Operations on Sets

Union of Sets

The union of two sets A and B is the set that contains all the elements in A and B. The
union is denoted by A ∪B read as A union B. If x ∈ A ∪B then either x ∈ A or x ∈ B or x ∈ both
A and B.

Example:

a) A={ x /x is an even prime number } , B= { x / x is an odd prime number } then

A ∪B={x / x is a prime number }.
b) C={ ¿ ,¿ } , D={$ ,∧, } then C ∪ D ={∗, ¿ , $ ,∧, }.
c) E={ 1,2,3 } , F={2,3,4,5} then E ∪ F={1,2,3,4,5 }.

Associative law of union of sets: Let A , B and C be three sets, then

( A ∪ B ) ∪ C= A ∪(B ∪ C)

Intersection of Sets

The intersection of two sets A and B is the set that contains all the elements common to
both A and B. The intersection is denoted by A ∩ B read as A intersection B. If x ∈ A ∩B then
x ∈ A and x ∈ B .

Example:
a) A={ x /x scored more than5000 runs ∈Test matches } ,
B= { x / x claimed more than 400 wickets∈Test matches } then A ∩ B={ Kapil Dev }.
b) C={ 1,2,3,4,5 } , D={2,4,6,8 } then A ∩ B={2,4 }.
c) E={ a , b , c } , F={d , e , f , g } then A ∩ B=∅.

Associative law of intersection of sets: Let A , B and C be three sets, then

( A ∩ B ) ∩ C= A ∩(B∩ C)

Distributive law of union over intersection of sets: Let A , B ,C and D be three sets, then

A ∪ ( B ∩C )=( A ∪ B ) ∩( A ∪ C)

( A ∩ B ) ∪C=( A ∪ C ) ∩(B∪C )

Distributive law of intersection over union of sets: Let A , B ,C and D be three sets, then

A ∩ ( B∪C )=( A ∩ B ) ∪( A ∩C)

( A ∪ B ) ∩C=( A ∩C ) ∪ (B∩C )

De Morgan’s laws: For any two sets A and B

c c c
( A ∪ B) = A ∩ B
 ( A ∩ B)c =A c ∪ Bc

Difference of two sets

The difference of two sets A and B is the set that contains the elements of A which are not
contained in B. The difference of A and B is denoted by A−B={x / x ∈ A∧x ∉ B }.

Example:

a) A={ x /x is functioning bank ∈India } , B={x / x is company younger than125 years } then
A−B={Punjab National Bank }.
b) C={ 3,6,9,12,15 , } , D={4,8,12,16} then C−D={3,6,9,15 }.
c) E={ a , e , i , o ,u } , F={ x / x is a letter of english alphabet } then E−F=∅ .

Note: Ac =U − A .

Disjoint sets

Two sets A and B are said to be disjoint if they don’t share any element in common. If A
and B are disjoint it can be expressed by A ∩ B=∅.

Example:

a) A={ x /x is a mobile phone manufacturer ∈ India } ,

B= { x / x is a government of Indiaundertaki ng } then A ∩ B=∅.
b) C={−3 ,−2 ,−1,0 } , D={1,2,3 } then C ∩ D=∅ .
c) E={ p ,q ,r , s , t } , F={t ,u , v } then E ∩ F={t }≠ ∅ , hence E and F are not disjoint sets.

Rules on cardinality of sets: Let A , B and C be three sets, then

n ( ∅ )=0

n ( A ∪ B )=n ( A ) +n ( B )−n(A ∩B)

If A and B are two disjoint sets, A ∩ B=∅ ⇒n ( A ∩ B )=0

⇒ n ( A ∪ B )=n ( A ) + n ( B )

Also,
n ( A ∪ B ∪ C )=n ( A ) +n ( B ) +n ( C )−n ( A ∩B )−n ( A ∩C )−n ( B∩C ) +n( A ∩ B ∩C)
n ( A ) =n ( U )−n ( A )
c

