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CHAPTER 1
ALGEBRA AS THE STUDY
OF STRUCTURES

MATH 17
College Algebra and
Trigonometry

Chapter Outline
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Sets, Set Operations and Number Sets

The Real Number System
The Complex Number System
The Ring of Polynomials
The Field of Algebraic Expressions
Equations
Inequalities

Objectives
Chapter 1.1
Sets, Set Operations,
and Number Sets

Set and Set Notations

A set is a well-defined collection of
objects.

It should be possible to determine (in

some manner) whether an object
belongs to the given collection or not.

At the end of the section, we should be able

to:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Identify special number sets

Perform set operations on number sets
Draw Venn diagrams
Identify finite and infinite sets of
numbers and how to represent them

Example 1.1.1
Which of the following collection of objects
are sets?
The collection of all:
1. colleges in UPLB.
SET
2. counting numbers from 1 to 100
SET
3. provinces near Laguna.
NOT A SET

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Which of the following collection of objects

are sets?

Element

4.

If an object belongs to the set, it is called

an element of the set.

5.
6.
7.
8.

planets in the solar system.

SET
handsome instructors in UPLB.
NOT A SET
letters in the word algebra.
SET
of points in a line.
SET
of MATH 17-X students who can fly.
SET

Example 1.1.2

a A : a is an element of set A.

Otherwise, the object is not an element of

the set.

a A : a is not an element of set A.

Equal Sets

If A is the set of letters in the word "mathematics"

t A

Two sets A and B are equal if they have

exactly the same elements.

k A
Symbolically, we write A = B .
If E is the set of even numbers then

1 E

Otherwise, we write A B.

10 E

Example 1.1.3
If

A is the set of letters in the word

"mathematics"
B is the set of letters in the word
"mathetics"

Example 1.1.4
If the elements of A are 1,2,3,4, and 5
and the elements of B are 1,1,2,2,2,3,4, and 5
Is A = B ?
YES

A=B
If

C is the set of letters in the word

"math"

If the elements of C are 5,4,3,2, and 1

Is A = C ?
YES

A C since s A but s C

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Finite/Infinite Sets

Example 1.1.5
Determine if the following sets are finite or
infinite.

A set is finite if it is possible to write down

completely in a list all the elements of the set.

1.

Set of counting numbers from 1 to 5

FINITE

Otherwise, the set is said to be infinite.

2.

Set of all professors in UPLB.

FINITE

3.

Set of points in a circle.

INFINITE

Determine if the following sets are finite or

infinite.

Describing Sets
Roster Method

4.

Set of counting numbers between 1 and

1,000,000,000
FINITE

5.

Set of grains of sand in a beach

FINITE

6.

Set of counting numbers greater than 1

INFINITE

Describing Sets
Rule Method
indicate a set by enclosing in a pair of
braces a phrase describing the elements of
the set with the condition that those objects,
and only those, which have the described
property belong to the set

indicate a set by enumerating the

elements of the set and enclosing them
in a pair of braces.

Example 1.1.6

If F is the set of distinct letters of the

word "FILIPINO," write F using
a.

roster method
M = {F , I , L, P , N , O}

b.

the rule method

F = {distinct letters of the word Filipino}

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Example 1.1.7

Example 1.1.8

If C = {5,4,3,2,1} , write C using

If D = {bread,butter,coffee,rice} , write D using

the rule method.

the rule method.

C = {x such that x is a counting number from 1 to 5}

DIFFICULT/IMPRACTICAL

= { x x is a counting number from 1 to 5}

= {z z is a counting number less than 6}

Example 1.1.9

If D = { x x is a point in a plane} ,
It is IMPOSSIBLE to use roster method.

One-to-one
Correspondence
Two sets A and B are in one-to-one

Example 1.1.10
Is there a one-to-one correspondence
between the set of days in a week and
the set of counting numbers from 2 to 8? YES

correspondence if it is possible to pair

each element of A with exactly one

Th

Sa

Su

element of B and each element of B with

exactly one element of A.

Example 1.1.11

Example 1.1.12

Is there a one-to-one correspondence

between

Let A = { 1, 2, 3, 4 }
B = { 3, 6, 9, 12 }
C = { -4, -3, -2, -1, 1, 2, 3, 4 }

the set of days in a week and

the set of months in a year.
NO

Is there a one-to-one correspondence

between set A and set B? YES
Is there a one-to-one correspondence
between set A and set C? NO

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Example 1.1.13a

Example 1.1.13b

Is there a one-to-one correspondence between

Is there a one-to-one correspondence between

the set of even counting numbers and the set of

the set of counting numbers and the set of

odd counting numbers.

even counting numbers.

E O
21

N E
12

1,000,000 999,999

43
65

24
36

Equivalent Sets

1,000,000 2,000,000

Example 1.1.14

Two sets are equivalent ( or of the same size )

True or False

if they are in one-to-one correspondence.

1.

Equal sets are equivalent.

2.

Equivalent sets are equal.

3. If set A is equivalent to set B and set

B is equivalent to set C, then A is
equivalent to C.

Subsets

Subsets

Set A is said to be a subset of set B if every

If there is an element in A which is

element of A is also an element of B.

not in B , we say A is not a subset of B and

we write A B .

A B:

A is a subset of B.
B is a superset of A.

Example 1.1.15
If L = {a , b, c , d} and M = {a , b, c , d , e} ,

A B if and only if x A implies x B .

a. Is L M ?

YES

b. Is M L ?

NO

ML

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Subsets
1.

Is A A ?

2.

If A B and B C , is A C ?

3.

If A B and B A, what can be said

4.

about A and B ?
Give examples of sets A and B such that
A B but B A.

Subsets
Reflexive Property:
A A

Transitive Property:
If A B and B C , then A C .
Equal Sets
(Alternative Definition)

A = B if and only if A B and B A.

Proper Subsets
A B if and only if A B but B A.
Example 1.1.16

Example 1.1.17
Let T = { x x is a town in the Batangas} and
F = { x x is a town in the Batangas with only 4 residents} .

If L = {a , b , c , d} and M = {a , b , c , d , e} ,

F is an empty set so F = .

is L M ?

Also, F T .

LM
M L since e M but e L.

Hence, T .

Therefore, L M .

Empty Sets

Venn Diagram

1. A

2.

B
A

AB

BA

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Example 1.1.18

Example 1.1.18

Draw a Venn diagram satisfying

Draw a Venn diagram satisfying

A B and B A

A B , A C , and B C
B
B
A

or
A

Disjoint Sets

Disjoint Sets

Two sets are disjoint if they have no

element in common.

A
B

A and B are disjoint: If x A, then x B

If x B , then x A

Universal Set
- denoted by U

A and B are disjoint

A and B are not disjoint

Example 1.1.19

If

A = { x x is an even counting number}

B = { y y is an odd counting number}

- set of all elements under consideration.

C = {z z is a prime number}

- superset of all sets under consideration.

D = {w w is a composite number}

A possible universal set is

U = { x x is a counting number}

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Complement

Complement

The complement of A, denoted by A',

is the set of all elements of U
that are not in A.

A ' = { x x U , x A}
Example 1.1.20

If U = {2,4,6,8,10} and A = {2,6} ,

then

Complement

A ' = {4,8,10} .

Cardinality

U'=
' = U

The cardinality (or size) of a finite set

A is the unique counting number n such
that the elements of A are in one-to-one

( A ') ' = A
U

correspondence with the set {1,2,..., n} .

A'

( A ') '

Cardinality
n ( A ) : number of elements of set A
Example 1.1.21
If A is the set of all vowels in the alphabet,
then n ( A ) = 5.

If n (U ) = k and n ( A ) =m what is n ( A') ?

n ( A') = k m.

The cardinality of the empty set is 0.

