Math
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Sets

A set is a collection of well defined distinct objects or symbols.

Well defined objects mean that the objects possess a property that enables one to determine whether a given object is in the collection or not. For example, a set cannot consist of elements like moral values, concepts, evils or virtues.

Element of a set

Each object in the set is called an element or member of the set. Symbolically it is represented by the symbol, . For example, if an object x is an element of a set A then it is represented as x ∈ A and it is read as “x belongs to A”. Similarly, if x is not an element of A then it is represented as x ∉ A and is read as “x does not belong to A”.

Set and Element

Tabular Form of writing a set

A set X with 10 elements (counting numbers from 1 to 10) in tabular form can be written as:

X = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}

Descriptive Form of writing a set

The same set in the descriptive form can be written as:

X is a set of 1st ten natural numbers.

Empty Set

A set that contains no elements. It is also called null set.

It is denoted by φ (phi) or { }.

Union of two sets

If A and B are any two sets, the union of A and B is the set consisting of all elements in set A or in set B (or in both A and B). It is denoted by A ∪ B.

Union of two sets

Intersection of two sets

If A and B are any two sets, the intersection of A and B is the set consisting of all elements common to both A and B. It is denoted by A ∩ B.

Intersection of two sets

Example of Union and Intersection of two sets

A = {0, 1, 2}

B = {0, 3, 4}

A ∪ B = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}

A ∩ B = {0}

Note: The order of listing the elements of a set does not matter.

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