1. Lesson 2

Mathematics 30-2 Module 1

Module 1: Logic and Set Theory

 

Lesson 2: Introduction to Sets

 

Focus

 

Analiese is thinking about enrolling in either medicine or veterinary medicine after she graduates from high school.

 

This is a photo of a veterinarian and a woman examining a small dog.

Dean Golja/Digital Vision/Thinkstock


In order to help visualize Analiese’s choices, the following Venn diagram has been created for her choices.

 

This is a Venn diagram showing universities that offer only medicine, universities that offer only veterinary medicine, and universities that offer both programs.

 

From the Venn diagram, you might be asked to describe which statements best represent the information in the diagram.

  1. The universities that offer medicine are British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
  2. The universities that offer veterinary medicine are Guelph, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan.
  3. The universities that offer medicine and veterinary medicine are Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Montreal.
  4. The universities that offer medicine and veterinary medicine are Alberta, British Columbia, Guelph, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan.
  5. The universities that offer medicine or veterinary medicine are Alberta, British Columbia, Calgary, Montreal, Guelph, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan.

The correct response would be statements C and E best represent the information in the diagram. Based on this Venn diagram, you might then suggest that Analiese’s best option would be to choose either Calgary, Saskatchewan, or Montreal since all three universities offer both medicine and veterinary medicine.

 

Mathematicians would describe the preceding example in terms of sets: sets of universities that offer medicine, sets of universities that offer veterinary medicine, and sets of universities that offer both.

 

This lesson will introduce the basics of set theory. Sets of objects (such as universities) and sets of numbers will be discussed.

 

Lesson Outcomes

 

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to describe sets of

  • objects or numbers using Venn diagrams and set terminology
  • numbers using set notation
Lesson Questions

 

In this lesson you will investigate the following questions:

  • How can large sets of numbers be described using set notation?
  • When is it appropriate to use set notation to describe groups of numbers and their relationships?
  • How does an understanding of set terminology and the use of Venn diagrams help analyze data?
Assessment

 

Your assessment may be based on a combination of the following tasks:

  • course folder submissions from Try This and Share activities
  • additions to Glossary Terms
  • work under Project Connection