Set Theory : Set Theory

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Set Theory

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Axiomatic Set Theory

Let  denote all straight lines in the Cartesian plane. Does , or both belong to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is a set that contains all straight lines that live in the Cartesian plane, this is a vast set. To determine if  , or both belong to , identify if the elements of each set create a straight line, and if so, then that set will be a subset of . In other words, the set will belong to .

Identify the elements in  first.

This statement reads,  contains the  coordinate pairs that live on the line .

Since 

 is a straight line that lives in the Cartesian plane, that means  belongs to .

Now identify the elements in .

This means that the elements of  are 2, 4, 6, and 9. These are four, individual, values that belong to . They do not create a line in the Cartesian plan and thus  does not belong to .

Therefore, answering the question,  belongs to .

 

 

Example Question #2 : Axiomatic Set Theory

Let  denote all parabolas in the Cartesian plane. Does , or both belong to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is a set that contains all parabolas that live in the Cartesian plane, this is a vast set. To determine if  , or both belong to , identify if the elements of each set create a straight line, and if so, then that set will be a subset of . In other words, the set will belong to .

Identify the elements in  first.

This statement reads,  contains the  coordinate pairs that live on the parabola .

Since 

 is a parabola that lives in the Cartesian plane, that means  belongs to .

Now identify the elements in .

This means that the elements of  are those that live on the straight line . Thus  does not create a parabola in the Cartesian plan therefore  does not belong to .

Therefore, answering the question,  belongs to .

 

Example Question #1 : Axiomatic Set Theory

Determine if the following statement is true or false:

In accordance to primitive concepts and notations in set theory, many axioms lead to paradoxes.

Possible Answers:

True

False

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

First recall the primitive concepts and notations for set theory.

"class", "set", "belongs to"

Now, when deciding what constitutes a primitive concept, it is agreed upon in the math world that four main criteria must be met.

1. Undefined terms and axioms should be few.

2. Axioms should NOT be logically deducible from one another unless clearly expressed.

3. Axioms are able to be proved.

4. Axioms must NOT lead to paradoxes.

Thus, the statement in question is false by criteria four.

Example Question #2 : Axiomatic Set Theory

Determine if the following statement is true or false:

In accordance with primitive concepts and notations in set theory, many axioms are deducible from other axioms.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

First recall the primitive concepts and notations for set theory.

"class", "set", "belongs to"

Now, when deciding what constitutes a primitive concept, it is agreed upon in the math world that four main criteria must be met:

1. Undefined terms and axioms should be few.

2. Axioms should NOT be logically deducible from one another unless clearly expressed.

3. Axioms are able to be proved.

4. Axioms must NOT lead to paradoxes.

Thus, the statement in question is false by criteria two.

Example Question #2 : Set Theory

Which of the following describes the relationship between the inhabited sets  and  if  ?

Possible Answers:

 and  intersect.

  is a subset of .

 is a subset of .

 and  are disjoint.

 and  have equal cardinality.

Correct answer:

 and  are disjoint.

Explanation:

If the intersection of two sets is equal to the empty set (they do not intersect, i.e. they share no elements), then the two sets are said to be disjoint.

Example Question #1 : Axiomatic Set Theory

Which of the following represents , where , and  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, we first  find the union of  and ; this is the set of all elements in both sets, or   is simply the set of all even natural numbers. The intersection of these two sets is therefore the set of the even numbers present in , which is the set containing the numbers 2, 8, and 10.

Example Question #3 : Axiomatic Set Theory

Which of the following represents , where , and  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Because  and  share no elements, their intersection is , such that  The union of  and any set is the set itself. Therefore, .

Example Question #2 : Set Theory

For two sets,  and , which of the following correctly expresses  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The sum of the cardinalities of two sets is equal to the sum of the cardinalities of their intersection and union. For instance, if  and :

and,

Example Question #1 : Relations, Functions And Cartesian Product

Determine if the following statement is true or false:

If  and  then .

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

True

Explanation:

Assuming , and  are classes where  and .

Then by definition,

the product of  and  results in the ordered pair  where  is an element is the set  and  is an element in the set  or in mathematical terms,

and likewise

Now,

therefore,

.

Thus by definition, this statement is true.

 

Example Question #2 : Relations, Functions And Cartesian Product

Determine if the following statement is true or false:

If  be the set defined as,

 

then 

.

Possible Answers:

False

True

Correct answer:

False

Explanation:

Given  is the set defined as,

to state that , every element in  must contain .

Looking at the elements in  is is seen that the first two elements in fact do contain  however, the third element in the set,  does not contain  therefore .

Therefore, the answer is False.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors