Set Theory problem

**Foink** · February 24th 2008, 02:35 PM

Hey, can anyone please help me with this problem:

For all sets A, B, C, prove
If $A-C = \emptyset$ then $(A \cup B) - (B \cap C) = (A-B) \cup (B-C)$

This is what I have done so far, but I seem to be stuck:

$(A \cup B) - (B \cap C)$ Thm $A-B=A \cap B'$
$(A \cup B) \cap (B \cap C)'$ DeMorgans
$(A \cup B) \cap (B' \cup C')$

I can't figure it out from there. I'm guessing it might have something to do with distribution but i'm not sure. Any help is appreciated

**Plato** · February 24th 2008, 03:30 PM

$\left( {A \cup B} \right) \cap \left( {B' \cup C'} \right) = \left( {A \cap B'} \right) \cup \left[ {\left( {A \cap C'} \right) \cup \left( {B \cap C'} \right)} \right] $

**Soroban** · February 24th 2008, 04:34 PM

Hello, Foink!

You're right . . . the Distributive Property will finish it.

For all sets $A, B, C,$ prove:
If $A-C = \emptyset$ then $(A \cup B) - (B \cap C) = (A-B) \cup (B-C)$

This is what I have done so far:

$\begin{array}{cc}(A \cup B) - (B \cap C) & \text{Given} \\ (A \cup B) \cap (B \cap C)' & \text{d{e}f. subtraction} \\ (A \cup B) \cap (B' \cup C\,') & \text{DeMorgan} \end{array}$

. . . Good!

We know: . $\begin{array}{cc}S \cap S' \:=\:\emptyset & {\color{blue}[1]} \\ S \cup \emptyset \:=\:S & {\color{blue}[2]}\end{array}$

We are also given: . $A - C \:=\:\emptyset\quad\Rightarrow\quad A \cap C\,' \:=\:\emptyset\;\;{\color{blue}[3]}$

$\begin{array}{cc} [(A \cup B) \cap B'] \cup [(A \cup B) \cap C\,'] & \text{Distr.} \\ \\ [(A \cap B') \cup (B \cap B')] \cup [(A \cap C\,') \cup (B \cap C\,')] & \text{Distr.} \\ \\ [(A \cap B') \cup \emptyset\:] \cup[\:\emptyset \cup (B \cap C\,')] & [1], [3] \\ \\ (A \cap B') \cup (B \cap C\,') & [2] \\ \\ (A - B) \cup (B - C) & \text{d{e}f. subtraction} \end{array}$

**CPR** · February 26th 2008, 04:06 PM

Just wondering if the B' meant elements not in set B or elements not in set C.
Please let me know

**Jhevon** · February 26th 2008, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by CPR

Just wondering if the B' meant elements not in set B or elements not in set C.
Please let me know

correct. B' and C' means B-compliment and C-compliment respectively

**CPR** · February 26th 2008, 04:33 PM

A= { 2, 4, 5}
B = {1,2,4,5,6}

so what will be A' U B

and let say that there was an U={ 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7}

What would B'?

**Jhevon** · February 26th 2008, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by CPR

A= { 2, 4, 5}
B = {1,2,4,5,6}

so what will be A' U B

and let say that there was an U={ 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7}

What would B'?

given that U, A' = {1, 3, 6, 7} and B' = {3,7}

you can find A' U B from that

**CPR** · February 26th 2008, 04:42 PM

It would be {1,6}.

**Jhevon** · February 26th 2008, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by CPR

It would be {1,6}.

yes

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