Mathematics in the Modern

World
The Concepts of Sets
    
Learning Outcomes :
At the end of the lesson, the students are
expected to:
• Master the four basic concepts in math
• Describe the different types of sets
• Work on problem sets    
Presentation and Development of the Lesson
The success in learning Math depends on mastering the four
basic concepts. They are essential for building a strong
foundation in Math. They help students understand and make
sense of numbers and problem-solving; they strengthen his or
her number sense. These four basic concepts are:
1. Understanding Numbers
• The first concept you must master is knowing how to read,
write and understand numbers. 
2. More, Less or Equal
• The next important concept in Math is to know how two
numbers compare; whether one number is more, less or equal
to another number because numbers represent quantity.
3. Knowing Which Operation to Use
• In Basic Math there are actually only four
operations you need to know: addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division. 
4. Different Ways to Get to the Answer
• When it comes to Math, there can be different
ways of understanding a problem and different
strategies can be used to find the answer.
However, though the strategies may differ, the
answer to the question must always be the same.
•  
• A set is a collection of objects that have something in
common or follow a rule. The objects in the set are
called its elements. Set notation uses curly braces, with
elements separated by commas.
• Elements of Set
• The different objects that form a set are called the
elements of a set. The elements of the set are written in
any order and are not repeated. Elements are denoted
by small letters.
• Generally, the elements of a set are written inside a pair
of curly (idle) braces and are represented by commas.
The name of the set is always written in capital letter.
Example :
• 1. A = {v, w, x, y, z}
Here ‘A’ is the name of the set whose elements (members) are
v, w, x, y, z.
• 2. If a set A = {3, 6, 9, 10, 13, 18}. State whether the following
statements are ‘true’ or ‘false’:
a. 7 ∈ A (False, since the element 7 does not belongs to the
given set A.)
b. 10 ∉ A (False, since the element 10 belongs to the given set
A.)
c. 13 ∈ A (True, since the element 13 belongs to the given set
A.)
Notation of a Set:
• A set is usually denoted by capital letters and elements are
denoted by small letters
If x is an element of set A, then we say x ϵ A. [x belongs to A]
If x is not an element of set A, then we say x ∉ A. [x does not
belong to A]
• For example: The collection of vowels in the English alphabet.
Solution :
Let us denote the set by V, then the elements of the set are a,
e, i, o, u or we can say, V = [a, e, i, o, u].
We say a ∈ V, e ∈ V, i ∈ V, o ∈ V and u ∈ V.
Also, we can say b ∉ V, c ∉ v, d ∉ v, etc.
Numerical Sets
• When we define a set, all we have to specify is a
common characteristic.
• Examples: Set of even numbers: {..., −4, −2, 0, 2, 4, ...}
Set of odd numbers: {..., −3, −1, 1, 3, ...}
Set of prime numbers: {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, ...}
Positive multiples of 3 that are less than 10: {3, 6, 9}
• And so on. We can come up with all different types
of sets.
• We can also define a set by its properties, such
as {x|x>0} which means "the set of all x's, such that
x is greater than 0",
Empty Set and Null Set
• A set which does not contain any element is called an
empty set, while the null set or the void set and it is
denoted by ∅ and is read as phi. In roster form it is{∅}
while empty set is denoted by {}. An empty set and null
set is a finite set, since the number of element s in an
empty set 0 and in null set it is ∅ only.
• For example: (a) The set of whole numbers less than 0. 
(b) Clearly there is no whole number less than 0. 
Therefore, it is an empty set. 
Finite Set
• A set which contains a definite number of
elements is called a finite set. Empty set is also
called a finite set.
For example:  
• The set of all colors in the rainbow.
• The set of female faculty in the CAS
Infinite Set
• The set whose elements cannot be listed, i.e.,
set containing never-ending elements is called
an infinite set. 
For example: Set of all points in a plane 
Set of all prime numbers 
Cardinal Number of a Set
• The number of distinct elements in a given set A is
called the cardinal number of A. It is denoted by
n(A). 
• For example: A = {1, 2, 3, 4} 
Therefore, n(A) = 4 
B = set of letters in the word

ALGEBRA 
B = {A, L, G, E, B, R} 
Therefore, n(B) = 6 
Equivalent Sets
• Two sets A and B are said to be equivalent if
their cardinal number is same, i.e., n(A) = n(B).
The symbol for denoting an equivalent set is
‘↔’. 
For example: A = {1, 2, 3} Here n(A) = 3 
B = {p, q, r} Here n(B) = 3 
Therefore, A ↔ B 
Equal sets
• Two sets A and B are said to be equal if they
contain the same elements. Every element of
A is an element of B and every element of B is
an element of A. 
For example:A = {p, q, r, s} 
B = {p, s, r, q} 
Therefore, A = B 
Representation of Sets
In representation of a set the following three methods are commonly used:
• 1. Statement form method
• 2. Roster or tabular form method
• 3. Rule or set builder form method
====
• 1. Statement form:
• In this, well-defined description of the elements of the set is given and
the same are enclosed in curly brackets. 
For example:
• The set of odd numbers less than 7 is written as: {odd numbers less
than 7}. 
A set of football players with ages between 22 years to 30 years.
• 2. Roster form or tabular form:
In this, elements of the set are listed within the pair of brackets { } and
are separated by commas.
For example:
1. Let N denote the set of first five natural numbers.
Therefore, N = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}        → Roster Form
2. The set of all vowels of the English alphabet.
Therefore, V = {a, e, i, o, u}        → Roster Form
3. The set of all letters in the word MATHEMATICS. Therefore, Z = {M,
A, T, H, E, I, C, S}        → Roster Form
Note:
The order in which elements are listed is immaterial but elements must
not be repeated.
• 3. Set builder form
• In this, a rule, or the formula or the statement is written
within the pair of brackets so that the set is well defined. In
the set builder form, all the elements of the set, must
possess a single property to become the member of that set.
In this form of representation of a set, the element of the set
is described by using a symbol ‘x’ or any other variable
followed by a colon The symbol ‘:‘ or ‘|‘ is used to denote
such that and then we write the property possessed by the
elements of the set and enclose the whole description in
braces. In this, the colon stands for ‘such that’ and braces
stand for ‘set of all’.
For example: 
Let P is a set of counting numbers greater than 12;
the set P in set-builder form is written as :
P = {x : x is a counting number and greater than 12}
                                                 or
P = {x | x is a counting number and greater than 12}
• This will be read as, 'P is the set of elements x such that x is a
counting number and is greater than 12'.
Note:
• The symbol ':' or '|' placed between 2 x's stands for such that.
 
Generalization
• The concept of sets is used for the foundation of various
topics in mathematics.
• To learn sets we often talk about the collection of objects,
such as a set of vowels, set of negative numbers, a group
of friends, a list of fruits, a bunch of keys, etc.
• There are different ways in which sets can be represented:
statement form, roster form and set builder form.
• Types of sets are, empty or null, finite, infinite, equal,
equivalent and cardinal sets.
Question:
• Name at least 5 different sets of elements or
objects at home ?