GCSE Sets

Exercise 1 – Constructing Venn Diagrams

1. 𝜉 = {4,5,6,7,8}, 4. You have two sets 𝐴 and 𝐵 and 𝐵 ⊂ 𝐴. Draw a

𝐴 = {5,6,7} Venn Diagram (without any numbers) that
𝐵 = {6,7,8} indicates the relationship between the sets.
Construct a Venn Diagram to show these sets.
5. You have three sets 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶 and
2. 𝜉 = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8} 𝐴 ⊂ 𝐶. Draw a Venn Diagram (without any
𝐴 = {1,2,3,8}, numbers) that indicates the relationship between
𝐵 = {3,4,5,8} the sets.
𝐶 = {1,5,6,8}
Construct a Venn Diagram to show these sets.  The power set of a set is the set of all possible
subsets, including the empty set and itself.
3. 𝜉 = {1,2, … ,10} E.g.
𝐴 = set of all primes 𝑃({1,2}) = {∅, {1}, {2}, {1,2}}
𝐵 = triangular numbers a. Determine 𝑃({1,2,3})
𝐶 = 1 less than multiple of 4
b. Determine how many members 𝑃(𝐴) has
Construct a Venn diagram for these sets.
for a set of 𝐴 of size 𝑛.

Exercise 2 – Venn Diagrams involving Frequencies

Test Your Understanding question:

[Jan 2012 Q6] The following shows the results of a
survey on the types of exercise taken by a
group of 100 people.

65 run 48 swim 60 cycle

40 run and swim 30 swim and
cycle 35 run and cycle 25 do all
three One of these students is selected at random.
(a) Show that the probability that the student
(a) Draw a Venn Diagram to represent these data. reads more than one magazine 6
is 1 . (2)
(4) (b) Find the probability that the student reads A or
B (or both). (2)
Find the probability that a randomly selected (c) Write down the probability that the student
person from the survey reads both A and C. (1)
(b) takes none of these types of exercise, (2)
Given that the student reads at least one of the
(c) swims but does not run, (2)
magazines,
(d) takes at least two of these types of exercise.
(2)
(d) find the probability that the student reads C.
Jason is one of the above group.
(2)
Given that Jason runs,
(e) find the probability that he swims but does not
cycle. (3) 3. [Edexcel S1 Jan 2010 Q4] There are 180
students at a college following a general course in
computing. Students on this course can choose to
1. [JMC 2002 Q11] The Pythagoras School of Music
take up to three extra options.
has 100 students. Of these, 60 are in the band and
20 are in the orchestra. Given that 12 students are
112 take systems support,
in both the band and the orchestra, how many are in
70 take developing software,
neither the band nor the orchestra?
81 take networking,
35 take developing software and systems support,
2. [Edexcel S1 May 2010 Q4] The Venn diagram in
28 take networking and developing software,
Figure 1 shows the number of students in a class
40 take systems support and networking,
who read any of 3 popular magazines A, B and C.
4 take all three extra options.
 (a) Draw a Venn diagram to represent this 6. [Edexcel S1 May 2006 Q6] A group of 100 people
information. (5) produced the following information relating to
three attributes. The attributes were wearing
A student from the course is chosen at random. glasses, being left-handed and having dark hair.
Find the probability that the student takes
(b) none of the three extra options, (1) Glasses were worn by 36 people, 28 were left-
(c) networking only. (1) handed and 36 had dark hair. There were 17 who
wore glasses and were left-handed, 19 who wore
Students who want to become technicians take glasses and had dark hair and 15 who were left-
systems support and networking. Given that a handed and had dark hair. Only 10 people wore
randomly chosen student wants to become a glasses, were left-handed and had dark hair.
technician,
(d) find the probability that this student takes (a) Represent this on a Venn diagram. (6)
all three extra options. (2)
A person was selected at random from this group.
4. [Edexcel S1 May 2008 Q5] A person’s blood Find the probability that this person
group is determined by whether or not it contains (b) wore glasses but was not left-handed and did
any of 3 substances A, B and C. not have dark hair, (1)
A doctor surveyed 300 patients’ blood and (c) did not wear glasses, was not left-handed and
produced the table below. did not have dark hair, (1)
(d) had only two of the attributes, (2)
Blood contains No. of Patients (e) wore glasses, given they were left-handed and
only C 100 had dark hair. (3)
A and C but not B 100
only A 30 7. [Edexcel S1 Jan 2005 Q5] Articles made on a
B and C but not A 25 lathe are subject to three kinds of defect, A, B or C.
only B 12 A sample of 1000 articles was inspected and the
A, B and C 10 following results were obtained.
A and B but not C 3
31 had a type A defect
(a) Draw a Venn diagram to represent this 37 had a type B defect
information. (4) 42 had a type C defect
(b) Find the probability that a randomly chosen 11 had both type A and type B defects
patient’s blood contains substance C. (2) 13 had both type B and type C defects
Harry is one of the patients. Given that his blood 10 had both type A and type C defects
contains substance A, 6 had all three types of defect.
(c) find the probability that his blood contains all
3 substances. (2) (a) Draw a Venn diagram to represent this. (6)
Patients whose blood contains none of these Find the probability that a randomly selected article
substances are called universal blood donors. from this sample had
(b) no defects, (1)
(d) Find the probability that a randomly chosen (c) no more than one of these defects. (2)
patient is a universal blood donor. (2)
An article selected at random from this sample had
5. [Edexcel S1 Jan 2008 Q5] The following shows only one defect.
the results of a wine tasting survey of 100 (d) Find the probability that it was a type B
people. 96 like wine A, 93 like wine B, defect. (2)
96 like wine C, 92 like A and B,
91 like B and C, 93 like A and C, Two different articles were selected at random
90 like all three wines. from this sample.
(e) Find the probability that both had type B
(a) Draw a Venn Diagram to represent these data. defects. (2)
(6)
Find the probability that a randomly selected  [SMC 2011 Q17] Jamie conducted a survey on
person from the survey likes the food preferences of pupils at a school and
(b) none of the three wines, (1) discovered that 70% of the pupils like pears, 75%
(c) wine A but not wine B, (2) like oranges, 80% like bananas and 85% like
(d) any wine in the survey except wine C, (2)
apples. What is the smallest possible percentage
(e) exactly two of the three kinds of wine. (2)
Given that a person from the survey likes wine A, of pupils who like all four of these fruits?
(f) find the probability that the person likes wine C.
(3) A. At least 10% B. At least 15%
C. At least 20% D. At least 25%
E. At least 70%
Exercise 3 – Combining Sets
Main Exercise
Test Your Understanding
1. [Edexcel] Here is a Venn diagram. 1.

List the numbers in:

a. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵
a) Write down the numbers that are b. 𝐴 𝖴 𝐵
in the set 𝐴 𝖴 𝐵. c. 𝐴′
b) One of the numbers in the diagram is d. 𝐴′ ∩ 𝐵
chosen at random. Find the e. Given that a number is chosen
probability that the number is in set 𝐴 at random, find the probability
′. it is in set 𝐵.
2. 𝜉 = { all whole numbers }
2.
𝐴 = { factors of 60 } 𝐵 = {multiples of 3}
List the members of the set 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵.

Matching Activity

……………… ……………. ……………..

Determine the sets:

a. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵
b. 𝐴 𝖴 𝐶
c. 𝐴′ ∩ 𝐶′
d. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶
e. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵′ ∩ 𝐶
……………… ……………. …………….. f. (𝐴 𝖴 𝐶) ∩ 𝐵′
g. Given that a number is chosen
at random from the set 𝐴 𝖴 𝐶,
find the probability it is in set
𝐵.
3. 𝐴 and 𝐵 are two sets such that:
……………… ……………. …………….. 𝑛(𝜉) = 20
𝑛(𝐴) = 14
Choose from the following for each region. 𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 3
 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵′ 𝑛(𝐵′) = 12
 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵′ ∩ 𝐶′ Form a Venn diagram, where the
number in each region is the number
 𝐴𝖴𝐵
of elements in it.
 𝐴′ ∩ 𝐵′
 𝐴∩𝐵 4. 𝐴 = {𝑓, 𝑟, 𝑜, 𝑠, 𝑡}
 𝐴 ∩ (𝐵 ∩ 𝐶)′
𝐵 = {𝑏, 𝑎, 𝑟, 𝑡, 𝑜, 𝑛}
 (𝐴 𝖴 𝐵) ∩ (𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶)′
Determine the sets:
 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶′
a. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵
 (𝐴 𝖴 𝐵) ∩ 𝐶′
b. 𝐴 𝖴 𝐵
c. 𝐴′ ∩ 𝐵
 5. 𝜉 = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
𝐴 = { all prime numbers }
𝐵 = { all multiples of 6 }
Determine:
a. 𝐴 𝖴 𝐵
b. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵

6. 𝜉 = {1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}
𝐴 = { all even numbers }
𝐵 = { all factors of 8 }
Determine:
a. 𝐴 𝖴 𝐵
b. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵
c. 𝐴 ∩ 𝐵′

7. Construct a Venn Diagram for sets

𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶 (without numbers) such that:
a. 𝐴 ⊂ 𝐵, 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶 = ∅
b. 𝐴 ⊂ 𝐵, 𝐴 ∩ 𝐶 = ∅

 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶 are sets such that:

𝑛(𝐴) = 20,
𝑛(𝐵) = 20,
𝑛(𝐶) = 20,
𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 10
𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐶) = 10
𝑛(𝐵 ∩ 𝐶) = 10
𝑛(𝐴 ∩ 𝐵 ∩ 𝐶) = 5
Determine 𝑛(𝐴 𝖴 𝐵 𝖴 𝐶).