COMPLEMENT AND SET DIFFERENCE

1. COMPLEMENT OF A SET
Given set A and its universal set is U. Then the
complement of A is:

A = { x  x  U and x  A }

2. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO SETS

Given set A and B. Then the difference is:

A – B = { x  x  A and x  B }
B – A = { x  x  B and x  A }

EXAMPLES
The Venn diagram of A’ is
U A Shaded part of
A’

U Shaded part of
B B’

The Venn diagram of A – B is:

U A B
Shaded part of
A–B
 The Venn diagram of B – A is:
U
A B Shaded part of
B– A

EXAMPLE: COMPLEMENT
1.Given: U = { 1, 2, 3, …, 10 } and A = { 1, 2, 3 , 6 }then
A’ = { 4, 5, 7, 8, 9}

2.Given: U = { a, b, c, d, e ,f, g, h } and B = { b, e, d, a, h

} then B’ = { c, f, g}

3. Given: U= {1, 2, 3, …, 10} and A ={ 1,3, 5, 7,) & B= {

1, 2, 3, 4, 5} then A’ = { 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10} and B’ ={ 6, 7 ,
8, 9, 10} and
(A U B)’ = { 6, 8, 9, 10

EXAMPLE: DIFFERENCE
1.Given: A = { 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 } and B = { 3, 6, 9, 12,
15, 18 }
then A – B = { 2, 4, 8, 10, 14 } and
B – A = { 3, 9, 15, 18}