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         The following set properties are given here in preparation for the properties for addition and multiplication in arithmetic. Note the close similarity between these properties and their corresponding properties for addition and multiplication.

Commutative Properties:  The Commutative Property for Union and the Commutative Property for Intersection say that the order of the sets in which we do the operation does not change the result.

 

General Properties:  A B = B A               and               A   B = B  A.

                        Union of A and BUnion of Sets B and A.             Intersect Sets A and B.Intersect Sets B and A.

Example:  Let A = {x : x is a whole number between 4 and 8} and B = {x : x is an even natural number less than 10}.

       Then    A
B = {5, 6, 7} {2, 4, 6, 8} = {2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8} = {2, 4, 6, 8} {5, 6, 7} = B A

       and      A
 B = {5, 6, 7}  {2, 4, 6, 8} = {6} = {2, 4, 6, 8}  {5, 6, 7} = B  A.

 

Associative Properties:  The Associative Property for Union and the Associative Property for Intersection says that how the sets are grouped does not change the result.

General Property:  (A B) C = A (B C) and (A  B)  C = A  (B  C)

Example:  Let A = {a, n, t}, B = {t, a, p}, and C = {s, a, p}.

       Then    (A
B) C = {p, a, n, t} {s, a, p} = {p, a, n, t, s} = {a, n, t} {t, a, p, s} = A (B C)

       and      (A
 B)  C = {a, t}  {s, a, p} = {a} = {a, n, t}  {a, p} = A  (B  C).