Lesson 2
1. Lesson 2
1.6. Explore 2
Module 1: Logic and Set Theory
To practise your knowledge of set terminology, complete the following interactive activity.
Self-Check 1
Marc Villick is a salesman at the car dealership in his town. He only sells new vehicles from his company manufacturer.
In the month of August, he sold 20 vehicles. The vehicles sold were two compact cars, four mid-sized cars, three vans, eight SUVs, and three 4 × 4 crew-cab trucks.
Here are the colour selections the customers chose.
Vehicle Type | Colour |
2 compact cars | 1 red and 1 white |
4 mid-sized cars | 1 yellow, 2 white, and 1 tan |
3 vans | 1 white and 2 red |
8 SUVs | 4 tan, 2 white, and 2 blue |
3, 4 × 4 crew-cab trucks | 2 white and 1 black |
Go to Venn Vehicles and complete the drag-and-drop activity.
You may have noticed in your textbook and from previous courses that sets are often given a single letter name and described by listing the elements between the symbols { and }. This is the formal notation (i.e., symbols) that mathematicians use when describing sets. The following are examples of sets using this notation.
Adapted from base map © Map Resources
Word Description | Set Notation |
universities Analiese is considering for medicine programs |
M = {Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Calgary, Montreal} |
even numbers |
E = {2, 4, 6, 8, …} |
multiples of 6 less than 20 |
S = {6, 12, 18} |
provinces west of Ontario |
P = {British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba} |
western provinces with mountain ranges |
W = {British Columbia, Alberta} |
There are two more symbols used by mathematicians when describing sets.
- subset: ⊂
For example, W (western provinces with mountain ranges) is a subset of P (provinces west of Ontario). The symbolic way to write this is W ⊂ P.
- complement: A′
The letter A is the name of the set, and the prime symbol ′ indicates complement.
Try This 2
The following sets of numbers are described using standard set notation. Using words, describe what numbers are contained in each set. List the elements. Note: You can scroll your mouse over different highlighted areas of the set descriptions for questions 2 and 3 to read hints.
- A = {1, 2, 3, …, 20}
- B = {x | 1 ≤ x ≤ 20, x ∈ N}
- C = {c | c = 2x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 20, x ∈ W}
Save your responses in your course folder.
Share 2
What words or symbols used in Try This 1 are similar to those discussed in Try This 2?

This is shorthand for saying x takes on all values from 0 to 20, inclusive.
This is shorthand for saying x takes on all values from 1 to 20 inclusive.