FOUR BASIC CONCEPTS

OF MATHEMATIC S
1. Language of Sets
2. Language of Functions
3. Language of Relations
4. Language of Binary
Operations
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Define what a set and its basic terminologies.
2. Differentiate two ways in describing sets.
3. Perform basic operations on set.
4. Define what a relation and a function is.
5. Translate relation and function into a diagram.
6. Name and apply the different properties of a relation
and function.
7. Identify the domain and range in a relation and
function.
8. Evaluate a function.
9. Define and perform a binary operation.
Numbers
1. Nominal- Used to simply identify or
name something without indicating
q u a n t i t y o r o r d e r.
2. Cardinal- Used to represent a quantity
o r c o u n t , l i ke " t h r e e a p p l e s " o r " fi v e c a r s " .
3. Ordinal- Used to indicate position
w i t h i n a s e q u e n c e , l i ke " fi r s t p l a c e " o r
"second in line".
LANGUAGE OF SET
The objects are called the elements or members
of the set.
Note: A set is denoted with braces or curly
b r a c ke t s { } a n d l a b e l o r n a m e t h e s e t b y a
capital letter such as A, B, C,…etc.
a. A s e t o f c o u n t i n g n u m b e r s f r o m 1 t o 5 .
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }
b. A set of English alphabet from a to d.
B = { a, b, c, d }
c. A set of all even positive integers.
C = { 2, 4, 6, 8, … }
d. A set of an integers.
D = { …, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …}
LANGUAGE OF SET
Now, if S is a set, the notation x ϵ S means that
x is an element of S. The notation x ∉ S means
that x is not an element of S.
Example:
S = { 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 }

Note: Each element is a set should be separated

by comma.
Terminologies of Sets
1. U n i t S e t - a s e t t h a t c o n t a i n s o n l y o n e
element. Ex. A = { 1 }; B = { c }; C =
{ banana }

2. Empty set or Null set- Empty or null set is

a set that has no element. A = { } , A set of
seven yellow carabaos

3. Finite set- a set that the elements in a

given set is countable.
Illustration:
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 }
B = { a, b, c, d }
Terminologies of Sets
4 . I n fi n i t e s e t - a s e t t h a t e l e m e n t s i n a g i v e n
set has no end or not countable.
A set of counting numbers
A = { …-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, … }

5. Cardinal Number (n)- numbers that used to

measure the number of elements in a given set.
It is just similar in counting the total number of
element in a set.
Illustration:
A = { 2, 4, 6, 8 } n = 4
B = { a, c, e } n = 3
Terminologies of Sets
6 . E q u a l S e t s - Tw o s e t s , s a y A a n d B , a r e s a i d
to be equal if and only if they have equal
number of cardinality and the element/s are
identical. There is a 1 -1 correspondence.
Illustration:
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} B = { 3, 5, 2, 4,
1}

7 . E q u i v a l e n t s e t - Tw o s e t s , s a y A a n d B , a r e
said to be equivalent if and only if they have
the exact number of element. There is a 1 – 1
correspondence.
Illustration:
A = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } B = { a, b, c, d,
Terminologies of Sets
8. Universal set (U) - is the set of all
elements under discussion.
Illustration:
A set of an English alphabet
U = {a, b, c, d, …, z}

9 . J o i n t S e t s - Tw o s e t s , s a y A a n d B , a r e s a i d
to be joint sets if and only if they have common
element/s.
A = { 1, 2, 3} B = { 2, 4, 6 }
Here, sets A and B are joint set since they
have common element
such as 2.
Mathematical Symbols
R = real numbers, includes all rational and irrational numbers
-3, 0, 1.5, π, √2, 5/2, -7.8
Q = rational numbers, numbers that can be written as a fraction a/b​,
where a and b are integers, and b ≠0
1/2, -3, 4.75, 0.333... (1/3), 10
P = irrational numbers, Numbers that cannot be expressed as a
fraction; their decimal expansion goes on forever without repeating.
π (3.141592...), e (2.718...), √2, √3
Z = integers, Whole numbers including positive, negative numbers,
and zero.
N = Natural numbers, Counting numbers (starting from 0 or 1,
depending on the definition).
W = Whole Numbers, Whole numbers include all natural numbers
and zero. They do not include negative numbers or fractions.
Ways to Present a Set
SET BUILDER NOTATION/ ROSTER/TABULAR/LISTING
DESCRIPTION SET/ RULE SET METHOD
The set of months of the year {Jan, Feb, March, April, May … Dec}
The set of colors of the rainbow {R, O, Y, G, B, I, V }
The set of Natural Numbers less than { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 }
five {x ∣ x ∈ N, x < 5}"
The set of even natural number {8,10,12,14,16,…}
greater that 6 {x∣x ∈ N,x>6,x is even}
{x∣x ∈ W, 5 < x < 10}
{x∣x ∈ Z, 0 < x < 15}
{x∣x ∈ Z- , -15 ≤ x < -5}
FILL IN THE TABLE
SET BUILDER NOTATION/ ROSTER/TABULAR/LISTING
DESCRIPTION SET/ RULE SET METHOD
{A, E, I, O, U}
The set of prime numbers less than
10
{x|x ∈ Z, -4 ≤ x ≤ 3}
{x∣ x ∈ W, 3 < x <9}
{x∣ x ∈ Composite Numbers , 0 < x ≤
20}
A UNIVERSAL SET is a set that contains all
the elements under consideration. It is usually
represented by the letter U.
Example: U= {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, a, b, c, d, e}

