GNED 03 MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

LEARNING EPISODE

Mathematics Language and Symbols

Core Idea: Like any language, mathematics has its own symbols, syntax and rules.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Discuss the language, symbols and conventions of mathematics (K)

2. Explain the nature of mathematics as a language (K)

3. Perform operations on mathematical expressions correctly (S)

4. Acknowledge that mathematics is a useful language (V)

LESSON PROPER
CHAPTER 2- MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLS

SETS

A well-defined collection of distinct objects and is denoted by an uppercase

letter.

Example:

a. Set of freshmen college students taking GNED 03

b. Set of rainbow colors
c. Set of planets in the solar system

An object that belongs to a set is called an element or member sand it is

usually denoted by lower case letter. The symbol “∈” denotes a membership while
“∉” denotes non- membership to a set.
Example:
x ∈ A, read as x is an element of A.

Ways of Describing a Set

1. Roster or Tabular method - method in which the elements in the given set
are listed or enumerated, separated by a comma, inside a pair or braces.
2. Rule or Descriptive method - method in which the common characteristics
of the elements are defined. This method uses set builder notation where x is
used to represent any element of the given set.
Example.

a. The distinct letters in the words “mathematics”

Let A be the set of distinct letters of the word “mathematics”

Roster form: A = {m, a, t, h, e, m, a, t, i, c, s}

Rule form: A = { is the distinct letter of the word “mathematics”}

b. The colors of the rainbow

Let B be the set of the colors of the rainbow

Roster form: B = {red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet}

Rule form: B = { is the color of the rainbow}

c. An even prime number

Let C be the set of the even prime number

Roster form: C = {2}

Rule form: C = { is an even prime number }

1.2 TYPES OF SET

1. Empty/Null/Void Set – set that has no elements, denoted by Ø or by a pair of
braces with no element inside.
Example:
The set of numbers in the English Alphabet
Let D be the set of numbers in the English Alphabet

Roster form: D = { }
Rule form: D = { x|x is a number in the English alphabet }

2. Finite Set - a set with countable number of elements.

Example:
The set of letters in the English Alphabet
Let E be the set of letters in the English Alphabet

Roster form: E = { a,b,c,d,e,……..z}

Rule form: E = { x|x is a letter in the English alphabet}

3. Infinite Set – a set that has uncountable number of elements.

Example:
The set of counting numbers
Let F be the set of counting numbers.

Roster form: F = { 1,2,3,4,5………..}

Rule form: F = { x|x is a counting number}
 4. Universal Set - the totality of all the elements of the sets under consideration,
denoted by U.
Example:
The set of real numbers.

Rule form: U = { x|x is a real number}

1.3 RELATIONSHIPS OF SETS

1. Equal sets – sets with same elements

Example:
Let A = {x|x is the distinct letter of the word “dear”}
Let B = {x|x is the distinct letter of the word “read”}

A = { a, d, e, r }
B = { a, d, e, r }
Since both sets have the same elements a, d, e, r, therefore sets A and B are
equal sets, denoted by A = B.
2. Equivalent sets – sets with same number of elements
Example:
Let C = {x|x is a neither positive nor negative integer}
Let D = {x|x is an even prime number}

C={0}
D={2}
Since C = { 0 } and D = { 2 }, wherein both C and D have only one element;
then, C is equivalent to D, denoted by C ~ D or by C ↔ D

Note: Equal sets are equivalent sets, however, not all equivalents sets are equal
sets.
3. Joint sets – sets with at least one common element
Example:
Let E = {x|x is the set of positive factors of 4}
Let F = {x|x is the set of positive factors of 9}

E = { 1, 2, 4 }
F = { 1, 3, 9 }
Since element 1 can be found both in sets E and F, then these sets are said
to be joint sets.
4. Disjoint sets – sets that have no common element.
 Example:
Let G = {x|x is the set of even numbers}
Let H = {x|x is the set of odd numbers}

G = { 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 … }
H = { 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 … }
Since no even number is an odd number and vice versa, then sets G and H
are disjoint sets

SUBSETS
Set wherein every element of which can be found on the second set.
The symbol ⊂ means “ a subset of” while the symbol ⊄ means “not a subset
of”

