Q.Let U = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }, A = { 1, 2, 3, 4}, B = { 2, 4, 6, 8 } and C = { 3, 4, 5, 6 }. Find
Concept understanding — Set Operations
The idea in plain words
Think of your two favourite groups of friends — the ones who play cricket and the ones who play football. Some friends are in both groups, some in only one, and some in neither. Set operations are simply the mathematical ways to answer questions like: "Who's in at least one team?" or "Who's only in the cricket team?".
The whole secret? Each operation is just a different way of combining or comparing two collections — like sorting your friends into different buckets.
Why this works
Sets are just labelled buckets that hold distinct items. The universal set U is the "whole world" of things we're talking about — say, all your friends. Then each operation picks out a specific bucket:
| Operation | What it asks | Bucket contains |
|---|---|---|
| Union (A∪B) | In either? | Everything from A or B (or both) |
| Intersection (A∩B) | In both? | Only the overlap |
| Difference (A∖B) | In A but not B? | Just the part of A that doesn't touch B |
| Complement (Ac) | Not in A? | Everything outside A (inside U) |
| Symmetric Difference (A△B) | In exactly one? | The two crescent-shaped parts, excluding the overlap |
Step by step
Let's take two concrete sets so you can see each operation in action:
A={1,2,3},B={3,4,5}
Step 1: Union — gather everything from both, but don't repeat anything.
A∪B={1,2,3,4,5}
Step 2: Intersection — only what's common to both.
A∩B={3}
Step 3: Difference (A minus B) — start with A, remove anything that's also in B.
A∖B={1,2}
Step 4: Complement — needs a universal set. Let U={1,2,3,4,5}. Then:
Ac={4,5}
Step 5: Symmetric Difference — combine the two differences:
A△B=(A∖B)∪(B∖A)={1,2}∪{4,5}={1,2,4,5}
A common slip
Students often confuse difference (A∖B) with complement (Ac). Remember: difference is relative to another set, complement is relative to the whole universe. If U={1,2,3,4,5} and B={3,4,5}, then A∖B depends on what A is, but Bc is always {1,2}.
Another trap: symmetric difference is not the same as union. Union includes the overlap; symmetric difference kicks it out.
Takeaway
Every set operation is just a precise way to answer "which elements go where?" — learn the picture first, then the notation writes itself.
Set Operations — covering union, intersection, difference, and complement — is a foundational topic in the CBSE Class 11 Mathematics chapter on Sets, and Venn-diagram-based formula questions on this exact idea are a recurring feature in NCERT exercises and school exams. Students searching for "set operations class 11 maths" or "union and intersection formula with examples" will find this same definition-formula-example structure useful for board exam preparation and quick revision.
The complement of a set X (written X′) is everything in the universal set U that is NOT in X.
Complements of single sets: A′=U−A={5,6,7,8,9}; B′=U−B={1,3,5,7,9}.
Complements of unions: A∪C={1,2,3,4,5,6}, so (A∪C)′={7,8,9}. A∪B={1,2,3,4,6,8}, so (A∪B)′={5,7,9}.
Double complement and set difference: (A′)′=A={1,2,3,4}. B−C={2,8}, so (B−C)′={1,3,4,5,6,7,9}.
(i) A′={5,6,7,8,9} (ii) B′={1,3,5,7,9} (iii) (A∪C)′={7,8,9} (iv) (A∪B)′={5,7,9} (v) (A′)′={1,2,3,4} (vi) (B−C)′={1,3,4,5,6,7,9}
The complement of a set is everything in the universal set that is not in the set. We find each complement by listing elements of U that are missing from the given set. The answers are: (i) {5,6,7,8,9},
(ii) {1,3,5,7,9},
(iii) {7,8,9},
(iv) {5,7,9},
(v) {1,2,3,4},
(vi) {1,3,4,5,6,7,9}.
Given U={1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}, A={1,2,3,4}, B={2,4,6,8}, C={3,4,5,6}.
A complement X′ contains every element of U that is NOT in X.
(i) A′: Elements of U missing from A: 5,6,7,8,9. So A′={5,6,7,8,9}.
(ii) B′: Elements of U missing from B: 1,3,5,7,9. So B′={1,3,5,7,9}.
(iii) (A∪C)′: A∪C={1,2,3,4,5,6}. Elements of U missing from this: 7,8,9. So (A∪C)′={7,8,9}.
