UNION AND INTERSECTION OF TWO SETS

Union of two sets :

The union of two sets contains all the elements contained in either set (or both sets).

The union is notated A ⋃ B.

Intersection of two sets :

The intersection of two sets contains only the elements that are in both sets.

The intersection is notated A ⋂ B.

Complement of a set :

The complement of a set is the set that includes all the elements of the universal set that are not present in the given set.

The complement of any set is represented as A', B', C' etc.

Problem 1 :

If A is the set of all factors of 36 and B is the set of all factors of 63, find : 

a)  A ∩ B   

b)  A U B

Solution :

Given, A is the set of all factors of 36

So, set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36}

B is the set of all factors of 63.

So, set B = {1, 3, 7, 9, 21, 63}

a)  

A ∩ B = {1, 3, 9}

b)

{1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 18, 21, 36, 63}

Problem 2 :

If X = {A, B, D, M, N, P, R, T, Z} and Y = {B, C, M, T, W, Z}, find :

a)  X ∩ Y

b)  X U Y

Solution :

Given, X = {A, B, D, M, N, P, R, T, Z} and Y = {B, C, M, T, W, Z}

a)  X ∩ Y = {B, M, T, Z}

b)  X U Y = {A, B, C, D, M, N, P, R, T, W, Z}

Problem 3 :

If U = {x │ x ≤ 30, x  Z+},

A = {factors of 30} and B = {prime numbers ≤ 30}

a)  Find :

(i)  n(A)

(ii)  n(B)

(iii)  n(A ∩ B)

(iv)  n(A U B)

b)  Use a to verify that n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A ∩ B)

Solution :

Given, A = {1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30}

B = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29}

a)

(i)  n(A) = 8

(ii)  n(B) = 10

(iii)  n(A ∩ B) = 3

(iv)  n(A U B) = 15

(b) n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A ∩ B)

15 = 8 + 10 - 3

15 = 18 - 3

15 = 15

Hence, it is verified.

Problem 4 :

(a)  Use the Venn diagram given to show that :

n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A ∩ B)

Note :

(a)  Means that there are a elements in this region,

so n(A) = a + b.

(b)  Suppose A and B are disjoint events.

Explain why n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B).

Solution :

a)  From Venn diagram,

n(A) = a + b

n(B) = b + c

n(A ∩ B) = b

n(A U B) = a + b + c ---- > (1)

n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A ∩ B)

n(A U B) = (a + b) + (b + c) - b

n(A U B) = a + b + c ---- > (2)

(1)  = (2)

Hence, it is verified.

(b)  A and B are disjoint sets.

n(A ∩ B) = Ø

n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A ∩ B)

n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B) - Ø

n(A U B) = n(A) + n(B)

Problem 5 :

Simplify :

a)  X ∩ Y for X = {1, 3, 5, 7} and Y = {2, 4, 6, 8}

b)  A U A’ for any set A Є U.

c)  A ∩ A’ for any set A Є U.

Solution :

a)  Given X = {1, 3, 5, 7} and Y = {2, 4, 6, 8}

X ∩ Y = Ø

b)  Let U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

A = {1, 2, 3}

A’ = {4, 5}

A U A’ = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

c)  Let U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

A = {1, 2, 3}

A’ = {4, 5}

A ∩ A’ = Ø

Recent Articles

  1. Finding Range of Values Inequality Problems

    May 21, 24 08:51 PM

    Finding Range of Values Inequality Problems

    Read More

  2. Solving Two Step Inequality Word Problems

    May 21, 24 08:51 AM

    Solving Two Step Inequality Word Problems

    Read More

  3. Exponential Function Context and Data Modeling

    May 20, 24 10:45 PM

    Exponential Function Context and Data Modeling

    Read More