
Let A and B are two distinct is common to both sets A and B
sets. The union of A and B is the respectively.
smallest set which contains all
the elements of both the sets (A Illustrative Example 16
U B). The symbol for denoting
union of sets is ‘∪’  Given sets  A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}
and B = {2, 3, 4, 6, 8,}, find A
To find the union of two given ∩ B. 
sets A and B is a set which
consists of all the elements of A This is the only element that is
and all the elements of B such common to both set
that no element is repeated.                   Solution:
              A = {1, 3, 5, 7,
Illustrative Example 16 9}

 Given sets A = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}               B = {2, 3, 4, 6,

and B = {2, 3, 4, 6, 8,}, find A 8,}
U B.
              A ∩ B = {3}
                  Solution:
 Complement of a Set
              A = {1, 3, 5, 7,
9} This is also called as
the absolute complement. It is
              B = {2, 3, 4, 6, denoted as A’ read as the
8,} complement of A. Let A be a set
and the complement of set A or A’
              A U B = {1, 2, 3, is the set of all elements in the
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} universal discourse that is not
in A. In symbol, A’  = {x  U,
Note: Although the element “3” x  A}.
appears in both set, when we
write the elements of A U B, we Illustrative Example 17
take it as one element only.
Subsequent operation will discuss          Given U = {a, b, c, d,
about the common elements of two e, f g, h, i} and K = {a, c, d,
sets. e}, find K’?

2. Intersection of Sets    Solution

Let A and B are two distinct           Set K = {a, c, d, e}

sets. The intersection of A and B and U = {a, b, c, d, e, f g, h,
is the smallest set which i}, from the given Set K there
contains all the elements that is are 4 elements. To get the K’ we
common to both the sets (A  B). less the elements in K from the
The symbol for denoting union of elements in the universal set and
sets is ‘ ’ whatever remaining element will
comprise the set K’
To find the intersection of two
given sets A and B is a set which  Therefore, K’ = {b, f, g, h, i}
consists of all the elements that
 Difference of a Set the difference of set A and set
B.     
Let A and B are two distinct
sets. The difference of A and B           A  B = {4, 5, 7, 9}
is denoted as , is the set of all
elements x in U such that x is The Cartesian product a sets A
in A and x is not in B.  In and B, written as A x B, is A x B
symbol, .  It is also called = {(a, b)/ a .
the relative complement of B with
respect to A.    Illustrative Example 18

Illustrative Example 18 Given sets A = {2, 3, 5} and B =

{a, b}, find A x B.
Given sets A = {2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9}
and B = {2, 3, 4, 6, 8,}, find                    Solution
A  B.
In able to get A x B,  we
Solution pair all elements of A with the
elements of B. So the Cartesian
                   From the product of A and B is
given situation, we observe that
the elements of A which is also A x B = {(2,a), (3, a), (5, a),
in B are 2, 3, and 6. So, all (2, b), (3, b), (5, b)}
other elements of A will comprise
The answers in the above
the difference of set A and set
example of Cartesian product are
B.
set in ordered pairs. In ordered
           A  B = {5, 7, 9} pairs (a, b), a is called the
first component and b is called
5. Symmetric Difference of Sets the second component.  

Let A and B are two distinct  

sets. The symmetric difference of
set A and B is the set consisting
of all elements that belongs to A
or to B, but not both to A and B.
It is denoted as . In symbol, 

Illustrative Example 18

Given sets A = {2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9}

and B = {2, 3, 4, 6, 8,}, find
A  B.

          Solution

                   From the given

situation, we observe that the
elements of A which is also
in B are 2, 3, and 6. So, all
other elements of A will comprise