Difference between revisions of "Intersection"

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The '''intersection''' of two or more [[set]]s is the set of [[element]]s which are common to all of them.  Thus, the intersection of the sets <math>\{1, 2, 3\}</math> and <math>\{1, 3, 5\}</math> is the set <math>\{1, 3\}</math>.
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The '''intersection''' of two or more [[set]]s is the set of [[element]]s which are common to all of them.  Thus, the intersection of the sets <math>\{1, 2, 3\}</math> and <math>\{1, 3, 5\}</math> is the set <math>\{1, 3\}</math>.  The intersection of two or more sets is denoted by the symbol <math>\cap</math>, so the preceding example could be written <math>\{1, 2, 3\} \cap \{1, 3, 5\} = \{1, 3\}</math>.
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For any sets <math>A, B</math>, <math>A \cap B \subset A</math> and <math>A \cap B \subset B</math>.  Thus <math>A \cap B = A</math> if and only if <math>A \subset B</math>.
  
  

Revision as of 15:28, 23 October 2006

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The intersection of two or more sets is the set of elements which are common to all of them. Thus, the intersection of the sets $\{1, 2, 3\}$ and $\{1, 3, 5\}$ is the set $\{1, 3\}$. The intersection of two or more sets is denoted by the symbol $\cap$, so the preceding example could be written $\{1, 2, 3\} \cap \{1, 3, 5\} = \{1, 3\}$.

For any sets $A, B$, $A \cap B \subset A$ and $A \cap B \subset B$. Thus $A \cap B = A$ if and only if $A \subset B$.


In geometry, a line may be considered to be a set of points with a particular property (the property of being on that line). Then the intersection of two lines reduces to the set definition of intersection.

See also