Set Theory

  • Sets - collections of elements

    • x ∈ A = x is in set A

    • x ∉ A = x is not in set A

    • Ac = the set of things not in set A; the complement of A

    • B ⊂ A = B is a subset of A; every element of set B is in set A

      • If B ⊂ A but A ≠ B, B is a proper subset of A

    • A ∪ B - The union of A and B; the event that either A or B occurs

    • A ∩ B - The intersection of A and B; the event that both A and B occur

    • A / B - The difference between sets; the set of elements that are in A, but not B

    • Ac - The complement of A; the event that A does not occur

    • θ = The empty set; the set with no elements

    • (A ∪ B)c = Ac Bc

    • (A ∩ B)c = Ac ∪ Bc

    • (A ∩ Ac) = θ

    • If B ⊂ A, then A ∪ B = A and A ∩ B = B

    • (A ∪ B) ∩ C = (A ∩ C) ∪ (B ∩ C)

    • (A ∩ B) ∪ C = (A ∩ C) ∪ (B ∩ C)

  • Cartesian Product: pairs of elements, with the first element in the first set, and the second element in the second set

    • A x B = {(a,b), such that a ∈ A and b ∈ B}

    • Order matters so A x B ≠ B x A