Section 2.3 Open Sentences and Sets
Beginning Activity Beginning Activity 1: Sets and Set Notation
The theory of sets is fundamental to mathematics in the sense that many areas of mathematics use set theory and its language and notation. This language and notation must be understood if we are to communicate effectively in mathematics. At this point, we will give a very brief introduction to some of the terminology used in set theory. A set is a well-defined collection of objects that can be thought of as a single entity itself. For example, we can think of the set of integers that are greater than 4. Even though we cannot write down all the integers that are in this set, it is still a perfectly well-defined set. This means that if we are given a specific integer, we can tell whether or not it is in the set of integers greater than 4. The most basic way of specifying the elements of a set is to list the elements of that set. This works well when the set contains only a small number of objects. The usual practice is to list these elements between braces. For example, if the set1.
Use the roster method to specify the elements of each of the following sets:
(a)
The set of real numbers that are solutions of the equation
(b)
The set of natural numbers that are less than or equal to 10.
(c)
The set of integers that are greater than
2.
Each of the following sets is defined using the roster method. For each set, determine four elements of the set other than the ones listed using the roster method.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Beginning Activity Beginning Activity 2: Variables
Not all mathematical sentences are statements. For example, an equation such as1.
Does the equation
(a)
if
(b)
if
Definition.
A variable is a symbol representing an unspecified object that can be chosen from a given set
2.
What real numbers will make the sentence “
3.
What natural numbers will make the sentence “
4.
What real numbers will make the sentence “
5.
What real numbers will make the sentence “
6.
What natural numbers will make the sentence “
7.
What real numbers will make the sentence
a true statement when substituted for
Subsection Some Set Notation
In Beginning Activity 1, we indicated that a set is a well-defined collection of objects that can be thought of as an entity itself.If
is a set and is one of the objects in the set we write and read this as “ is an element of ” or “ is a member of ” For example, if is the set of all integers greater than 4, then we could write andIf an object
is not an element in the set we write and read this as “ is not an element of ” For example, if is the set of all integers greater than 4, then we could write and
Definition.
Two sets,
The set
Progress Check 2.14. Set Notation.
(a)
Let
(b)
Use correct set notation (using
Subsection Variables and Open Sentences
As we have seen in the beginning activities, not all mathematical sentences are statements. This is often true if the sentence contains a variable. The following terminology is useful in working with sentences and statements.Definition.
An open sentence is a sentence
Notation.
One reason an open sentence is sometimes called a propositional function is the fact that we use function notationExample 2.15. Open Sentences.
If the universal set is
If we substitutewe obtain the false statement “ ”
If we substituteIn this example, we can letwe obtain the true statement “ ”
Using similar notation, we can let
is false since “ ” is false; and
is true since “ ” is true.
Progress Check 2.16.
(a)
Assume the universal set for all variables is
(i)
Find two values of
Two values of
(ii)
Find two values of
The set of all
(iii)
Use the roster method to specify the set of all
(b)
Assume the universal set for all variables is
(i)
Find two different examples for which
Two examples for which
(ii)
Find two different examples for which
Two examples for which
Definition.
The truth set of an open sentence with one variable is the collection of objects in the universal set that can be substituted for the variable to make the predicate a true statement.
If the universal set is
then the truth set of the equation is the setIf the universal set is
then the truth set of the equation “ ” isIf the universal set is
then the truth set of the open sentence “ ” is
Subsection Set Builder Notation
Sometimes it is not possible to list all the elements of a set. For example, if the universal set isExample 2.17. Truth Sets.
Assume the universal set is
However, if we solve the inequality
We could read this as the set of all real numbers that are greater than
Progress Check 2.18. Working with Truth Sets.
Let
(a)
If the universal set is
The truth set is the set of all real numbers whose square is less than or equal to 9. The truth set is
(b)
If the universal set is
The truth set is the set of all integers whose square is less than or equal to 9. The truth set is
(c)
Are the truth sets in Task 2.18.a and Task 2.18.b equal? Explain.
The truth sets in Parts (1) and (2) equal are not equal. One purpose of this progress check is to show that the truth set of a predicate depends on the predicate and on the universal set.
Example 2.19. Set Builder Notation.
Let
Since it is usually easier to work with positive numbers, we notice that
This suggests that we might try
Progress Check 2.20. Set Builder Notation.
Each of the following sets is defined using the roster method.
(a)
Determine four elements of each set other than the ones listed using the roster method.
(b)
Use set builder notation to describe each set.
Subsection The Empty Set
When a set contains no elements, we say that the set is the empty set. For example, the set of all rational numbers that are solutions of the equationSubsection When the Truth Set Is the Universal Set
The truth set of a predicate can be the universal set. For example, if the universal set is the set of real numbers is a predicate;For each real number
is a statement.
Exercises Exercises
1.
Use the roster method to specify the elements in each of the following sets and then write a sentence in English describing the set.
(a)
The set of all real number solutions of the equation
(b)
The set of all integer solutions of the equation
(c)
The set of all integers whose square is less than 25, which is
(d)
The set of all natural numbers whose square is less than 25, which is
(e)
The set of all rational numbers that are 2 units from 2.5 on the number line, which is
(f)
The set of all integers that are less than or equal to 2.5 units from 2 on the number line, which is
2.
Each of the following sets is defined using the roster method.
(a)
Determine four elements of each set other than the ones listed using the roster method.
(b)
Use set builder notation to describe each set.
Possible answers:
3.
Let
(a)
(b)
This set is equal to the given set.
(c)
This set is equal to the given set.
(d)
4.
Use the roster method to specify the truth set for each of the following open sentences. The universal set for each open sentence is the set of integers
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
5.
Use set builder notation to specify the following sets:
(a)
The set of all integers greater than or equal to 5.
(b)
The set of all even integers.
(c)
The set of all positive rational numbers.
(d)
The set of all real numbers greater than 1 and less than 7.
(e)
The set of all real numbers whose square is greater than 10.
6.
For each of the following sets, use English to describe the set and when appropriate, use the roster method to specify all of the elements of the set.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Activity 7. Closure Explorations.
In Section 1.1, we studied some of the closure properties of the standard number systems. (See Closure Properties of Number Systems.) We can extend this idea to other sets of numbers. So we say that:
A set
of numbers is closed under addition provided that whenever and are in the set is in the setA set
of numbers is closed under multiplication provided that whenever and are are in the set is in the setA set
of numbers is closed under subtraction provided that whenever and are are in the set is in the set
For each of the following sets, make a conjecture about whether or not it is closed under addition and whether or not it is closed under multiplication. In some cases, you may be able to find a counterexample that will prove the set is not closed under one of these operations.
(a)
The set of all odd natural numbers
(b)
The set of all even integers