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Simple Theorems in The Algebra of Sets

This document outlines some elementary properties of sets including union, intersection, and complement. It provides three propositions that describe relationships between sets such as A intersect B equals B intersect A, and properties of subset relationships like A is a subset of B if and only if A intersect B equals A. The document also references sources for further reading on set theory and Boolean algebra.

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32 views

Simple Theorems in The Algebra of Sets

This document outlines some elementary properties of sets including union, intersection, and complement. It provides three propositions that describe relationships between sets such as A intersect B equals B intersect A, and properties of subset relationships like A is a subset of B if and only if A intersect B equals A. The document also references sources for further reading on set theory and Boolean algebra.

Uploaded by

daniel656
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple theorems in the algebra of sets

The simple theorems in the algebra of sets are some of the elementary properties of the algebra of union
(infix operator: ∪), intersection (infix operator: ∩), and set complement (postfix ') of sets.

These properties assume the existence of at least two sets: a given universal set, denoted U, and the empty
set, denoted {}. The algebra of sets describes the properties of all possible subsets of U, called the power
set of U and denoted P(U). P(U) is assumed closed under union, intersection, and set complement. The
algebra of sets is an interpretation or model of Boolean algebra, with union, intersection, set complement,
U, and {} interpreting Boolean sum, product, complement, 1, and 0, respectively.

The properties below are stated without proof, but can be derived from a small number of properties taken
as axioms. A "*" follows the algebra of sets interpretation of Huntington's (1904) classic postulate set for
Boolean algebra. These properties can be visualized with Venn diagrams. They also follow from the fact
that P(U) is a Boolean lattice. The properties followed by "L" interpret the lattice axioms.

Elementary discrete mathematics courses sometimes leave students with the impression that the subject
matter of set theory is no more than these properties. For more about elementary set theory, see set, set
theory, algebra of sets, and naive set theory. For an introduction to set theory at a higher level, see also
axiomatic set theory, cardinal number, ordinal number, Cantor–Bernstein–Schroeder theorem, Cantor's
diagonal argument, Cantor's first uncountability proof, Cantor's theorem, well-ordering theorem, axiom of
choice, and Zorn's lemma.

The properties below include a defined binary operation, relative complement, denoted by the infix
operator "\". The "relative complement of A in B," denoted B \A, is defined as (A ∪B′) ′ and as A′ ∩B.

PROPOSITION 1. For any U and any subset A of U:

{} ′ = U;
'U'′ = {};
A \ {} = A;
{} \ A = {};
A ∩ {} = {};
A ∪ {} = A; *
A ∩ U = A; *
A ∪ U = U;
A′ ∪ A = U; *
A′ ∩ A = {}; *
A \ A = {};
U \ A = A′;
A \ U = {};
A′ ′ = A;
A ∩ A = A;
A ∪ A = A.
PROPOSITION 2. For any sets A, B, and C:

A ∩ B = B ∩ A; * L


A ∪ B = B ∪ A; * L
A ∪ (A ∩ B) = A; L
A ∩ (A ∪ B) = A; L
(A ∪ B) \ A = B \ A;
A ∩ B = {} if and only if B \ A = B;
(A′ ∪ B) ′ ∪ (A′ ∪ B′) ′ = A;
(A ∩ B) ∩ C = A ∩ (B ∩ C); L
(A ∪ B) ∪ C = A ∪ (B ∪ C); L
C \ (A ∩ B) = (C \ A) ∪ (C \ B);
C \ (A ∪ B) = (C \ A) ∩ (C \ B);
C \ (B \ A) = (C \ B) ∪(C ∩ A);
(B \ A) ∩ C = (B ∩ C) \ A = B ∩ (C \ A);
(B \ A) ∪ C = (B ∪ C) \ (A \ C).

The distributive laws:

 A ∩ (B ∪ C) = (A ∩ B) ∪ (A ∩ C); *


 A ∪ (B ∩ C) = (A ∪ B) ∩ (A ∪ C). *

PROPOSITION 3. Some properties of ⊆:

A ⊆ B if and only if A ∩ B = A;


A ⊆ B if and only if A ∪ B = B;
A ⊆ B if and only if B′ ⊆ A′;
A ⊆ B if and only if A \ B = {};
A ∩ B ⊆ A ⊆ A ∪ B.

See also
List of set identities and relations – Equalities for combinations of sets

References
Edward Huntington (1904) "Sets of independent postulates for the algebra of logic,"
Transactions of the American Mathematical Society 5: 288-309.
Whitesitt, J. E. (1961) Boolean Algebra and Its Applications. Addison-Wesley. Dover reprint,
1999.

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