4.3b Union of Sets
1. The union of set A and set B, denoted by A υ B is the set consisting of all elements in set A or set B or both the sets.
The Venn diagram of A υ B is illustrated as below:
2. The union of set A, set B and set C, denoted by A υ B υ C is the set consisting of all elements in set A, set B or set C or all the three sets.
The Venn diagram of A υ B υ C is illustrated as below:
Example 1:
The Venn diagram below shows the number of elements in the universal set, ξ, set P, set Q and R.
Given n(Q) = n(P υ R)’, find n(ξ).
Solution:
n(Q) = n (P υ R)’
2x + 6 + 1 + 5 = 2x + 2x
2x + 12 = 4x
2x = 12
x = 6
n(ξ) = 2x + 2x + x + 7 + 6 + 1 + 5
= 5x+ 19
= 5(6) + 19
= 30 + 19
= 49
Example 2:
Diagram below is a Venn diagram showing the universal set, ξ = {Form 3 students}, set A = {Students who play piano} and set B = {Students who play violin}.
Given n(ξ) = 60, n(A) = 25, n(B) = 12 and n(A ∩ B) = 8, find the number of students who do not play the two instruments.
Solution:
The students who do not play the two instruments are represented by the shaded region, (A υ B)’.
Number of students who do not play the two instruments
= n (A υ B)’
= 60 – 17 – 8 – 4
= 31