
Cardinality Relations of Three Sets
Let, U be the universal set. A, B and C are three overlapping sets which are subsets of the universal set U.
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Look at the following Venn diagram and learn
the cardinal representation for the different portions.

n(A) = Number of elements in
set A
n(B) = Number of elements in set
B
n(C) = Number of elements in
set C
no(A) = Number of elements
in set A only
no(B) = Number of elements
in set B only
no(C) = Number of elements
in set C only
n(A∩B) = Number of elements
common in set A and B
n(A∩C) = Number of elements
common in set A and C
n(B∩C) = Number of elements
common in set B and C
no(A∩B) = Number of elements
common in set A and B only
no(A∩C) = Number of elements
common in set A and C only
no(B∩C) = Number of elements
common in set B and C only
n(A∩B∩C) = Number of elements common
to A, B and C
n(A∪B∪C) = Number of elements belongs to at
least one set A, B or C.
n(A∩B∩C)c = Number of elements
does not belong to the set A, B or C.
Formula on Cardinality Relations of Three Sets
If A, B and C are subsets of universal set U then,
1.
n(A∪B∪C) = n(A) + n(B) + n(C) – n(A∩B) –
n(B∩C) – n(A∩C) + n(A∩B∩C)
2.
n(A∩B∩C) = n(A∪B∪C) – n(A) – n(B) – n(C) + n(A∩B) + n(B∩C) + n(A∩C)
3.
n(A∪B∪C)c = n(U) – n(A∪B∪C)
4.
no(A) = n(A) – n(A∩B) – n(A∩C) + n(A∩B∩C)
5.
no(B) = n(B) – n(A∩B) – n(B∩C) + n(A∩B∩C)
6.
no(C) = n(C) – n(A∩C) – n(B∩C) + n(A∩B∩C)
7.
no(A∩B) = n(A∩B) – n(A∩B∩C)
8.
no(B∩C) = n(B∩C) – n(A∩B∩C)
9.
no(A∩C) = n(A∩C) – n(A∩B∩C)
10.
Exactly two = no(A∩B) + no(B∩C) + no(A∩C)
11.
Exactly one = no(A) + no(B) + no(C)
12.
At least one = n(A∪B∪C)
13.
All three = n(A∩B∩C)
14.
None of them = n(A∪B∪C)c
Word Problems Based on Three Sets
Workout Examples
Example 1: P, Q and R are subsets of a universal set U. If n(U) = 390, n(P) =
210, n(Q) = 165, n(R) = 120, n(P∩Q) = 60, n(Q∩R) = 45, n(A∩R) = 54 and n(P∩Q∩R)
= 24, illustrate this information in a Venn-diagram and find the following:
a.
no(P)
b.
no(Q)
c.
no(R)
d.
no(P∩Q)
e.
no(Q∩R)
f.
no(P∩R)
g.
n(P∪Q∪R)c
Solution:
Here,
Venn-diagram,

From the Venn-diagram above,
a.
no(P) = 120
b.
no(Q) = 84
c.
no(R) = 45
d.
no(P∩Q) = 36
e.
no(Q∩R) = 21
f.
no(P∩R) = 30
g.
n(P∪Q∪R)c = 30
Example 2: In a survey of a group of people, 60 liked tea, 45 liked coffee, 30
liked milk, 25 liked coffee as well as tea, 20 liked tea as well as milk, 15
liked coffee as well as milk and 10 liked all three. How many people were asked
this question? Solve by using Venn-diagram.
Solution:
Let C, T and M represent
the set of people who liked coffee, tea and milk respectively. Then,
∴ n(T) = 60
n(C) = 45
n(M) = 30
n(C∩T) = 25
n(T∩M) = 20
n(C∩M) = 15
n(C∩T∩M) = 10
Venn
diagram,

Now,
n(T∪C∪M)
= n(T) + n(C) + n(M)
– n(C∩T) – n(T∩M) – n(C∩M) + n(C∩T∩M)
= 60 + 45
+ 30 – 25 – 20 – 15 + 10
= 85
Hence, the required number of people = 85.
Example 3: In an examination, 40% of candidates passed in mathematics, 45% in Science, and 55% in Health. If 10% passed in Mathematics and Science, 20% in Science and Health and 15% in Health and Mathematics,
(i) Illustrate the above information by drawing a Venn diagram.
(ii) Find the pass percentage in all three subjects.
Solution:
Let M, S, and H denote the
set of students who passed in Maths, Science and Health respectively.
∴ n(U) = 100% = n(M∪S∪H)
n(M) = 40%
n(S) = 45%
n(H) = 55%
n(M∩S) = 10%
n(S∩H) = 20%
n(H∩M) = 15%
Since,
there is no one who failed in all three
subjects,
n(M∪S∪H) = n(U) = 100%
(i)
Venn-diagram,