Problems
1. If U ={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 } , A={ 2,4,5 } , B= { 4,6,7 } , C={7,8,9 }, find
a) Ac b) A ∩ B c) A ∪ C c
Solution: U is the universal set.
 a) Ac =U − A={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 }−{ 2,4,5 }={1,3,6,7,8,9 }
b) A ∩ B= {2,4,5 } ∩ { 4,6,7 }={4 }
c) C c =U−C={1,2,3,4,5,6 }
A ∪C c ={ 2,4,5 } ∪ {1,2,3,4,5,6 }={1,2,3,4,5,6 }
2. If U ={ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 } , A={ 3,4,5,6 } , B={ 4,6,7,8,0 } , C={0,1,2,5,9 }, find
a) Ac ∩C b) C ∩ ∅ c) Bc ∪ ∅
Solution: ∅ is the null set.
a) Ac =U − A={ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 }− {3,4,5,6 }={0,1,2,7,8,9 }
Ac ∩C={ 0,1,2,7,8,9 } ∩ { 0,1,2,5,9 }={0,1,2,9}
b) C ∩ ∅={ 0,1,2,5,9 } ∩∅=∅
c) Bc =U −B={ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 }− { 4,6,7,8,0 }={1,2,3,5,9}
Bc ∪ ∅={ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 } ∪ ∅={ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 }=Bc .
3. If A={ a , b , c ,d } , B={ e , f , c , d } ,C={e , f , g , h }, show that
a) A ∪ ( B ∩C )=( A ∪ B ) ∩( A ∪ C) b) A ∩ ( B∪C )=( A ∩ B ) ∪( A ∩C) .
Solution:
a) B∩ C={ e , f , c , d } ∩ { e , f , g , h }={e , f }
A ∪ ( B ∩C )= { a ,b , c , d } ∪ { e , f }={ a , b , c ,d , e , f } ⋯ ( i )
A ∪B= {a , b , c , d } ∪ {e , f , c ,d } ={a , b , c , d , e , f }
A ∪C={ a , b , c , d } ∪ { e , f , g , h }={a , b , c , d , e , f , g , h }
( A ∪B ) ∩ ( A ∪ C )={ a , b , c , d , e , f } ∩ { a , b , c , d , e , f , g , h } ={ a , b , c , d , e , f } ⋯ ( ii )
From ( i ) and ( ii ) it is clear that A ∪ ( B ∩C )=( A ∪ B ) ∩( A ∪ C).
b) B∪C= { e , f , c , d } ∪ { e , f , g , h }={e , f , c , d , g , h}
A ∩ ( B∪C )= { a ,b , c , d } ∩ { e , f , c , d , g , h }= { c , d } ⋯ ( iii )
A ∩ B= { a ,b ,c , d } ∩ { e , f , c , d }={c , d }
A ∩C={ a , b , c , d } ∩ { e , f , g , h }=∅
( A ∩ B ) ∪ ( A ∩C )= { c , d } ∪ ∅={ c , d } ⋯ ( iv )
From ( iii ) and ( iv ) it is clear that A ∩ ( B∪C )=( A ∩ B ) ∪( A ∩C) .
4. If U ={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 } , A={ 1,3,5 } , B= {2,4,6,8 }, verify that
a) ( A ∪ B)c = A c ∩ Bc b) ( A ∩ B)c =A c ∪ Bc
Solution:
a) A ∪B= {1,3,5 } ∪ { 2,4,6,8 }={1,2,3,4,5,6,8}
( A ∪ B)c =U−( A ∪ B )= {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 }− {1,2,3,4,5,6,8 }={ 7,9,10 } ⋯ ( i )
A =U − A={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 }−{ 1,3,5 }={2,4,6,7,8,9,10}
c

Bc =U −B={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 }− {2,4,6,8 }={1,3,5,7,9,10 }

Ac ∩B c ={ 2,4,6,7,8,9,10 } ∩ { 1,3,5,7,9,10 }={ 7,9,10 } ⋯ ( ii )
From ( i ) and ( ii ) it is clear that ( A ∪ B)c = A c ∩ Bc .
b) A ∩ B= {1,3,5 } ∩ {2,4,6,8 } =∅
( A ∩ B)c =U−∅={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 }−∅= {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 } ⋯ ( i )
Ac =U − A={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 }−{ 1,3,5 }={2,4,6,7,8,9,10}
Bc =U −B={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 }− {2,4,6,8 }={1,3,5,7,9,10 }
Ac ∪ B c ={ 2,4,6,7,8,9,10 } ∪ {1,3,5,7,9,10 } ={ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 } ⋯ (ii )
 From ( iii ) and ( iv ) it is clear that ( A ∩ B)c =A c ∪ Bc .
5. If A={ 1,2,3 } , B= { 2,3,4,5 } , C={2,4,6,8 }, prove that
a) A−( A−B )= A ∩ B b) A ∩ ( B−C )=( A ∩ B )−(B∩C ) .
Solution:
a) ( A−B )={ 1,2,3 }− {2,3,4,5 }={1 }
A−( A−B )= { 1,2,3 }−{ 1 }= {2,3 } ⋯ (i )
A ∩ B= {1,2,3 } ∩ {2,3,4,5 } ={ 2,3 } ⋯ ( ii )
From ( i ) and ( ii ) it is clear that A−( A−B )= A ∩ B .
b) B−C= {2,3,4,5 }−{ 2,4,6,8 }={3,5}
A ∩ ( B−C )= {1,2,3 } ∩ { 3,5 }= { 3 } ⋯ ( iii )
A ∩ B= {1,2,3 } ∩ {2,3,4,5 } ={2,3 }
B∩ C={ 2,3,4,5 } ∩ {2,4,6,8 }={2,4 }
( A ∩ B )−( B ∩C ) ={ 2,3 }− {2,4 }= {3 } ⋯ ( iv )
From ( iii ) and ( iv ) it is clear that A ∩ ( B−C )=( A ∩ B )−(B∩C ).
6. Given U ={ p , q ,r , s , t , u , v , w , x , y , z } , L={ p ,q ,u , v , y , z } , M ={ r , s ,t ,u , v } , N={s ,u , v , x , y }
, verify that
a) n( L ∪ M )=n ( L )+ n ( M ) −n( L ∩ M ) b) n( M ∩ N )c =n ( U )−n(M ∩ N )
Solution:
a) L ∪M ={ p ,q ,u , v , y , z } ∪ { r , s , t ,u , v } ={ p , q , r , s , t , u , v , y , z }
n ( L∪ M ) =9 ⋯ ( i )
L ∩ M ={ p , q , u , v , y , z } ∩ {r , s ,t , u , v }={u , v }
n ( L∩ M )=2
n ( L )=6
n ( M )=5
n ( L ) +n ( M )−n ( L∩ M ) =6+5−2=9 ⋯ (ii )
From ( i ) and ( ii ) it is clear that n(L ∪ M )=n ( L )+ n ( M ) −n( L ∩ M ) .
b) M ∩ N ={ r , s ,t ,u , v } ∩ { s , u , v , x , y }={s , u , v }
n ( M ∩ N )=3
(M ∩ N) =U −( M ∩ N )= { p , q , r , s , t ,u , v , w , x , y , z }−{ s ,u , v }={ p , q , r , t , w , x , y , z }
c

n( M ∩ N )c =8 ⋯ ( iii )
n ( U )=11
n ( U )−n ( M ∩ N )=11−3=8 ⋯ ( iv )
From ( iii ) and ( iv ) it is clear that n( M ∩ N )c =n ( U )−n(M ∩ N ).
7. If U ={−5 ,−4 ,−2,−1,0,1,2,3,4,5 } , A={−1,2,3 } , B={−2 ,−1,0,1,3 } ,verify that
a) ( A ∪ B)c = A c ∩ Bc b) ( A ∩ B)c =A c ∪ Bc
8. If Λ={ γ , ε , τ , π , ϑ , δ } , Ψ = { ε , μ , φ , δ ,σ ,ω } , Ω={α , β , γ ,δ , ε , σ }, establish that
a) Λ ∪ ( Ψ ∩Ω )= ( Λ ∪Ψ ) ∩( Λ ∪ Ω) b) Λ ∩ ( Ψ ∪Ω )= ( Λ ∩Ψ ) ∪( Λ ∩Ω) .
9. Given
U ={ 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,30 } , P={ 6,12,18,24,30 } , Q={ 4,8,12,16,20,24,28 } , R={8,16,24 }
, verify that
a) n( P ∪ Q)=n ( P ) +n ( Q )−n(P∩ Q) b) n( P ∩ R)c =n ( U ) −n(P ∩ R)
10. If U ={ 0,1,3,4,5,7,8,9,11 } , A= { 1,5,7,8 } , B= {3,4,8,11 } , C={0,1,7,8 }, find
 a) Ac ∩B c b) Ac ∪ B c c) A ∪( B ∪ C) d) A ∩(B ∪ C)' e) ( A ∩C)' −(B ∩C )'

11. In a group of 50 people 35 speak Malayalam, 25 speak both Hindi and Malayalam and all people
speak at least one language out of the two. How many people speak only Hindi and not Malayalam?
Solution: Let us assume U ={x / x is a member of the group }
H={x /x speaks Hindi }
M ={ x / x speaks Malayalam}
Then, H ∩ M ={x / x speaks both Malay alam∧Hindi } and
H ∪ M ={x / x speakseither Malayalam∨Hindi }
n ( U )=50 ,n ( M )=35 , n ( H ∩ M )=25 , n ( H ∪ M )=50
We know that
n ( H ∪ M ) =n ( H )+ n ( M )−n ( H ∩ M )
⇒ 50=n ( H ) +35−25=n ( H ) +10
⇒ n ( H ) =50−10=40
U

H 40 25 35 M

H ∩M

That is 40 people speak Hindi. But there are people who speak both languages.
∴ Number of people who speak Hindi only and not Malayalam ¿ n ( H )−n ( H ∩ M )
¿ 40−25=15.
12. 25 boys went to a restaurant. Some of them chose sweets, some chose spicy while some chose both.
If 14 chose sweet and 15 chose spicy how many chose both?
Solution: Let us assume U ={x / x is a boy who went ¿ therestaurant }
W ={x / x is a boy who chose sweet }
P={ x /x is a boy whochose spicy }
Then, W ∩ P={x /x chose both sweet∧spicy } and
W ∪ P={ x /x chose either sweet ∨spicy }
n ( U )=25 ,n ( W )=14 , n ( P )=15 , n ( H ∪ M )=25
We know that
n ( W ∪ P )=n ( W )+ n ( P ) −n ( W ∩P )
⇒ 25=14+15−n ( W ∩ P )=29−n ( W ∩ P )
⇒ n ( W ∩ P )=29−25=4
U

W 14 4 15 P

W ∩P

13. Out of 880 students in a college 224 played cricket, 240 played hockey and 336 played football. Of
the total, 64 played both football and hockey, 80 played cricket and football and 40 played cricket
and hockey. If 24 played all the three games
a) How many students played no game?
b) How many played only one game?
Solution: Let us assume U ={ x /x is a student of the college } , n ( U )=880
C={ x / x is a student who plays cricket } , n ( C ) =224
H= { x / x is a student who plays hockey } , n ( H )=240
F={ x / x is a student who plays football } , n ( F )=336
H ∩ F={x / x plays hockey∧football}, n ( H ∩ F )=64
C ∩ F={ x /x plays cricket ∧football}, n ( C ∩ F )=80
C ∩ H ={x / x plays cricket∧hockey }, n ( C ∩ H )=40
C ∩ H ∩ F={x / x plays cricket ∧hockey ∧football }, n ( C ∩ H ∩ F )=24
C ∪ H ∪ F={x / x plays cricket ∨hockey∨football }
n ( C ∪ H ∪ F ) =n ( C ) +n ( H ) +n ( F )−n ( H ∩ F )−n (C ∩ F ) −n ( C ∩ H ) +n ( C ∩ H ∩ F )
¿ 224+ 240+336−64−80−40+24=640
a) Students who played no game ¿ {x / x played neither cricket nor hockey nor football}
¿ Cc∩ Hc∩ Fc
c '
¿(C ∪ H ∪ F) ⋯ [De Morga n s law ]
Number of students who played no game ¿ n(C ∪ H ∪ F)c =n (U )−n(C ∪ H ∪ F)
¿ 880−640=240
b) Students who played only one game
¿ {x / x played either cricket only∨hockey only∨football only }
¿ {x / x playe d either ( cricket∧not hockey ∨football ) ∨¿
( hockey ∧not cricket ∨football )∨¿
¿ ( C ∩( H ∪ F )c ) ∪ ( H ∩(C ∪ F)c ) ∪ ( F ∩(H ∪ C )c )
n ( H ∪F )=n ( H )+ n ( F )−n ( H ∩ F )=240+336−64=512
n(H ∪ F)c =n ( U )−n ( H ∪ F )=880−512=368
n ( C ∩( H ∪ F) )=n (H ∪ F ) −n(C ∪ H ∪ F) =368−240=128 ⋯ ( i )
c c c

n ( C ∪ F )=n ( C )+ n ( F )−n ( C ∩ F )=224+336−80=480

c
n(C ∪ F ) =n ( U )−n ( C ∪ F )=880−480=400
n ( H ∩(C ∪ F) )=n (C ∪ F) −n (C ∪ H ∪ F ) =400−240=160 ⋯ ( ii )
c c c

n ( H ∪ C )=n ( H )+ n (C )−n ( H ∩C )=240+224−40=424

c
n( H ∪ C) =n (U )−n ( H ∪ C )=880−424=456
n ( F ∩( H ∪C)c )=n (H ∪ C )c −n(C ∪ H ∪ F)c =456−240=216 ⋯ ( iii )
Students who played only one game ¿ n ( C ∩( H ∪ F )c ) +n ( H ∩(C ∪ F )c ) + n ( F ∩( H ∪ C)c )
( i ) + ( ii ) + ( iii ) ⇒ Students who played only one game 128+160+216=504 .
U 880
CH
128 16 160