A SUBSETS is a set that contains some or all

of the elements in the universal set. For
example, if A is a subset of B, then all the
elements in A are also in B.
SUBSETS

If every member of set A is also a member of

set B, then A is a subset of B, we write A ⊆ B.

If A is a subset of B (A ⊆ B), but A is not equal

to B, then we say A is a proper subset of B,
written as A ⊂ B or A ⊊ B.

If A is not a subset of B, we write A ⊈ B.

EXAMPLE:
1.
A = {1, 3, 5}, B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, C = {1, 2, 3,
4, 5}

2.
X = {1, 3, 5}, Y = {2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.
Note:
The empty set denoted by ∅ or {} is a subset
of any set.
∅⊆S

The empty set is a proper subset of all sets

except ∅. Since the empty set has no
elements, it is a proper subset of any non-
empty set but not of itself.
∅⊂S≠∅
Example:
List all the subsets and proper subsets of the
set Q = {x, y, z}

The subsets of Q are { }, {x}, {y}, {z}, {x,

y}, {x, z}, {y, z} and {x, y, z}
The proper subsets of Q are { }, {x}, {y},
{z}, {x, y}, {x, z}, {y, z}
Formula for Subsets and Proper Subsets
The number of subsets for a finite set
A is given by the formula:
If set A has n elements, it has 2 subsets.
n

If set A has n elements, it has 2n - 1 proper sets.

Example How many subsets and proper subsets will Q

have? Q = {x, y, z}
Q has 3 elements
Number of subsets = 2 = 8
3

Number of proper subsets = 7

OPERATIONS ON SETS
Sets can be combined in a number of different ways to produce
another set. Here are the basic operations on sets.

1. Union of Sets - The union of sets A and B, denoted by

A ∪ B , is the set defined as:
A ∪ B = { x | x ϵ A or x ϵ B }
Example:
If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {4, 5} , then A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {1, 2, 4, 5} , then A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} .

Note that elements are not repeated in a set.

OPERATIONS ON SETS

2. Intersection of Sets - The intersection of sets A

and B, denoted by A ∩ B , is the set defined as : A ∩
B = { x | x ϵ A and x ϵ B } Example:

If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {1, 2, 4, 5} then A ∩ B =

{1, 2}
If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {4, 5} then A ∩ B = ∅
OPERATIONS ON SETS
3. Difference of Sets
The difference of sets A from B , denoted by A - B ,
is the set
defined as A - B = { x | x ϵ A and x ∉ B }
Example1 :
If A={1,2,3,4,5} B ={3,4,6,7}
Then,
A-B = {1,2,5} (Elements in A but not in B)
B-A = {6,7} (Elements in B but not in A)
Example 2: If A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {4, 5} ,
then A - B = {1, 2, 3} ; B – A= {4,5}
OPERATIONS ON SETS
4. Complement of Set- For a set A, the difference
U - A , where U is the universal set, is called the
complement of A and it is denoted by A Thus A is
.
c c

the set of everything that is not in A.

Example: Let U = { a, e, i, o, u } and A = { a, e }

then Ac = { i, o u }
OPERATIONS ON SETS
5. Cartesian Product- Given sets A and B, the Cartesian
product of A and B, denoted by A x B
and read as “A cross B”, is the set of all ordered pair (a,b)
where a is in A and b is in B. Symbolically:
A x B = {(a, b) | a ϵ A and b ϵ B}
Note that A x B is not equal to B x A.
Illustration: If A = { 1, 2} and B = {a, b}, what is A x B?
A x B = {(1,a), (1, b), (2, a), (2, b)}.

Example: Let A = {1, 2, 3} and B = {a, b}.