(ii)
n (M∩S∩H)
= n(M∪S∪H) – n(M) – n(S) – n(H) + n(M∩S) + n(S∩H) + n(M∩H)
= 100 – 40 – 45 – 55 + 10 + 20 + 15%
= 5%
∴ 5% passed in all three subjects.
Example 4: Out of 1350 candidates, 600 passed in Science, 700 in Mathematics,
350 in English and 50 failed in all three subjects. If 200 passed in
Science and Mathematics, 150 in Science and English, 100 in Mathematics and
English,
(i) How many candidates passed in all three subjects?
(ii) Illustrate the above information in a Venn-diagram.
Solution:
Let, the set of candidates who passed in Science, Mathematics
and English be S, M, and E.
∴ n(U) = 1350
n(S) = 600
n(M) = 700
n(E) = 350
n(S∪M∪E)c = 50
n(S∩M) = 200
n(M∩E) = 100
n(S∩E) = 150
We know,
n(S∪M∪E)
= n(U) – n(S∪M∪E)c
= 1350 – 50
= 1300
Now,
n(A∩B∩C)
= n(A∪B∪C) – n(A) – n(B) – n(C) + n(A∩B) + n(B∩C) + n(A∩C)
= 1300 – 600 – 700 – 350 + 200 + 100 + 150
= 100
Therefore,
(i) 100 candidates passed in
all three subjects.
(ii) Venn-diagram,

Example 5: In a group of students, 25 study computer, 28 study Health, 20 study Mathematics, 9 study Computer only, 12 study Health only, 8 study Computer and Health only and 5 students study Health and Mathematics only.
(i)
Draw a Venn diagram to
illustrate the above information.
(ii)
Find how many students study
all the subjects.
(iii) How many students are there altogether?
Solution:
Let C, H, and M be the set
of students who study Computer, Health, and Mathematics respectively.
∴ n(C) = 25
n(H) = 28
n(M) = 20
no(C) = 9
no(H) = 12
no(C∩H) = 8
no(H∩M) = 5
Filling the above information in Venn-diagram,
we get

From the above Venn-diagram,
n(C∩H∩M) + 8 + 12 + 5 = n(H)
or, n(C∩H∩M)
+ 25 = 28
or, n(C∩H∩M)
= 28 – 25
or, n(C∩H∩M)
= 3
Again,
no(C∩M)
+ n(C∩H∩M) + 9 + 8 = n(C)
or, no(C∩M) + 3 + 9 + 8 = 25
or, no(C∩M) + 20 = 25
or, no(C∩M) = 25 – 20
or, no(C∩M) = 5
Again,
no(M)
+ no(C∩M) + n(C∩H∩M) + 5 = n(M)
or, no(M) + 5 + 3 + 5 = 20
or, no(M) + 13 = 20
or, no(M) = 20 – 13
or, no(M) = 7
(i)
Venn-diagram:

(ii)
n(C∩H∩M) = 3 students study all subjects.
(iii)
From the above venn-diagram,
n(C∪H∪M)
= 9 + 8 + 3 + 5 + 12 + 5 + 7
= 49
∴ There are 49 students altogether.
Example
6: In a group of people, 20 like milk, 30 like tea,
22 like coffee, 12 like coffee only, 6 like milk and coffee only, 2 like tea and coffee only and 8 like milk
and tea only. Show these information in a Venn-diagram and find:
(i)
How many like
at least one drink?
(ii)
How many like
exactly one drink?
Solution:
Let the set of people who like milk, tea, and coffee
be M, T, and C.
∴ n(M)
= 20
n(T) = 30
n(C) = 22
no(C) = 12
no(M∩C) = 6
no(T∩C) = 2
no(M∩T) = 8
Filling the above information in the
Venn-diagram, we get

From the above Venn-diagram,
n(M∩T∩C) + 6 + 12 + 2 = n(C)
i.e. n(M∩T∩C)
+ 20 = 22
or, n(M∩T∩C)
= 22 – 20
or, n(M∩T∩C)
= 2
Again,
no(M) + 6 + n(M∩T∩C) + 8 = n(M)
i.e. no(M)
+ 6 + 2 + 8 = 20
or, no(M)
+ 16 = 20
or, no(M)
= 20 – 16
or, no(M)
= 4
Again,
no(T) + 2 + n(M∩T∩C) + 8 = n(T)
i.e. no(T)
+ 2 + 2 + 8 = 30
or, no(T)
+ 12 = 30
or, no(T)
= 30 – 12
or, no(T)
= 18
Venn-diagram,

From the venn-diagram,
(i)
n(M∪C∪T)
= 4 + 6 + 12 + 2 + 18 + 8 + 2
= 52
∴ 52 like at least one drink.
(ii)
no(M)
+ no(C) + no(T)
= 4 + 12 +18
= 34
∴ 34 like exactly one drink.
If you have any questions or problems regarding the Word Problems Based on Three Sets, you can ask here, in the comment section below.
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