__Sets Proofs__ =============== By _Joram Stith_ and _Noah Soto_ ## Proofs Involving the Empty Set For sets $A$, $B$, and $C$ suppose $$(A \cap B) \subseteq C$$ then prove: $$(B-C) \cap(A-C)=Ø $$ ### Proof by Contradiction Suppose not: $$(A \cap B) \subseteq C$$ and $$(B-C) \cap(A-C)≠Ø $$ Because this statment is not equal to the zero set, this means that there exists some $x$, such that: $$x \in (B-C)$$ and $$x \in (A-C)$$ But if $(A \cap B) \subseteq C$ then this means that: $$x \in (A-C)=Ø$$ $$x \in (B-C)=Ø$$ This is because, by the definition of a subset, whatever is in $A$, must also be in $C$. By the same logic, what is in $B$ must also be in $C$. But, by the definition of set difference, $(A-C)$ and $(B-C)$ will yield the elements of $A$ and $B$ that are not also a part of set $C$. Thus: $$(B-C) \cap(A-C)=(Ø)\cap(Ø)=Ø $$ __This is a contradiction__ Therefore: $$(B-C) \cap(A-C)=Ø $$ ## Other Proofs About Sets For all sets $A$ and $B$, prove that: $$ A-(A-B) = A \cap B $$ By the *Set Difference* law: $$A-(A-B) = A-(A \cap B^c)$$ By the *Set Difference* law: $$ A-(A \cap B^c)=A \cap (A \cap B^c)^c $$ By *DeMorgan's Law*: $$A \cap (A \cap B^c)^c = A \cap (A^c \cup B)$$ By *The Distributive* Law: $$A \cap (A^c \cup B) = (A \cap A^c) \cup (A \cap B)$$ By the *Compliment Law* $$(Ø) \cup (A \cap B) = (A \cap B)$$ ## Disprove For all sets $A$, $B$, and $C$: $$ A-(B \cap C) = (A-B) \cap (A-C)$$ ### Counter example: Let: $$A = \{1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7\}$$ $$B = \{1, 2, 4\}$$ $$C = \{1, 3, 5\}$$ Thus, $$ A-(B \cap C) = \{2, 3, 4, 6, 7\} $$ by definition of intersection and difference. And, $$ (A-B) \cap (A-C) = \{6, 7\} $$ by definition of intersection and difference. However, $$ \{2, 3, 4, 6, 7\} ≠ \{6, 7\} $$ Therefore, the statement is __false__.