INTRODUCTION TO

SETS
Whole Numbers
Pre-requisite
Concept:
Objectives:
You are expected to
describe and illustrate
a well-defined set;
determine subsets of
a given set;
define/describe a
universal set, null set,
finite, infinite, equal,
equivalent sets;
find the cardinality of
sets
Key Words
SET
UNIVERSAL SET
SUBSET
NULL SET
FINITE AND
INFINITE SETS
EQUAL SETS
EQUIVALENT SETS
CARDINALITY OF
SETS
SETS
A set is a well-defined group of objects called
elements that share a common
characteristics.
For example: 3 and 5 form the set of prime
numbers greater than 2 but less than 7.
We use the symbol to show that something is a
member of a set you read it as is an element
of or is a member of
The symbol means the opposite you read it as
is not an element of or is not a member of

Sets are usually named by capital letters. The
elements of the set are enclosed in .
A = {3, 5}
The universal set denoted by the symbol , is the
set of all objects under consideration.

Example 1:
Given that set B ={a,b,2,3} determine whether each
of the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.

1. a B
2. 3 B
3. b B
4. 4 B
Guided Practice
Given set C = {m,3,4,n } determine whether
each of the following statement is TRUE or
FALSE.
1. n C
2. 3 C
3. 5 C
4. 4 C


Empty Set
An empty set or Null set has no elements. It is
denoted by { } or .


Subsets
A subset is a set whose elements are also
contained in another set. The symbol means
is a subset of.
A B A is a subset of B
All elements of A are in B
A B A is a proper subset of B
Not all elements of A are in B.
Note that:
Any set is a subset of itself.
The empty set is a subset of itself.


Example 2:
Let B = { x/ x is an even number} RULE
METHOD
B = { 0,2,4,6,8,} LISTING
METHOD/ROSTER
METHOD
D = {8,10,12,14 }
Is D a subset of B?
Example 3:
Let A = {0,2,4}
Determine the subsets of A.
Guided Practice
Let A ={1,3,5,d,e,f}
B= {2,3,e,g }
5. Explain whether B A.
6. List all subsets of B.
Let C = {x/x is a prime number greater than 5
but less than 17}
7. List set C and all its subsets.

Equality of Sets
Two sets are equal if they have all of the same
elements in them.
So if A = {1,2,a,b } and
B = {b,a,2,1 } then A and B are equal
Note that empty sets are equal because they are
exactly the same.
Two sets are equivalent if they have exactly
the same number of elements, even if their
elements are not the same.
Cardinality of Sets
Finite Set is a set that has a finite number of
elements. For example {2,4,6,8,10} is a finite
set with 5 elements. The number of elements
of a finite set is called the Cardinality of the
set.
A set that is not finite is called infinite. For
example {1,2,3,4, } the set of positive
integers.
Independent Practice
1. Determine set A whose elements are all
multiples of both 3 and 4 that are greater than
9 but less than 30.
2. Let U = {all letters of the alphabet}
Determine set C whose elements are the
vowels.
3. Write down G = {all prime numbers greater
than 5 but less than 7 }


For Exercises 4 and 5
Let C = { all odd numbers }
D = {1,3,5,7}
4. Explain whether D C.
5. List all the subsets of D.

For Exercises 6 and 7
Let E = {q,r,s,8,9}
F = {q,7,8,r }
6. Explain whether F E.
7. List all subsets of F.



8. Let A = {2,4,6,8}
B = {all even numbers greater than 0 but
less than 10}
Explain whether A = B.
9.What is the cardinality of A?
10. Give an example of a finite set and infinite
set.



Lesson Quiz
1-3
1. Write down A = {all prime numbers between
30 and 40 }
2. Find n(A)
3. List all subsets of A
4 -5
Given B = {m,n,p,6,7} , C = { p, 6} , D= {a,b,c,3,5}
4. Is C B ? Explain.
5. Is D equivalent to B? Explain.


Lesson Quiz
6. Given G = {all multiples of 3} . Is G finite or
infinite? Explain
7.Give an example of a well-defined set.