(iv) (A∪B)′: A∪B={1,2,3,4,6,8}. Elements of U missing from this: 5,7,9. So (A∪B)′={5,7,9}.
(v) (A′)′: A′={5,6,7,8,9}; its complement is everything in U not in A′, which is 1,2,3,4 -- exactly A again. So (A′)′=A={1,2,3,4}.
For any set X, (X′)′=X: taking the complement twice returns the original set.
(vi) (B−C)′: First, B−C: from B={2,4,6,8}, remove elements also in C={3,4,5,6} -- that removes 4 and 6, leaving B−C={2,8}. Its complement is everything in U except 2 and 8: {1,3,4,5,6,7,9}.
Don't confuse B−C with C−B -- here C−B={3,5}, a different set entirely.
The complements are: (i) {5,6,7,8,9},
(ii) {1,3,5,7,9},
(iii) {7,8,9},
(iv) {5,7,9},
(v) {1,2,3,4},
(vi) {1,3,4,5,6,7,9}.
Set Membership: Complement of Sets
Method: Direct Set Listing Method — Find the complement by listing all elements of the universal set that are not in the given set.
Steps
- Identify the universal set U and the given set.
- List all elements of U.
- Remove all elements that belong to the given set.
- The remaining elements form the complement.
Solutions
(i) A′
U={1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}, A={1,2,3,4}
Remove {1,2,3,4} from U.
A′={5,6,7,8,9}
(ii) B′
B={2,4,6,8}
Remove {2,4,6,8} from U.
B′={1,3,5,7,9}
(iii) (A∪C)′
First find A∪C:
A={1,2,3,4}, C={3,4,5,6}
A∪C={1,2,3,4,5,6}
Now complement: remove {1,2,3,4,5,6} from U.
(A∪C)′={7,8,9}
(iv) (A∪B)′
First find A∪B:
A={1,2,3,4}, B={2,4,6,8}
A∪B={1,2,3,4,6,8}
Complement: remove these from U.
(A∪B)′={5,7,9}
(v) (A′)′
We already have A′={5,6,7,8,9}.
Complement of A′ means: remove {5,6,7,8,9} from U.
(A′)′={1,2,3,4}=A
Key insight: The complement of a complement returns the original set.
(vi) (B−C)′
First find B−C (elements in B but not in C):
B={2,4,6,8}, C={3,4,5,6}
B−C={2,8} (since 4 and 6 are in C)
Now complement: remove {2,8} from U.
(B−C)′={1,3,4,5,6,7,9}
Quick Reference
| Expression | Result |
|---|---|
| A′ | {5,6,7,8,9} |
| B′ | {1,3,5,7,9} |
| (A∪C)′ | {7,8,9} |
| (A∪B)′ | {5,7,9} |
| (A′)′ | {1,2,3,4} |
| (B−C)′ | {1,3,4,5,6,7,9} |
Common Mistakes in Set Membership & Complement Problems
The Question at a Glance
We have:
- U={1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}
- A={1,2,3,4}
- B={2,4,6,8}
- C={3,4,5,6}
We need complements (′ means complement with respect to U).
Mistake #1: Forgetting the Universal Set
The error: Students write A′ as "everything except A" without checking what U actually contains. They might include 10, 11, etc., or forget that U is limited to {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}.
How to avoid: Always draw or list U first. The complement is only those elements in U that are not in the given set.
✓ Correct: A′=U−A={5,6,7,8,9}
Mistake #2: Confusing Complement with "Opposite" or "Not in Set"
The error: For (A∪C)′, students might first find A∪C correctly, but then write the complement as if it's "everything not in A and not in C" — which is actually A′∩C′, not (A∪C)′.
How to avoid: Remember De Morgan's Law:
(A∪C)′=A′∩C′
But the safest method is:
- Find A∪C first
- Then take complement from U
✓ Correct path:
A∪C={1,2,3,4,5,6}
(A∪C)′=U−{1,2,3,4,5,6}={7,8,9}
Mistake #3: Errors in Set Difference (B−C)
The error: Students compute B−C as {2,4,6,8}−{3,4,5,6} and either:
- Remove too many elements (like removing 2)
- Keep elements that are in C (like keeping 4 or 6)
How to avoid: B−C means elements in B that are NOT in C. Cross out common elements from B only.
