Union and Intersection of Finite Sets
This page introduces the concepts of union and intersection for finite sets, which are fundamental operations in set theory. These operations are crucial for understanding relationships between sets and are widely used in various branches of mathematics and computer science.
Definition: The union of two sets H and M, written as H ∪ M, is the set of all elements that are members of either H or M (or both).
Definition: The intersection of two sets H and M, written as H ∩ M, is the set of all elements that are members of both H and M.
The page provides a concrete example using two sets:
H = {-2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6}
M = {-2, 3, 4, 7, 8}
Example: The union of H and M is H ∪ M = {-2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8}
Example: The intersection of H and M is H ∩ M = {-2, 3, 4}
Understanding these operations is crucial for students as they progress to more advanced topics in mathematics, such as probability theory, logic, and abstract algebra. These concepts also have practical applications in database management, algorithm design, and data analysis.