Q.If U = { a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h }, find the complements of the following sets :
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.
Concept: Complement of a set
The complement of a set A with respect to a universal set U, denoted A′ or Ac, consists of all elements in U that are not in A.
Method: For each set, identify which elements from U={a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h} are missing.
(i) A={a,b,c} excludes d,e,f,g,h from U.
So A′={d,e,f,g,h}.
(ii) B={d,e,f,g} excludes a,b,c,h from U.
So B′={a,b,c,h}.
(iii) C={a,c,e,g} excludes b,d,f,h from U.
So C′={b,d,f,h}.
(iv) D={f,g,h,a} excludes b,c,d,e from U.
So D′={b,c,d,e}.
The complements are: A′={d,e,f,g,h}, B′={a,b,c,h}, C′={b,d,f,h}, and D′={b,c,d,e}.
The complement of a set contains all elements in the universal set that are not in the given set. We systematically identify which elements of U are missing from each subset.
The complement of a set A with respect to a universal set U, denoted A′ or Ac, is the collection of all elements that belong to U but do not belong to A. Think of it as "everything else" in your universe of discourse.
The operation is straightforward: scan through the universal set and pick out exactly those elements that are absent from the set in question. This is a fundamental set operation that appears throughout probability, logic, and discrete mathematics.
Given U={a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h}, we find each complement by elimination.
1. Finding A′ where A={a,b,c}
The elements a, b, and c are in A, so they cannot be in A′. What remains from U?
Looking at U: the elements d,e,f,g,h are not in A.
Therefore, A′={d,e,f,g,h}.
2. Finding B′ where B={d,e,f,g}
The elements d,e,f,g are in B. Removing these from U leaves us with a,b,c,h.
Therefore, B′={a,b,c,h}.
Notice that A and B′ are not quite the same (one has h, the other doesn't), but A∪B={a,b,c,d,e,f,g} accounts for all of U except h. This illustrates how complements partition the universal set.
3. Finding C′ where C={a,c,e,g}
The elements a,c,e,g are in C. These are the odd-positioned letters if we think alphabetically. What's left?
From U, removing a,c,e,g gives us b,d,f,h.
Therefore, C′={b,d,f,h}.
4. Finding D′ where D={f,g,h,a}
The elements f,g,h,a are in D. Removing these from U leaves b,c,d,e.
Therefore, D′={b,c,d,e}.
A common mistake is to forget that the complement is always taken with respect to the universal set. If U were different, all these complements would change. The universal set defines the boundary of our discussion.
Here's a summary table:
| Set | Elements | Complement | Elements in Complement |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | {a,b,c} | A′ | {d,e,f,g,h} |
| B | {d,e,f,g} | B′ | {a,b,c,h} |
| C | {a,c,e,g} | C′ | {b,d,f,h} |
| D | {f,g,h,a} | D′ | {b,c,d,e} |
The complements are: (i) A′={d,e,f,g,h},
(ii) B′={a,b,c,h},
(iii) C′={b,d,f,h},
(iv) D′={b,c,d,e}.
Concept First — The Idea of Complement of a Set
The complement of a set is one of the most intuitive ideas in set theory. It simply means:
Everything in the universal set that is not in the given set.
Think of it like this:
- You have a universal set U — the “whole universe” of elements we care about.
- If you pick a subset A, its complement A′ (or Ac) is everything left over after removing A from U.
Why does this matter?
- It helps us talk about “not in the set” in a precise way.
- In exams, you’ll often be asked to find complements quickly — it’s just subtraction of one set from another.
Key formula:
A′=U−A={x∈U∣x∈/A}
Step-by-Step Solution
We are given:
U={a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h}
We need the complement of each set below.
(i) A={a,b,c}
Reasoning:
The complement A′ contains every element of U that is not in A.
So we list all elements of U, then remove a,b,c.
Step:
U={a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h}
Remove {a,b,c} → left with {d,e,f,g,h}
Answer:
A′={d,e,f,g,h}
(ii) B={d,e,f,g}
Reasoning:
Again, complement = everything in U not in B.
Remove d,e,f,g from U.
Step:
U={a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h}
Remove {d,e,f,g} → left with {a,b,c,h}
Answer:
B′={a,b,c,h}
(iii) C={a,c,e,g}
Reasoning:
Remove the four elements a,c,e,g from U.
Step:
U={a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h}
Remove {a,c,e,g} → left with {b,d,f,h}
Answer:
C′={b,d,f,h}
(iv) D={f,g,h,a}
Reasoning:
Remove f,g,h,a from U.
Notice: order doesn’t matter — sets are unordered.
Step:
U={a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h}
Remove {a,f,g,h} → left with {b,c,d,e}
Answer:
D′={b,c,d,e}
Final Answer (Summary Table)
| Given Set | Complement |
|---|---|
| A={a,b,c} | {d,e,f,g,h} |
| B={d,e,f,g} | {a,b,c,h} |
| C={a,c,e,g} | {b,d,f,h} |
| D={f,g,h,a} | {b,c,d,e} |
Why It Works & Exam Tip
Why it works:
The complement is simply the difference between the universal set and the given set.
If you understand U as the “whole”, then complement is just “everything else”.
Exam tip — the common pitfall:
- Don’t forget the universal set! If U changes, the complement changes.
- Don’t list elements outside U — complements only contain elements from U.
- Order doesn’t matter — but always write elements in a clear, standard order (like alphabetical) to avoid missing any.
Quick check:
For any set X, X∪X′=U and X∩X′=∅.
Use this to verify your answer — if the union of the set and its complement doesn’t give U, you’ve made a mistake.
The Correct Answer
If A⊂B, then A∪B=B.
Why?
Because every element of A is already inside B. So when you take the union (all elements in A or in B), you don’t add anything new beyond what B already has. The union just gives back B.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Writing A∪B=A
- What students think: “Since A is inside B, the union is just the smaller set A.”
- Why it’s wrong: The union must include everything from both sets. B has extra elements that A doesn’t have — those must be included.
- How to avoid: Draw a Venn diagram. Shade A and B separately, then shade the union. You’ll see the larger set B is fully covered.
Mistake 2: Writing A∪B=A∩B
- What students think: “If one is inside the other, union and intersection are the same.”
- Why it’s wrong:
- A∪B = all elements in either set = B (the bigger one).
- A∩B = only elements in both sets = A (the smaller one). They are equal only if A=B.
- How to avoid: Memorise the difference:
- Union → bigger set (or equal).
- Intersection → smaller set (or equal).
Mistake 3: Forgetting the special case A=B
- What students think: “If A⊂B, then A is strictly smaller.”
- Why it’s wrong: In many textbooks, A⊂B allows A=B (some use ⊆ for that). If A=B, then A∪B=A=B — still correct, but students sometimes panic.
- How to avoid: Check your exam board’s notation. If they use ⊂ to mean “subset or equal”, then the answer B still holds. If they use ⊊ for strict subset, the answer is still B.
Mistake 4: Not using a quick example to verify
- What students do: Rely only on memory.
- How to avoid: Always test with a small example: Let A={1,2}, B={1,2,3,4}. Then A∪B={1,2,3,4}=B. This takes 5 seconds and eliminates doubt.
Quick Summary for Exams
| Situation | A∪B | A∩B |
|---|---|---|
| A⊂B | B | A |
| A=B | A (or B) | A (or B) |
Final tip: When you see “A⊂B”, immediately think:
“B is the bigger set — union gives B, intersection gives A.”
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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