✓ Correct:
B={2,4,6,8}, C={3,4,5,6}
Common: {4,6}
B−C={2,8}
Then (B−C)′=U−{2,8}={1,3,4,5,6,7,9}
Mistake #4: Thinking (A′)′ is Something Complicated
The error: Students try to compute A′ first (correctly), then get confused taking complement again — sometimes writing an empty set or a wrong result.
How to avoid: Remember the double complement law:
(A′)′=A
It's a basic property — the complement of the complement brings you back to the original set.
✓ Correct: (A′)′=A={1,2,3,4}
Mistake #5: Misreading the Notation
The error: Confusing ′ (complement) with other symbols like:
- Prime notation in derivatives
- "Not" in logic (which works differently)
- Thinking A′ means "A dash" as a different set
How to avoid: In set theory, A′ always means complement with respect to the universal set unless stated otherwise. Read the problem statement carefully.
Quick Summary Table
| Expression | Common Mistake | Correct Answer |
|---|---|---|
| A′ | Include numbers outside U | {5,6,7,8,9} |
| (A∪C)′ | Confuse with A′∪C′ | {7,8,9} |
| (B−C)′ | Wrong difference first | {1,3,4,5,6,7,9} |
| (A′)′ | Overthink | {1,2,3,4} |
Final Tip
Always write U at the top of your page. For each part:
- Compute the inner set first (union, difference, etc.)
- Then subtract from U to get the complement
- Double-check that every element in your answer is actually in U
Showing the 12 most recent of 52 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The shaded region in the given Venn-diagram represents:(a) A ∪ B(b) A ∩ B(c) (A ∪ B)'(d) (A ∩ B)'
›Reveal solutionSolution
The shaded region is everything in the universal set except A and B combined, which is exactly (A∪B)′.
The rectangle is the universal set U, and the two overlapping circles are sets A and B. The description tells us the shading covers the rectangle except the two circles — i.e. every point that lies outside both A and B.
A point lies in (A∪B)′ exactly when it is not in A∪B, i.e. not in A and not in B (by De Morgan's law, (A∪B)′=A′∩B′). That is precisely the description of the shaded region.
✓Final answerThe shaded region represents (A∪B)′ — option (d).
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.If U = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9}, A = {2, 4, 6, 8} and B = {2, 3, 6, 7}, then (A ∪ B)' = ..............
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find A∪B first, then take its complement in U.
Given U={1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}, A={2,4,6,8}, B={2,3,6,7}.
First find A∪B (all elements in A or B or both):
A∪B={2,3,4,6,7,8}
The complement is everything in U not in A∪B:
(A∪B)′=U−(A∪B)={1,5,9}
✓Final answer(A∪B)′={1,5,9}.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.If X={1,3,5} and Y={1,2,3} then X∩Y=?(a) {1,2,3,4,5}(b) {1,2,3,5}(c) {1,3}(d) ϕ
›Reveal solutionSolution
X∩Y consists of elements present in both X and Y, which gives {1,3}.
Given X={1,3,5} and Y={1,2,3}. The intersection X∩Y contains only those elements that belong to BOTH sets.
Check each element of X: is 1∈Y? Yes. Is 3∈Y? Yes. Is 5∈Y? No.
So X∩Y={1,3}.
✓Final answerX∩Y={1,3}, which is option (c).
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write True/False: Sets {2,6,10} and {3,7,11} are disjoint sets.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Sets are disjoint when their intersection is empty; comparing the elements of {2,6,10} and {3,7,11} shows no overlap.
Set A={2,6,10} and set B={3,7,11}.
Comparing every element of A against B: 2∈/B, 6∈/B, 10∈/B. None of A's elements are in B, so A∩B=∅.
By definition, sets with empty intersection are disjoint sets.
✓Final answerTrue.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.A={1,2,3},B={2,3,7}⇒A∪B=(a) {1,2,3}(b) {1,3,7}(c) {1,2,3,7}(d) {1,2,7}
›Reveal solutionSolution
A∪B={1,2,3,7}: the union lists every element that is in A or in B (or both), each written once.
For sets A and B, the union is A∪B={x:x∈A or x∈B} — combine both sets and remove duplicate entries.
Here A={1,2,3}, B={2,3,7}. Writing all elements of A then adding any elements of B not already listed: 1,2,3 (from A), then 7 (from B, since 2 and 3 are already present).
