Mark Young Practice Problem Set 1

MATH 454 Pages 6-7, Exercises 1-4

1. Which of the following become true when is inserted in place of the

blank? Which become true when is inserted?
Solution. The following are true.
(a) {} {, {}} and {} {, {}}
(b) {} {, {{}}}
(c) {{}} {, {}}
(d) {{}} {, {{}}}
(e) {{}}
/ {, {, {}}} and {{}} 6 {, {, {}}}

2. Show that no two of the three sets , {}, {{}} are equal to each other.
Proof. First we prove =
6 {}, then =
6 {{}}, and finally {} =
6 {{}}
i. Suppose = {}. This implies that {} . But {} is a set with one
member, while is a set with no members. So {} is not possible.
Thus, =
6 {}.
ii. Suppose = {{}}. This implies that {{}} . But {{}} is a set with
one member, while is a set with no members. So {{}} is not possible.
Thus, =
6 {{}}.
iii. Suppose {} = {{}}. This implies that {{}} {}. We see that {{}} is
a set with the single element {}, but {}
/ {} since is the only member
in {}. It follows that {{}} 6 {}. Hence, {} =
6 {{}}.

3. Show that if B C, then PB PC.

Proof. Suppose B C. Then for all x B, x C. Let y PB be arbitrary.
Then y B. Then x1 y implies x1 B, which further implies x1 C. So
x1 y implies x1 C. Thus, y C. Hence, y PC.

4. Assume that x and y are members of a set B. Show that

{{x}, {x, y}} PPB.
Proof. Let x, y B be arbitrary. Then {x} B and {x, y} B. Therefore, by
definition of the powerset of B, {x} PB and {x, y} PB. It then follows
that {{x}, {x, y}} PB. Hence, by the definition of the powerset of PB, it
follows that {{x}, {x, y}} PPB.

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