56 24 40 n

216

F
14. In a class of 70 students, 30 students have taken Mathematics as optional paper, 20 have taken
Mathematics but not Economics. Find the number of students who opted for both Mathematics and
Economics, also the number of those who preferred Economics but not Mathematics.
Solution: Let us assume U ={ x /x is a student of the class } , n ( U )=70
M = { x / x is a student who opts Mathematics } , n ( M )=30
E={ x /x is a student who opts Economics } ,
Number of students who opted Mathematics but not Economics, n ( M ∩ Ec )=20
Students who opted Mathematics and Economics ¿ ( M ∩ E )
We can have M =( M ∩ E ) ∪ ( M ∩ E c ) , where ( M ∩ E ) and ( M ∩ Ec ) are two disjoint sets.
∴ n ( M ) =n ( M ∩ E )+ n ( M ∩ E )
c

⇒ 30=n ( M ∩ E )+ 20
⇒ n ( M ∩ E )=30−20=10
That is, number of students who opted Mathematics and Economics ¿ 10
n ( E ) =n ( U )−n( Ec )
n ( E ) =20 ⋯ [since , not−Economics means only−Mathematics ]
c

⇒ n ( E )=70−20=50
Students who preferred Economics but not Mathematics ¿ E ∩ M c
We can have E=( M ∩ E ) ∪ ( E ∩ M c ), where ( M ∩ E ) and ( E ∩ M c ) are two disjoint sets.
∴ n ( E )=n ( M ∩ E ) +n ( E ∩ M )
c

⇒ 50=10+n ( E ∩ M c )
⇒ n ( E ∩ M c )=50−10=40
That is, number of students who opted Economics but not Mathematics ¿ 40 .

70
U
M 20 10 40 E

15. Of the total 200 students appeared in an examination, 140 passed in Communication and 100 passed
in Accountancy. If 40 of them failed in both, what is the percentage of students who passed
a) At least one of the subjects?
b) Both the subjects?
Solution: Let us assume U ={ x / x is a student who appeared∈the examination } , n (U )=200
C={ x / x is a student who passed Comunication } , n ( C ) =140
A={ x /x is a student who passed Accountancy } , n ( A )=100
Set of all students who failed both subjects
¿ { x / x did not pass Comunication∧did not pass Accou ntancy }
c c
¿C ∩ A
n ( C ∩ A ) =40
c c

a) Set of all students who passed at least one subject

 ¿ { x / x passed Communication∨ Accounatancy∨both }
¿C ∪ A
n ( C ∩ A ) =n ( C ∪ A )
c c c

c
⇒ n ( C ∪ A ) =40
⇒ n ( U ) −n ( C ∪ A )=40
⇒ 200−n ( C ∪ A )=40
⇒ n ( C ∪ A )=200−40=160
That is number of students who passed at least one subject ¿ 160
b) Set of students who passed both subjects ¿ C ∩ A
We have n ( C ∪ A ) =n ( C ) +n ( A )−n(C ∩ A)
⇒ 160=140+100−n(C ∩ A)
⇒ n ( C ∩ A )=240−160=80
Number of students who passed both subjects ¿ 80
80
Percentage of students who passed both subjects ¿ ∗100=40
200
That is 40% students passed both the subjects.

16. In a certain town with 5000 people 1200 do not subscribe to any newspaper, 2700 subscribe to The
Hindu and 1800 subscribe to Mathrubhumi. Find how many read both and how many only one
newspaper.
17. In a class of 120 students each student is required to take at least one of the two tests namely
Aviation or Logistics. If 65 have taken Aviation and 22 chose both how many opted for Logistics only?
18. A firm with 30 employees is facing financial constraints. 18 employees work in the front office and 10
employees work parallel in front as well as back office. Find the number of employees who work in
back office but not front office.
19. There are 300 workers in a factory out of which 180 can do job A, 130 can do job B and 90 can do job
C. If 50 workers can do both jobs A and B. 60 can do both B and C, 40 can do both A and C, 20 can do
all the three jobs, find the number of workers who can do
a) Only job A.
b) Only job C.
20. In a consignment containing 120 parcels for various outlets of a retailer 30 parcels contain
Aluminium paints, 40 constitute Enamel paints and 45 are packed with Synthetic paints. If 15 parcels
contain Aluminium paints and Enamel paints, 20 contain Aluminium paints and Synthetic paints, 12
contain Enamel paints and Synthetic paints, 8 contain all the three types of paints, find
a) How many parcels do not contain any of the paints?
b) How many contain only one paint?