Set Theory Guide

Set Notation Reference

SymbolNameMeaningExample
โˆชUnionElements in A or B{1,2}โˆช{2,3}={1,2,3}
โˆฉIntersectionElements in both A and B{1,2}โˆฉ{2,3}={2}
โˆComplementElements not in AโˆแตคA
โˆ–DifferenceElements in A but not B{1,2,3}โˆ–{2}={1,3}
โІSubsetA is subset of B{1,2}โІ{1,2,3}
โŠ‚Proper SubsetAโІB and Aโ‰ B{1,2}โŠ‚{1,2,3}
โˆ…Empty SetSet with no elements{}=โˆ…
โˆˆElement ofx is in set A2โˆˆ{1,2,3}
โˆ‰Not element ofx is not in set A5โˆ‰{1,2,3}
|A|CardinalityNumber of elements|{a,b,c}|=3
ร—Cartesian ProductAll ordered pairs (a,b)Aร—B
๐’ซ(A)Power SetAll subsets of A๐’ซ({1,2})={{"{โˆ…,{1},{2},{1,2}}"}}

De Morgan's Laws

Law 1
(A โˆช B)แถœ = Aแถœ โˆฉ Bแถœ

Complement of union = intersection of complements

Law 2
(A โˆฉ B)แถœ = Aแถœ โˆช Bแถœ

Complement of intersection = union of complements

Inclusion-Exclusion Principle

|A โˆช B| = |A| + |B| - |A โˆฉ B|
|A โˆช B โˆช C| = |A| + |B| + |C| - |AโˆฉB| - |AโˆฉC| - |BโˆฉC| + |AโˆฉBโˆฉC|