A Universal is the set of all elements under consideration, denoted by capital U.
Venn diagram
Venn diagrams were introduced in 1880 by John Venn (1834-1923).
These diagrams consist of rectangles and closed curves usually circles.
The universal set is represented usually by a rectangle and its subsets by circles.
Venn diagrams normally comprise overlapping circles. The interior of the circle symbolically represents the elements of the set, while the exterior represents elements that are
not members of the set. For instance, in a two-set Venn diagram, one circle may represent the group of all wooden objects, while another circle may represent the set of all tables
Operation on Sets
Union of Sets
The union of two sets \(A\) and \(B\) is the set \(C\) which consists of
all those elements which are either
in \(A\) or in \(B\) (including those which are in both). In symbols, we write.
\(A \cup B = \left\{ {x:x \in A{\rm{\; or \;}}x \in B} \right\}\)
Venn Digram
Some Properties of the Operation of Union
Commutative law : \(X \cup Y = Y \cup X\)
Associative law : \(\left( {X \cup Y} \right) \cup Z = X \cup \left( {Y \cup Z} \right)\)
Law of identity element, \(\phi \) is the identity of \( \cup \) : \(X \cup \phi = X\)
Idempotent law : \(X \cup X = X\)
Law of U : \(U \cup X = U\)
Intersection of Sets
The Intersection of two sets \(A\) and \(B\) is the set \(C\) which consists of all those elements which are present in both \(A\) and \(B\) .
In symbols, we write.
\(A \cap B = \left\{ {x:x \in A{\rm{\; and\; }}x \in B} \right\}\)
Venn Digram
Some Properties of Operation of Intersection
Commutative law : \(X \cap Y = Y \cap X\)
Associative law : \(\left( {X \cap Y} \right) \cap Z = X \cap \left( {Y \cap Z} \right)\)
Law of \( \cap \) and \(U\) : \(\phi \cap X = \phi \) , \(U \cap X = X\)
The difference of two sets \(A\) and \(B\) is the set \(C\) which consists of all those elements which are
present in \(A\) but not in \(B\) . In symbols, we write,
\(A - B = \left\{ {x:x \in A{\rm{ \;and\; }}x \notin B} \right\}\)
Venn Digram
Some Properties of Operation of Difference
\(A - B \ne B - A\)
The sets \(\left( {A - B} \right)\) , \(\left( {A \cap B} \right)\) and \(\left( {B - A} \right)\) are mutually disjoint sets.
Compliment of set
Let \(U\) be the universal set and \(A\) a subset of \(U\). Then the complement of \(A\)
is the set of all elements of U\(U\) which are not the elements of \(A\).
Symbolically, we write \(A'\) to denote the complement of \(A\) with respect to \(U\).
Thus,
\(A' = \left\{ {x:x \in U{\rm{\; and\; }}x \notin A} \right\}\) ,obviously \(A' = U - A\)
Venn Digram
Some Properties of compliment of sets
Complement laws:
\(A \cup A' = U\)
\(A \cap A' = \phi \)
De Morgan's law:
\(\left( {A \cup B} \right)' = A' \cap B'\)
\(\left( {A \cap B} \right)' = A' \cup B'\)
Law of double complementation: \(\left( {A'} \right)' = A\)
Laws of empty set and universal set : \(\phi ' = U\) and \(U' = \phi \)
Solved Example
Question 1
Let A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}, B = { 2, 4, 6, 8 }. Find
a) A - B
b) B - A
c) A ∩ B
d) A ∪ B Solution
a) A - B ={1,3,5}
b) B -A ={8}
c) A ∩ B ={2,4,6}
d) A ∪ B={1,2,3,4,5,6,8}
