Venn Diagrams

Solving Logic Problems Using

Venn Diagrams
Venn Diagram Logic Problems
Explained

Venn diagram logic problems

basically gives two or three
classifications with the addition
of many numbers. With the
given information provided, you
populate the diagram to
determine the remaining
information.
A Venn Diagram Logic Problem

Here is an example of a Venn Diagram

logic problem:

Out of forty students, there are 14

who are taking Physics and 29 who
are taking Calculus. How many
students are not in either class if five
of the students are in both classes?
How many students are in either
class? And, what is the probability
that a randomly chosen student from
Solving the Venn Diagram Logic
Problem

So, we have two classifications in this

universe (the enclosing rectangle
represents the “universe”) which are:
Physic students and Calculus students.

First, we draw our universe for the forty

students with two overlapping
Physics: 14 circles:
Calculus: 29
Solving the Venn Diagram Logic
Problem (cont.)

There are 5 students who are

taking both classes, so the 5 will
go in the overlap:

Physics: 14 Calculus: 29

5
Solving the Venn Diagram Logic
Problem (cont.)

Now, the 5 students of the 14

Physics students has been
accounted for. So, that leaves
nine students taking Physics but
NOT Calculus so the “9” will go
in the PhysicsPhysics:
circle. 14 Calculus: 29

9 5
Solving the Venn Diagram Logic
Problem (cont.)

Five of the 29 Calculus students

have been accounted for which
leaves 24 students taking
Calculus but NOT Physics. So,
the 24 goes in the Calculus
circle. Physics: 14 Calculus: 29

9 5 24
Solving the Venn Diagram Logic
Problem (cont.)

This tells us that a total of 9 + 5 + 24=

38 students who are in either Physics
or Calculus (or both). So, this leaves
two students who are unaccounted
for which means these two are taking
neither class.
Physics: 14 Calculus: 29
2

9 5 24
Venn Diagram Logic Problem Solved

From our populated Venn Diagram, we have the

answers to the questions (from slide 3).

There are two students who are taking neither

class.
In at least one of the classes, there are 38
students.
The probability
Physics:of
14a randomly
Calculus:chosen
29 student
in this group who is 2 taking Calculus but NOT
Physics is 24/40
9 =50.6 =2460%.