Thread: Need some help with a set question:

If (A is a subset B) and (C is a subset of D), then (A intersection C) is a subset of (B intersection D).


I think I have a correct answer, but I'm uncertain (I feel like I'm leaving something out and that there should be something between the last two lines that explains further) so if you can answer/explain, that would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!



Here's what I have:

Let x be an element of A intersect C.
Since we know A is a subset of B, then we know that x is an element of A and therefore is an element of B too.
Also, since C is a subset of D and x is an element of C then x is also an element of D too.
This shows that A intersect C is a subset of B intersect D.

Hey Linseykathleen.

I don't know about how your professor/lecturer/whatever expects of proofs but if you need a really rigorous one try considering that if A is a subset of B then A intersection B = A for all A and B such that A is a subset of B.

This way if (A and C) is a subset of (B and D), then (A and C) and (B and D) = (A and C).

Originally Posted by chiro

Hey Linseykathleen.

I don't know about how your professor/lecturer/whatever expects of proofs but if you need a really rigorous one try considering that if A is a subset of B then A intersection B = A for all A and B such that A is a subset of B.

This way if (A and C) is a subset of (B and D), then (A and C) and (B and D) = (A and C).

i thought her argument was rigorous enough. From my experience to show . You assume and show . So, she assumed and showed