Set Notation

Set notation

• In maths a set is a collection of members or elements
• The elements in a set could be numbers, words or letters
• You can define a set in two different ways
  • Listing the elements
  • Using a rule

Set symbols to learn

• U means union. The union of two sets is the set of elements that belong to either set
• N means intersection. The intersection of two sets is the set of elements that belong to both sides
• e means the universal set. It represents all the elements you are allowed to consider in a question
• A means not A or the complement of A. It is everything in e but not in A

Working it out

• Start by labelling two circles to represent the two sets
• The write the x that are in both sets in the intersection of th two circles
• Carry on filling in the venn diagram, and remember to write any leftover members outside the circles