Solved Problems
SETSAND SUBSETS
1.1 Which of these sets are equal: {x, y, z}, {z, y, z, x}, {y, x, y, z}, {y, z, x, y}?
ANSWER:
They are all equal. Order and repetition do not change a set.
1.2 List the elements of each set where N = {1, 2, 3, …}.
(a) A = {x ∈ N| 3 < x < 9}
(b) B = {x ∈ N| x is even, x < 11}
(c) C = {x ∈ N| 4 + x = 3}
ANSWER:
(a) A consists of the positive integers between 3 and 9; hence A = {4, 5, 6, 7, 8}.
(b) B consists of the even positive integers less than 11; hence B = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}.
(c) No positive integer satisfies 4 + x = 3; hence C = ∅, the empty set.
1.3 Let A = {2, 3, 4, 5}.
(a) Show that A is not a subset of B = {x ∈ N| x is even}.
(b) Show that A is a proper subset of C = {1, 2, 3, . . ., 8, 9}.
ANSWER:
(a) It is necessary to show that at least one element in A does not belong to B. Now 3 ∈ A and,
since B consists
of even numbers, 3 / ∈ B; hence A is not a subset of B.
(b) Each element of A belongs to C so A ⊆ C. On the other hand, 1 ∈ C but 1 / ∈ A. Hence A _=
C. Therefore A
is a proper subset of C.
SET OPERATIONS
1.4 Let U = {1,2, …, 9} be the universal set, and let
A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, C= {5, 6, 7, 8, 9}, E= {2, 4, 6, 8},
B = {4, 5, 6, 7}, D= {1, 3, 5, 7, 9}, F = {1, 5, 9}.
Find: (a) A ∪ B and A ∩ B; (b) A ∪ C and A ∩ C; (c) D ∪ F and D ∩ F.
ANSWER:
Recall that the union X∪Y consists of those elements in either X or Y (or both), and that the
intersection X∩Y consists
of those elements in both X and Y .
(a) A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} and A ∩ B = {4, 5}
(b) A ∪ C = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} = U and A ∩ C = {5}
(c) D ∪ F = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9} = D and D ∩ F = (1, 5, 9) = F
Observe that F ⊆ D, so by Theorem 1.4 we must have D ∪ F = D and D ∩ F = F.
1.5 Consider the sets in the preceding Problem 1.4. Find:
(a) AC, BC, DC, EC; (b) A\B,B\A,D\E; (c)A ⊕ B, C ⊕ D, E ⊕ F.
ANSWER:
Recall that:
(1) The complements XC consists of those elements in U which do not belong to X.
(2) The difference X\Y consists of the elements in X which do not belong to Y .
(3) The symmetric difference X ⊕ Y consists of the elements in X or in Y but not in both.
Therefore:
(a) AC = {6, 7, 8, 9}; BC = {1, 2, 3, 8, 9}; DC = {2, 4, 6, 8} = E; EC = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9} = D.
(b) A\B = {1, 2, 3}; B\A = {6, 7}; D\E = {1, 3, 5, 7, 9} = D; F\D = ∅.
(c) A ⊕ B = {1, 2, 3, 6, 7}; C ⊕ D = {1, 3, 6, 8}; E ⊕ F = {2, 4, 6, 8, 1, 5, 9} = E ∪ F.
1.6 Show that we can have: (a) A ∩ B = A ∩ C without B = C; (b) A ∪ B = A ∪ C without B
= C.
ANSWER:
(a) Let A = {1, 2}, B = {2, 3}, C = {2, 4}. Then A ∩ B = {2} and A ∩ C = {2}; but B _= C.
(b) Let A = {1, 2}, B = {1, 3}, C = {2, 3}. Then A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3} and A ∪ C = {1, 2, 3} but B
_= C.
1.7 Prove: B\A = B ∩ AC. Thus, the set operation of difference can be written in terms of the
operations ofintersection and complement.
ANSWER:
B\A = {x | x ∈ B, x /∈ A} = {x | x ∈ B, x ∈ AC} = B ∩ AC.