So A∪B={1,2,3,7}.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (c) {1,2,3,7}.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.X={3,5,7},Y={2,3,5}⇒X∩Y=(a) {3,2}(b) {3,7}(c) {5,7}(d) {3,5}
›Reveal solutionSolution
X∩Y={3,5}: the intersection keeps only elements that belong to both sets.
For sets X and Y, X∩Y={x:x∈X and x∈Y}.
Here X={3,5,7} and Y={2,3,5}. Checking each element of X against Y: 3∈Y (yes), 5∈Y (yes), 7∈Y (no). So X∩Y={3,5}.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (d) {3,5}.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.X={1,2},Y={2,3,5},Z={4,6}⇒X∪Y∪Z=(a) {1,2,3,5,6}(b) {2,3,4,5,6}(c) {1,2,3,4,5,6}(d) {1,2}
›Reveal solutionSolution
X∪Y∪Z={1,2,3,4,5,6}: list every element appearing in at least one of the three sets, once each.
Given X={1,2}, Y={2,3,5}, Z={4,6}.
First take X∪Y={1,2,3,5} (2 is common, written once). Then union with Z: {1,2,3,5}∪{4,6}={1,2,3,4,5,6}, since Z shares no elements with the earlier union.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (c) {1,2,3,4,5,6}.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.X={1,2,3,6},Y={4,5,6},Z={4,2,3,6}⇒(X∪Y)∩Z=(a) {2,3,4,6}(b) {1,5}(c) {1,2,5}(d) {1,2,3,5}
›Reveal solutionSolution
(X∪Y)∩Z={2,3,4,6}, found by first taking the union, then intersecting with Z.
Given X={1,2,3,6}, Y={4,5,6}, Z={4,2,3,6}.
Step 1: X∪Y={1,2,3,4,5,6} (combine both, 6 counted once).
Step 2: (X∪Y)∩Z keeps only elements also in Z={2,3,4,6}. Checking each element of X∪Y against Z: 1∈/Z, 2∈Z, 3∈Z, 4∈Z, 5∈/Z, 6∈Z. So the result is {2,3,4,6}.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (a) {2,3,4,6}.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.X={a,b,c,d},Y={c,a,r},Z={r,o,b}⇒(X∩Y)∪Z=(a) {a,b,c,o,r}(b) {c,a,r,b}(c) {r,o,b,c}(d) ϕ
›Reveal solutionSolution
(X∩Y)∪Z={a,b,c,o,r}, found by first taking the intersection, then the union with Z.
Given X={a,b,c,d}, Y={c,a,r}, Z={r,o,b}.
Step 1: X∩Y keeps elements common to both: a∈Y, c∈Y, so X∩Y={a,c} (b and d are not in Y; r is not in X).
Step 2: (X∩Y)∪Z={a,c}∪{r,o,b}={a,b,c,o,r}.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (a) {a,b,c,o,r}.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.A={x:x−2=0},B={x:2x=6}⇒A∪B=(a) {2,6}(b) {−2,6}(c) {2,3}(d) {2,−3}
›Reveal solutionSolution
A∪B={2,3}.
A={x:x−2=0}={2}. B={x:2x=6}={3}.
A∪B={2}∪{3}={2,3}.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (c) {2,3}.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.A={x:x2+5x+6=0},B={x:x2+8x+15=0}⇒(a) A⊂B(b) B⊂A(c) A=B(d) A∩B={−3}
›Reveal solutionSolution
A={−2,−3}, B={−3,−5}, and their only common element is −3, so A∩B={−3}.
A={x:x2+5x+6=0}: factorising, (x+2)(x+3)=0⇒x=−2,−3, so A={−2,−3}.
B={x:x2+8x+15=0}: factorising, (x+3)(x+5)=0⇒x=−3,−5, so B={−3,−5}.
Neither A⊂B nor B⊂A nor A=B holds (each has an element the other lacks), but both contain −3, so A∩B={−3}.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (d) A∩B={−3}.
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Given U={1,2,…,15}, A={1,2,3,5,15}, B={2,4,6,8,10,12,14}, C={2,3,5,7,11,13}. A′=(a) {4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14}(b) {4,6,8,10,12,14}(c) {8,10,12,14}(d) ϕ
›Reveal solutionSolution
A′=U−A={4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14}.
Given U={1,2,…,15} and A={1,2,3,5,15}. The complement A′=U−A consists of every element of U not in A.
Removing 1,2,3,5,15 from U leaves {4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14}.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (a) {4,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14}.
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