If the first set equals the second set, then it is an improper subset. The
symbol ⊆ is used to mean improper subset.
A null set is always a subset of any given set is considered an improper
subset of the given set. Other than the set itself and the null set, are all considered
proper subsets.
The set containing all the subsets of the given set with n number of elements
is called the power sets with number of elements.
Example.
Let T = {x∣x is the first three letters in English alphabet}
= {a, b, c,}
Since set T has three elements, then the power set has = 8 subsets.
Let P be the power set, thus
P = {{a}, {b}, {c}, {a,b}, {a,c}, {b,c}, T, Ø }
Sets {a}, {b}, {c}, {a,b}, {a,c}, {b,c} are proper subsets of T
{a} ⊂ T
{b} ⊂ T
{c} ⊂ T
{a,b} ⊂ T
{a,c} ⊂ T
{b,c} ⊂ T
Set T itself and Ø are the improper subsets
T⊆T
Ø⊆T

1.4 OPERATIONS ON SETS

1. UNION OF SETS A and B (denoted by A U B) - set whose elements are
found in A or B or in both.

Example. Let A = {a, b, c, d}

B = {c, d, e}
Then A U B = {a, b, c, d, e}

2. INTERSECTION of sets A and B (denoted by A ∩ B) – set whose elements

are common to both sets.
Example. Let A = {a, b, c, d}
B = {c, d, e}
Then A ∩ B = {c, d}

3. DIFFERENCE of sets A and B (denoted by A - B) – set whose elements are

found in set A but not in set B.

Example. Let A = {a, b, c, d}

B = {c, d, e}
Then A - B = {a, b}

4. COMPLEMENT OF Set A (denoted by A’) – the set of elements found in the

universal set but not in set A.

Example. Let U = {a, b. c, d, e}

A = {a, b, c, d}
B = {c, d, e}
Then A’ = {e}

B’ = {a,b}
B
Let’s try this!

Given the following the set;

U = {1,2,4,5,6,8,9,11,12,13}
A = {1,5,9,11,13}
B = {2,4,6,8,12}
C = {1,4,5,9,12}
D = {2,6,8,11,12,13}

Find:
AUC =? A’ =?
B∩D =? C’ =?
A-C =? (AUB) ∩ (A – C) =?

AUC = {1,4,5,9,11,12,13}
A = {1,5,9,11,13}
C = {1,4,5,9,12}

B∩D = {2,6,8,12}
B = {2,4,6,8,12}
D = {2,6,8,11,12,13}

A-C = {11, 13}

A = {1,5,9,11,13}
C = {1,4,5,9,12}

A’ = {2,4,6,8,12}
U = {1,2,4,5,6,8,9,11,12,13}
A = {1,5,9,11,13}

C’ = {2,6,8,11,13}
U = {1,2,4,5,6,8,9,11,12,13}
C = {1,4,5,9,12}
Since this example is combination of
two or more operations,always start to
solve the operations inside the
parenthesis.

(AUB) ∩ (A – C) = {11,13}
A = {1,5,9,11,13}
B = {2,4,6,8,12}
AUB = {1,2,4,5,6,8,9,11,12,13}
A = {1,5,9,11,13}
C = {1,4,5,9,12}
A-C = {11, 13}
AUB = {1,2,4,5,6,8,9,11,12,13}
A-C = {11,13}
 ACTIVITY 5: SETS

Name: ______________________________ Score:____________________

Course, Year & Section: ________________ Date: _____________________

I. Identify the type of set ( finite, infinite, empty) as described by the following:

1. {factors of 12} ________________

2. * + ________________
3. * + ________________
4. * + ________________
5. * + ________________
6. * + ________________
7. * + ________________
8. * + ________________
9. * + ________________
10. * + ________________

II. Determine whether the pairs of sets are joint, disjoint, equal and equivalent.
LET : * +
* +
* +
* +

1. Sets A and B __________________________

2. Sets C and B __________________________

3. Sets C and D __________________________

4. Sets B and D __________________________

5. Sets A and C __________________________

 III. Given: * +
* +
* +
Find:
1.

2.

3. ( )

4.

5.