SAT Math : How to find the union of a Venn Diagram

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store varsity tutors ibooks store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Venn Diagrams

Forty students play soccer and/or basketball after school. Twenty-four students play soccer and twenty-nine play basketball. How many students play both soccer and basketball?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can draw a Venn diagram of these students.

Venn_1

Drawn this way, there are more students on the Venn diagram than we have.

This is because some of the students play both sports and should be in the overlap on the Venn diagram. To find the number of students in the overlap, subtract the total number of students given from the number on the diagram.

This represents the number of students who were counted twice, or the number in the overlap.

We can redraw the correct Venn diagram with this number.

Venn_2

Example Question #1 : Venn Diagrams

Venn_3

Giving the Venn diagram above, what is the sum of the numbers in the set ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The notation  stands for "A union C," which refers to everything that is in either set  or set .

When we add the numbers together, we get:

Example Question #11 : Venn Diagrams

In a class of senior high-school students,  have pet cats,  have pet dogs,  have both cats and dogs, and  have neither cats nor dogs. How many total students are in the class?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A Venn diagram can help us determine the total number of students in the class.

First, we must calculate the number of students who have ONLY cats or ONLY dogs. First, for cats, 15 students have cats, and 5 students have both cats and dogs.

Ten students have only cats.

For dogs, 12 students have dogs, and 5 students have both cats and dogs.

Seven students have only dogs. 

Using this information, we can fill in the Venn diagram.

Venn_4

This diagram shows the 10 students with only cats, the 7 students with only dogs, the 5 students with both, and the 8 students with neither.  Adding up the numbers will give us the total number of students.

Example Question #11 : Venn Diagrams

 

 

Let Set A =  and Set B = .

What is ?

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers. 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 represents the union of the two sets. The union of Sets A and B is the set of elements which appear in A, in B, or in both A and B. 

Therefore, 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors