SETS-Exercise 1.2

The chapter Sets forms the very foundation of modern mathematics and logical thinking in Class XI. Almost every advanced topic in mathematics—relations, functions, probability, calculus, and even statistics—rests on the basic language of sets. This chapter introduces students to the idea of well-defined collections, helping them distinguish between precise mathematical reasoning and vague descriptions. Through concepts such as roster form, set-builder form, types of sets, subsets, power sets, and operations on sets, learners develop clarity, accuracy, and logical discipline. The solutions presented here are written strictly in accordance with the NCERT syllabus and examination pattern. Each solution emphasizes conceptual understanding, step-by-step reasoning, and correct mathematical notation. Special care has been taken to justify answers clearly, avoid ambiguity, and use language that mirrors the NCERT textbook style. These solutions are designed not only to help students score well in school and competitive exams, but also to build a strong conceptual base for higher mathematics.

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TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS-Exercise 3.2

Exercise • Jan 2026

Trigonometric Functions form a crucial foundation of higher mathematics and play a vital role in physics, engineering, astronomy, and real-life proble...

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Maths

TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS-Exercise 3.1

Exercise • Jan 2026

Trigonometric Functions form a crucial foundation of higher mathematics and play a vital role in physics, engineering, astronomy, and real-life proble...

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January 13, 2026  |  By Academia Aeternum

SETS-Exercise 1.2

Maths - Exercise

Q1. Which of the following are examples of the null set
(i) Set of odd natural numbers divisible by 2
(ii) Set of even prime numbers
(iii) { x : x is a natural numbers, x < 5 and x> 7 }
(iv) { y : y is a point common to any two parallel lines}

Solution

Solution: A null set is a set which contains no elements. We examine each given collection to check whether it has any element or not.

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(i)}\;& \text{The set of odd natural numbers divisible by } 2. \\ &\text{No odd natural number is divisible by } 2. \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set has no element and is a null set.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(ii)}\;& \text{The set of even prime numbers.} \\ &\text{The number } 2 \text{ is an even prime number.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set contains one element and is not a null set.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iii)}\;& \{x : x \text{ is a natural number},\; x < 5 \text{ and } x> 7\}. \\ &\text{There is no natural number which is simultaneously less than } 5 \text{ and greater than } 7. \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set is a null set.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iv)}\;& \{y : y \text{ is a point common to any two parallel lines}\}. \\ &\text{Parallel lines never intersect and hence have no common point.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set is a null set.} \end{aligned} \)

Hence, the examples of the null set are: (i), (iii) and (iv).


Q2. Which of the following sets are finite or infinite
(i) The set of months of a year
(ii) {1, 2, 3, . . .}
(iii) {1, 2, 3, . . .99, 100}
(iv) The set of positive integers greater than 100
(v) The set of prime numbers less than 99

Solution

Solution: A set is called finite if it has a definite and limited number of elements, whereas a set is infinite if its elements cannot be counted completely and continue without end.

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(i)}\;& \text{The set of months of a year.} \\ &\text{A year has exactly } 12 \text{ months.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set has a fixed number of elements and is a finite set.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(ii)}\;& \{1, 2, 3, \ldots\}. \\ &\text{This set represents all natural numbers starting from } 1. \\ &\text{There is no last natural number.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set is infinite.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iii)}\;& \{1, 2, 3, \ldots, 99, 100\}. \\ &\text{The elements start from } 1 \text{ and end at } 100. \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set contains a definite number of elements and is finite.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iv)}\;& \text{The set of positive integers greater than } 100. \\ &\text{The numbers } 101, 102, 103, \ldots \text{ continue without end.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set is infinite.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(v)}\;& \text{The set of prime numbers less than } 99. \\ &\text{There are only a limited number of prime numbers less than } 99. \\ &\Rightarrow \text{This set is finite.} \end{aligned} \)


Q3. State whether each of the following set is finite or infinite:

(i) The set of lines which are parallel to the x-axis

(ii) The set of letters in the English alphabet

(iii) The set of numbers which are multiple of 5

(iv) The set of animals living on the earth

(v) The set of circles passing through the origin (0,0)

Solution

Solution: A set is said to be finite if it contains a definite and countable number of elements, and infinite if its elements continue without end and cannot be completely counted.

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(i)}\;& \text{The set of lines which are parallel to the x-axis.} \\ &\text{Each line parallel to the x-axis has an equation of the form } y = c, \text{ where } c \in \mathbb{R}. \\ &\text{Since } c \text{ can take infinitely many real values,} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{this set is infinite.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(ii)}\;& \text{The set of letters in the English alphabet.} \\ &\text{There are exactly } 26 \text{ letters in the English alphabet.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{this set is finite.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iii)}\;& \text{The set of numbers which are multiples of } 5. \\ &\text{The multiples } 5, 10, 15, 20, \ldots \text{ continue indefinitely.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{this set is infinite.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iv)}\;& \text{The set of animals living on the earth.} \\ &\text{At any given time, the number of animals on earth is limited.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{this set is finite.} \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(v)}\;& \text{The set of circles passing through the origin } (0,0). \\ &\text{Infinitely many circles can be drawn passing through a fixed point.} \\ &\Rightarrow \text{this set is infinite.} \end{aligned} \)


Q4. In the following, state whether A = B or not:
\( \begin{array}{l} (i)\;A = \{ a, b, c, d \}& \;B = \{ d, c, b, a \}\\ (ii)\;A = \{ 4, 8, 12, 16 \} &\;B = \{ 8, 4, 16, 18\}\\ (iii)\;A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10}&\;B = \{ x : x\text{ is positive even integer and }x ≤ 10\}\\ (iv)\;A = \{ x : x\text{ is a multiple of }10\},&\;B = \{ 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, . . . \} \end{array} \)

Solution

Solution: Two sets are said to be equal if and only if they contain exactly the same elements, irrespective of the order in which the elements are written.

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(i)}\;& A = \{a, b, c, d\}, \quad B = \{d, c, b, a\}. \\ &\text{Both sets contain the same elements, only the order is different.} \\ &\Rightarrow A = B. \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(ii)}\;& A = \{4, 8, 12, 16\}, \quad B = \{8, 4, 16, 18\}. \\ &\text{The element } 12 \text{ belongs to } A \text{ but not to } B, \\ &\text{and } 18 \text{ belongs to } B \text{ but not to } A. \\ &\Rightarrow A \ne B. \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iii)}\;& A = \{2, 4, 6, 8, 10\}, \\ & B = \{x : x \text{ is a positive even integer and } x \le 10\}. \\ &\text{The set } B \text{ also represents the elements } \{2, 4, 6, 8, 10\}. \\ &\Rightarrow A = B. \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(iv)}\;& A = \{x : x \text{ is a multiple of } 10\}, \\ & B = \{10, 15, 20, 25, 30, \ldots\}. \\ &\text{The set } A \text{ contains only multiples of } 10, \\ &\text{whereas } B \text{ contains numbers such as } 15 \text{ and } 25 \text{ which are not multiples of } 10. \\ &\Rightarrow A \ne B. \end{aligned} \)


Q5. Are the following pair of sets equal ? Give reasons.
\( \begin{array}{l} (i)\; A = \{2, 3\}&\;B = \{x : x\text{ is solution of }x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0\}\\ (ii)\; A = \{ x : x\text{ is a letter in the word FOLLOW}\}&\;B = \{ y : y\text{ is a letter in the word WOLF}\} \end{array} \)

Solution

Solution: Two sets are equal if they contain exactly the same elements, even if they are described differently or written in a different order.

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(i)}\;& A = \{2, 3\}, \quad B = \{x : x \text{ is a solution of } x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0\}. \\ &\text{Solving the quadratic equation,} \\ &x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0 \\ &\Rightarrow (x + 2)(x + 3) = 0 \\ &\Rightarrow x = -2 \text{ or } x = -3. \\ &\text{Thus, } B = \{-2, -3\}. \\ &\text{Since } A = \{2, 3\} \text{ and } B = \{-2, -3\} \text{ do not contain the same elements,} \\ &\Rightarrow A \ne B. \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} \text{(ii)}\;& A = \{x : x \text{ is a letter in the word FOLLOW}\}, \\ & B = \{y : y \text{ is a letter in the word WOLF}\}. \\ &\text{The distinct letters in the word FOLLOW are } \{F, O, L, W\}. \\ &\text{The distinct letters in the word WOLF are also } \{W, O, L, F\}. \\ &\text{Both sets contain exactly the same letters.} \\ &\Rightarrow A = B. \end{aligned} \)


Q6.From the sets given below, select equal sets :
A = { 2, 4, 8, 12},
B = { 1, 2, 3, 4},
C = { 4, 8, 12, 14},
D = { 3, 1, 4, 2}
E = {–1, 1},
F = { 0, a},
G = {1, –1},
H = { 0, 1}

Solution

Solution: Two sets are equal if they contain exactly the same elements, regardless of the order in which the elements are written.

\( \begin{aligned} A &= \{2, 4, 8, 12\}, \\ B &= \{1, 2, 3, 4\}, \\ C &= \{4, 8, 12, 14\}, \\ D &= \{3, 1, 4, 2\}. \end{aligned} \)

\( \begin{aligned} E &= \{-1, 1\}, \\ F &= \{0, a\}, \\ G &= \{1, -1\}, \\ H &= \{0, 1\}. \end{aligned} \)

On comparing the elements, the sets \(B = \{1, 2, 3, 4\}\) and \(D = \{3, 1, 4, 2\}\) contain exactly the same elements, only arranged in a different order. Hence, \(B = D\).

Similarly, the sets \(E = \{-1, 1\}\) and \(G = \{1, -1\}\) have the same elements written in a different order. Hence, \(E = G\).

All other sets differ from each other by at least one element and therefore are not equal.


Frequently Asked Questions

A set is a well-defined collection of distinct objects called elements.

So that it is possible to clearly decide whether a given object belongs to the set or not.

The individual objects or members contained in a set are called its elements.

Sets are generally denoted by capital letters such as \(A,\, B,\, C\).

Elements are represented by small letters such as \(a, \,b,\, x\).

It means “belongs to” or “is an element of”.

It means “does not belong to” a given set.

A method of listing all elements of a set within curly braces.

A representation describing a set by a common property satisfied by its elements.

(\A = {2,4,6,8}\).

\(A = {x : x \text{ is an even natural number}}\).

A set containing no elements, denoted by \(\varnothing\).

Yes, there is only one empty set.

A set containing exactly one element.

A set with a definite number of elements.

A set with an unlimited number of elements.

A set containing all objects under consideration for a particular discussion.

It is usually denoted by \(U\).

A set \(A\) is a subset of \(B\) if every element of \(A\) is also an element of \(B\).

A subset that is not equal to the original set.

\(\subseteq\) represents subset, and \(\subset\) represents proper subset.

A set with \(n\) elements has \(2^n\) subsets.

The set of all subsets of a given set.

It is denoted by \(P(A)\).

The union of two sets contains all elements belonging to either or both sets.

The symbol for union is \(\cup\).

The intersection contains only those elements common to both sets.

The symbol for intersection is \(\cap\).

Sets having no common elements.

The set of all elements in the universal set not belonging to the given set.

The complement of \(A\) is written as \(A^'\) or \(A^c\).

\(\varnothing\) has no elements, while \({\varnothing}\) has one element.

\(A \cup B = B \cup A\).

\(A \cap B = B \cap A\).

\((A \cup B) \cup C = A \cup (B \cup C)\).

\((A \cap B) \cap C = A \cap (B \cap C)\).

\(A \cap (B \cup C) = (A \cap B) \cup (A \cap C)\).

\((A \cup B)' = A' \cap B'\).

\((A \cap B)' = A' \cup B'\).

Diagrams using closed curves to represent sets and their relationships visually.

They simplify understanding of set operations and relationships.

The number of elements in a set.

It is denoted by \(n(A)\).

\(n(A \cup B) = n(A) + n(B) - n(A \cap B)\).

A method to calculate the number of elements in unions of sets accurately.

No, as per standard definition, a set does not contain itself.

No, all elements of a set must be distinct.

Conceptual definitions, Venn diagram problems, formulas, and numerical applications.

It provides the basic language and structure for all other topics in mathematics.

Sets are used in data classification, logic, probability, and computer science.

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