Power Set
The power set of any set A, ( A ) , is the set
of all subsets of set A.
Example 1.1.22

Let A={a, b, c} .
( A ) =

{{a} ,{b} ,{c} ,{a, b} ,{a, c} ,{b, c} ,{a, b, c} , }

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Union

Example 1.1.22

What is n (( A ) ) ?

The union of two sets A and B is the set of

elements that belong to A or B .

A B : A union B
Remark: In general, the cardinality of the
power set of any set A, n (( A ) ) = ( 2)

n( A )

Example 1.1.23

If A = {1,3,5} and B = {2,4,6}

A B = {x x A or x B}
U
A

Intersection
The intersection of two sets A and B is the
set of elements that belong to A and B.

then A B = {1,2,3,4,5,6} .
If

E = { x x is an even counting number}

O = { y y is an odd counting number}

A B : A intersection B
A B = {x x A and x B}
U

then E O =

Example 1.1.24

Example 1.1.24

If A = {a , e , i , o , u} and B = {a , b, c , d , e}

If P is the set of all prime numbers and

C is the set of all composite numbers,

then A B = {a , e}

What is P C ?
If

P C =

E = { x x is an even counting number}

O = { y y is an odd counting number}

then E O =

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Alternative Definition

Example 1.1.25

If A = {2,4,6,8,10,12} and B = {3,6,9,12}

Two sets A and B are disjoint if and only

if A B = .

A B = {6,12} .

then

n( A) = 6

n(A U B)

n( B ) = 4

n( A B ) = 2

n( A B ) = 6 + 4 2 = 8

If A and B are disjoint, n ( A B ) = n ( A ) + n ( B )

A B = {2,3,4,6,8,9,10,12}

In general, n ( A B ) = n ( A ) + n ( B ) n ( A B )

Example 1.1.26

Example 1.1.26

Illustrate the following sets using Venn

diagrams.

2.
U

1.

A ' B '

( A B )'
A'

U
A

B'

A ' B '
AB

( A B )'

Example 1.1.26

Example 1.1.26

3.

A (B C )

U
A

( A B )'

A ' B '
C

( A B ) ' = A ' B '

B C
A (B C )

10

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Example 1.1.26

Example 1.1.26

4. ( A B ) ( A C )

U
A

AB

AC

A (B C )

A (B C ) = ( A B) ( A C )

Example 1.1.27

Cross Product

If U is the universal set and A B ,

find the following by visualizing the
Venn diagrams.
a. A B = B
b. A B = A
c. A A ' = U

( A B) ( A C )

d. A A ' =
e. A = A
f. A =

Example 1.1.28

Let A = {1,2} and B = {p, q} .

What is A B ?
A B = {(1, p ) , (1, q ) , ( 2, p ) , ( 2, q )}
B A = {( p,1 ) , ( p ,2) , ( q ,1 ) , ( q ,2)}

The cross product (or Cartesian product)

of two sets A and B is the set of all possible
ordered pairs ( x , y ) where x A and y B.

A B = {( x , y ) x A and y B}

Number Sets
N = set of natural (counting) numbers

={1,2,3,...}
W = set of whole numbers

={0,1,2,3,...}
Z = set of integers

A B B A

={..., 2, 1,0,1,2,...}

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Number Sets
N = set of negative counting numbers

Number Sets
P = set of prime numbers

E = set of even integers

O = set of odd integers

E + = set of positive even integers

C = set of composite numbers

kZ = set of multiples of k ,
k is positive

E = set of negative even integers

Number Sets

Example 1.1.29

If U = Z , find the following

2Z = {..., 6, 4, 2,0,2,4,6,...}
3Z = {..., 9, 6, 3,0,3,6,9,...}
4 Z = {..., 12, 8, 4,0,4,8,12,...}

1. N W

6. 5Z 4Z

2. N W
3. E O

7. W N '
8. N P '

( )

4. E + '

9. ( C P ) E

5. 3Z 2Z

10. Z '

End of Chapter 1.1

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