Example: For the same A and B as in Example 1, what is B x
A?
VENN DIAGRAM IN SETS

Venn Diagram is an illustration of the relationships

between and among sets, groups of objects that
share something in common. Usually, Venn
diagrams are used to depict set intersections
(denoted by an upside-down letter U). This type of
diagram is used in scientific and engineering
presentations, in theoretical mathematics, in
computer applications, and in statistics.
VENN DIAGRAM IN SETS
LANGUAGE OF RELATION AND
FUNCTION
The language of relation and function refers to the
mathematical vocabulary and symbols used to describe
relationships between sets of elements. It is commonly
used in algebra, set theory, and discrete mathematics.
RELATION
A relation is a connection between elements
of two sets. Any set of ordered pairs (x , y) of
real numbers.
Domain is the set of values of x denoted by D.
Range is the set of values of y denoted by R.

Find the domain and range of the given set:

f(x)= {(0,-2), (0,1), (1,2), (2,1), (3,4)}
D-
R-
TYPES OF RELATION
1. One-to-one- each input (x) is related to exactly one
unique output (y), and no two inputs share the same
output.
R={(1,A),(2,B),(3,C)}

2. Many-to-one- multiple inputs (x) map to the same output

(y).
R= { (1,A), (2, A), (3,A)}

3. One-to-many- a single input (x) maps to multiple outputs

(y).
R= { (1,A), (1, B), (1,C)}
FUNCTION
A function is a relation such that each element of the
domain is paired with exactly one element of the range.

Ways to verify if a relation is function or not.

1. Table
2. Ordered pair
3. Mapping
4. Graph (vertical-line test)
FUNCTION OR RELATION?

1. R={(1,A),(2,B),(3,C)}

2. R= { (1,A), (2, A), (3,A)}

3. R= { (1,A), (1, B), (1,C)}

FUNCTION OR RELATION?
1. Equation
f(x)= 2x2-2x

2. Table
X
y

3. Ordered Pair

4. Mapping
FUNCTION OR RELATION?
1. f(x) = {(-2,2) , (2,23), (3,3), (4,20), (5,15)}
2. f(x) = {(-2,6) , (1,-4), (4,-6), (3,20),
(19,50)}
3. f(x) = { (0,-2) , (0,1), (1,2), (2,1), (3,4) }
4. f(x) = {(1, 3), (2, 4), (3, 5), (4, 6)}
5. f(x)= {(–2, 7), (–1, 3), (0, 1), (1, 5), (2, 5)}
FUNCTION OR RELATION?
BINARY OPERATION
A binary operation on a set is a calculation that
combines two elements of the set (called operands) to
produce another element of the set.

A rule of combining two values to obtain a new value.

Binary" means two – so you always need two inputs.

The result is always a single output after the
operation.
PROPERTY OF BINARY OPERATION

1. CLOSURE- If you apply a binary operation (like

addition or multiplication) to two elements from a set,
the result must also be in the set.

Example: In whole numbers (ℕ), 2 + 3 = 5, which is still

a whole number ✅ (closed under addition).
a*b=c
3 +2=5
3x2=5
PROPERTY OF BINARY OPERATION

2. ASSOCIATIVE- Changing the grouping of numbers

does not change the result.
(a * b) * c= a * (b * c)
(3 + 2) + 5 = 3 + (2 + 5)
(addition is associative).
PROPERTY OF BINARY OPERATION
3. COMMUTATIVE- Changing the order of numbers does
not change the result.
a*b=b*a
1+2=2+1
3 (2) = 2 (3) (addition is commutative).

But subtraction is NOT commutative:

5 - 2 ≠ 2 - 5 ❌.4.
PROPERTY OF BINARY OPERATION
4. DISTRIBUTIVE- One operation spreads over another
a (b + c)= ab + ac
a= 2
b= 3
c= 4
Example: 2 × (3 + 4) = (2 × 3) + (2 × 4)
2 × 7 =14 6 + 8 = 14
PROPERTY OF BINARY OPERATION
5. Existence of identity- There is a special number
(identity) that doesn’t change other numbers when
used in the operation.
a *e=a
5+0=5 5 x 1= 5
Identity for addition: 0
Identity for multiplication: 1
PROPERTY OF BINARY OPERATION
6. Inverse- Every element has an opposite (inverse)
that brings it back to the identity element.
a * a-1= e
In addition, the inverse of 5 is -5, because 5 + (-5) = 0.
In multiplication, the inverse of 2 is ½, because 2 × ½ =
1.

additive inverse= -a
multiplicative inverse= a-1 or 1/a