The Number of Elements for Two Sets

For two sets, 𝐴 and 𝐵, we can prove that:

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) = 𝑛(𝐴) + 𝑛(𝐵) − 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) and 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) + 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵)

Example:
If 𝑈 = {𝑥: 𝑥 ≤ 15, 𝑥 ∈ ℕ}
=

𝐴 = {even numbers between 0 and 15}

=

and 𝐵 = {multiples of 3 less than 16}

=

then 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = , 𝐴∪𝐵 =

and (𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

Representing this information in a Venn diagram:

U

Then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐴) =

𝑛(𝐵) = 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

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 𝑛(𝐴) + 𝑛(𝐵) − 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) + 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵)

Example:
If 𝑈 = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17,19, 23, 29}, 𝐴 = {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17} and 𝐵 = {3, 7, 13},

then 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = ,𝐴∪𝐵 =

and (𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

Representing this information in a Venn diagram:

U Then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐴) =

𝑛(𝐵) = 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴) + 𝑛(𝐵) − 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) + 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵)

18
Example:
If 𝑈 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}, 𝐴 = {2, 4, 6} and 𝐵 = {1, 3, 5, 7}.

then 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 = ,𝐴∪𝐵 =

and (𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

Representing this information in a Venn diagram:

U Then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐴) =

𝑛(𝐵) = 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) =

𝑛(𝐴) + 𝑛(𝐵) − 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) + 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵)

Note: From the examples above, it can be seen that formulae:

𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) = 𝑛(𝐴) + 𝑛(𝐵) − 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) and 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵) + 𝑛(𝐴 ∪ 𝐵)

is true for (i) the intersection of two sets, (ii) subsets and (iii) disjoint sets.

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Example:
In a survey of 45 students, 25 liked anime and 37 liked cartoons. The sample surveyed liked
either anime or cartoons.
(a) Calculate the number of students who liked:
i. Both anime and cartoons
ii. Anime only
iii. Cartoons only
(b) Draw a suitable Venn diagram to represent the information given. Indicate clearly, the
number of students in each subset.

Solution
(a) i. Let 𝑈 = {students surveyed}
𝐶 = {students who liked cartoons}
And 𝐴 = {students who liked anime}
then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐶 ∪ 𝐴) = students, 𝑛(𝐶) = students and 𝑛(𝐴) = students

𝑛(𝐶 ∪ 𝐴) = 𝑛(𝐶) + 𝑛(𝐴) − 𝑛(𝐶 ∩ 𝐴)

So

Hence, students liked both anime and cartoons.

ii. 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐶′) = 𝑛(𝐴) − 𝑛(𝐶 ∩ 𝐴) iii. 𝑛(𝐶 ∩ 𝐴 ) = 𝑛(𝐶) − 𝑛(𝐶 ∩ 𝐴)

Hence, students like anime only. Hence, students like cartoons only.

(b)
U

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Example:
In a class of 35 students, 22 students like Mathematics, 25 liked English and 6 students do not
like either of the two. How many students like:
i. Mathematics and English?
ii. Mathematics only?
iii. English only?

Solution
Let 𝑈 = {students in the class}
𝑀 = {students who like Mathematics}
𝐸 = {students who like English}

Then 𝑛(𝑈) = , 𝑛(𝑀) = , 𝑛(𝐸) = and 𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝐸) = .

i. 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝐸) + 𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝐸)

𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝐸) =
∴ 𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝐸) = U
=

And 𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝐸) = 𝑛(𝑀) + 𝑛(𝐸) − 𝑛(𝑀 ∩ 𝐸)

So =
=
=

ii. 𝑛(𝑀 ∩ 𝐸 ) = 𝑛(𝑀) − 𝑛(𝑀 ∩ 𝐸) iii. 𝑛(𝐸 ∩ 𝑀 ) = 𝑛(𝐸) − 𝑛(𝑀 ∩ 𝐸)

= =
= =

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Exercise:
In a group of 25 students, 19 preferred basketball, 15 preferred volleyball and 3 preferred neither.
(a) How many students prefer both sports?

(b) How many students prefer basketball but not volleyball?

