Combining Signed Numbers
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Transcript Combining Signed Numbers
SETS
Elements of a set
The individual members of the set are called the
elements of the set.
is an element of a set of dishes.
Elements of a set
The symbol means “is an element of”
(hint: looks like an e for element!)
2 1,2,3 means that 2 is an element of the set of
numbers {1, 2, 3}
Elements of a set
Remember Ghostbusters?
4 1,2,3
means 4 is not an element of the set {1, 2, 3}
A well-defined set
A set is “well-defined” if it has clear rules that make
it obvious if something is an element of the set or
not.
A well-defined set?
The set of the members of the 2007 Colts team is a
“well-defined” set.
George Bush – a Colt?
Even though he’s in the picture, you know George Bush is
not really a member of the team because the 2007
Colts team is a “well-defined” set.
NOT a well-defined set
The set of the 5 best Colts players in history is not a
well-defined set because different people may
have different opinions.
Cardinality of a set
The cardinality (or cardinal number) of a set is just
the number of elements in the set.
The cardinality of {2, 4, 6} is 3.
Cardinality of a set
The symbol for the cardinality (or cardinal number)
of a set is n( ).
If A = {2, 4, 6} then n(A) = 3.
Equivalent sets
Two sets are equivalent if they have the same
number of elements or the same cardinality n( ).
If A = {2, 4, 6} and B = {1, 3, 5}
n(A) = 3 and n(B) = 3.
A and B are equivalent sets.
Equal sets
Two sets are equal if they have exactly the same
elements.
Order doesn’t matter.
If A = {2, 4, 6} and B = {6, 4, 2}
A and B are equal sets.
Equal Sets are Equivalent
If A = {2, 4, 6} and B = {6, 4, 2}
A and B are equal sets.
n(A) = 3 and n(B) = 3
A and B are equivalent sets
Equivalent Sets may NOT be Equal
If A = {2, 4, 6} and B = {1, 3, 5}
n(A) = 3 and n(B) = 3
A and B are equivalent sets
but A and B are NOT equal sets.
Naming a set
Sets are traditionally named with capital letters.
Let N = {a, b, c, d, e}
Describing a set
Set are typically enclosed in braces { }
You can describe a set by using:
• words
• a roster
• set-builder notation
Describing a set
The easiest way to describe many sets is by using words.
B = {all blue-eyed blonds in this class}
There isn’t a really good mathematical equivalent for that!
The Roster Method
Just like in gym class when they read the roster,
this simply lists all of the object in the set.
Team A = {Andrews, Baxter, Jones, Smith, Wylie}
When to use a roster
A roster works fine if you only have a few elements
in the set.
However, many sets of numbers are infinite.
Listing each member would take the rest of your life!
When to use a roster
If an infinite set of numbers has a recognizable
pattern, you can still use a roster.
• First establish the pattern
• then use an ellipsis …
to indicate that the pattern goes on indefinitely.
{ 1, 2, 3, 4…}
The Natural Numbers
The set of natural numbers N is also called the set
of counting numbers.
N = { 1, 2, 3, …}
Finite Sets
We think of a finite set as having a “countable”
number of elements.
Mathematically, that means that the cardinality of
the set (number of elements) is a natural number
{1, 2, 3, …}
Geek Patrol: If A is a finite set, n(A)
N
Set-builder notation
For many infinite sets it is easier to just use a rule
to describe the elements of the set.
We use braces { } to let everyone know that we’re
talking about a set.
We use a vertical line | to mean “such that”
let’s see how it works…
Set-builder notation
{x|x>0}
The set of all x such that x is positive.
We couldn’t possible use a roster to describe this
set because it includes fractions and decimals as
well as the counting numbers.
We couldn’t set up the pattern to begin with!
The Empty Set
If a set has NO elements, we call it the empty set.
The symbol that we will use for the empty set is
The cardinal number for the empty set is 0.
OOPS!
Notice that the empty set is the one set that we do not
enclose in braces.
{}
is not empty!
It is a set with one element – the Greek letter Phi.
Vocabulary
Element
Well-defined
Cardinality
Equivalent vs. equal
Finite vs. infinite
Roster vs. set builder notation
Empty set