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Problem Solving Using Venn Diagrams (Two Sets)

Example 1
In a class of 30 students, 20 played cricket, 17 played football and 7 played both cricket and
football. Each student played either cricket or football. Determine the number of students who
played:
a) cricket only
b) football only

Solution
Let 𝐶 = {students who played cricket}
𝐹 = {students who played football}

Then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐶 ∪ 𝐹) = students

𝑛(𝐶) = students
𝑛(𝐹) = students
𝑛(𝐶 ∩ 𝐹) = students

Cricket only
U
𝑛(𝐶 ∩ 𝐹 ) =

Football only
𝑛(𝐹 ∩ 𝐶 ) =

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Example 2
Of 26 students, 13 play violin and 21 play the guitar. Each student plays the violin or guitar. If 8
students play both the violin and guitar, determine how many students play:
a) the violin only
b) the guitar only

Solution
Let 𝑉 = {students who play violin}
𝐺 = {students who play guitar }

Then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝑉 ∪ 𝐺) = students

𝑛(𝑉) = students
𝑛(𝐺) = students
𝑛(𝑉 ∩ 𝐺) = students

Violin only
U
𝑛(𝑉 ∩ 𝐺 ) =

Guitar only
𝑛(𝐺 ∩ 𝑉 ) =

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Example 3
Thirty students were asked if they liked Spanish or French. All the students liked either Spanish
or French. 20 said they liked Spanish and 25 liked French. How many students liked both
Spanish and French?

Solution
Since 20 + 25 = 45 and 45 > 30, we know that some students like both French and Spanish.
Let 𝑆 = {students who like Spanish}
𝐹 = {students who like French }

Since we are required to find students who like both Spanish and French, then we are required to
find 𝑛(𝑆 ∩ 𝐹).
Let 𝑛(𝑆 ∩ 𝐹) = 𝑥.

Check:
The number of students who like Spanish only =

The number of students who like French only =

Total number of students =

25
Example 4
In a class of 30 students, 21 like Mathematics, 12 like Physics and 6 like neither Mathematics of
Physics. Determine the number of students who like:
a) both Mathematics and Physics
b) Mathematics only
c) Physics only

Solution

Let 𝑀 = {students who like Mathematics }

𝑃 = {students who like Physics} U

Then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝑃) = students

𝑛(𝑀) = students
𝑛(𝑃) = students
𝑛(𝑀 ∪ 𝑃) = students

Let 𝑛(𝑀 ∩ 𝑃) = 𝑥

(a) (b) Mathematics only

𝑛(𝑀 ∩ 𝑃 ) =

Mathematics and Physics (c) Physics only

𝑛(𝑀 ∩ 𝑃) = 𝑛(𝑃 ∩ 𝑀 ) =

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Example 5
50 students were asked what they did last night. 16 said they read a book, 41 said they watched
television. If 7 said they did neither, how many did both?

Solution

Let 𝐵 = {students who watched television}

𝑇 = {students who read a book} U

Then 𝑛(𝑈) = 𝑛(𝐵 ∪ 𝑇) = students

𝑛(𝐵) = students
𝑛(𝑇) = students
𝑛(𝐵 ∪ 𝑇) = students

Let 𝑛(𝐵 ∩ 𝑇) = 𝑥

In general:
1. Identify the sets, including the universal set.
2. Draw and Venn diagram.
3. Enter the information on the Venn diagram, starting with the intersection region.
4. Form an equation using the fact that the total number of elements in the region equals the
number of elements in the universal set.

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Venn Diagrams of Three Sets

1.
U The shaded area in the Venn diagram
represents

A B

2.
U
The shaded area in the Venn diagram
represents
A B

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3.

U The shaded area in the Venn diagram

represents

A B

4.
U The shaded area in the Venn diagram
represents

A B

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5.
U The shaded area in the Venn
diagram represents

A B

Example 1:
Let 𝑈 = {𝑥: 𝑥 ≤ 12, 𝑥 ∈ ℕ}, 𝐴 = {1, 2, 3,4}, 𝐵 = {2, 3, 5, 7, 9} and 𝐶 = {3, 4, 5, 6}. Draw a Venn
diagram to represent this information.

A B

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