Are set notations simplifyable?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the simplification of set notations, particularly in the context of Venn diagrams and the relationships between different sets. Participants explore various identities and methods for representing the same regions within set theory, touching on concepts from Boolean algebra and propositional logic.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that there are multiple ways to represent the same shaded area in a Venn diagram and questions if set notations can be simplified.
  • Another participant clarifies that the intersection of sets A and B can be represented as ##A \cap B## and suggests that this notation can be simplified similarly to fractions or algebra.
  • It is proposed that Boolean algebra can be applied to describe intersections and unions of sets, indicating that various operations can represent areas of intersection.
  • Several identities within set theory are mentioned, with one participant stating that the smallest parts of a Venn diagram are traditionally referred to as conjunctions of the main sets.
  • A participant provides an example of how a complex expression can be rewritten using set notation, highlighting the relationship between set theory and propositional algebra.
  • Another participant emphasizes that there are many ways to simplify expressions and that there is not always a unique shortest representation for a set.
  • De Morgan's Laws are referenced as a relevant topic for understanding set simplifications.
  • Suggestions are made to explore Normal Forms of Boolean logic, including Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF) and Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF), as they relate closely to set expressions.
  • Historical figures in set theory are mentioned, suggesting that studying their work could provide deeper insights into the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on the simplification of set notations, with no consensus reached on a single method or approach. The discussion remains open-ended, with multiple competing ideas presented.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific identities and rules in set theory and Boolean algebra, but the discussion does not resolve the complexities or nuances of these identities. There are also mentions of historical figures and concepts that may require further exploration for full understanding.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in set theory, Boolean algebra, mathematical logic, or those looking to deepen their understanding of the relationships between sets and their representations.

lioric
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TL;DR
I tried to name the shaded area of a Venn diagram using numbers to isolate the regions. And I found that there are several ways to get the same region.
Can the set notations simplfy
I tried to name the shaded area of a Venn diagram using numbers to isolate the regions. And I found that there are several ways to get the same region.
Can the set notations simplfy
 
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lioric said:
Summary:: I tried to name the shaded area of a Venn diagram using numbers to isolate the regions. And I found that there are several ways to get the same region.
Can the set notations simplfy

I tried to name the shaded area of a Venn diagram using numbers to isolate the regions. And I found that there are several ways to get the same region.
Can the set notations simplfy
What notations do you mean? Your question is very unclear. If the shaded region is common to sets A and B, the notation ##A \cap B## represents the intersection of the two sets. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_theory.
 
Mark44 said:
What notations do you mean? Your question is very unclear. If the shaded region is common to sets A and B, the notation ##A \cap B## represents the intersection of the two sets. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_theory.
What I mean is for instance ##A \cap B## is equal to ##(A' \cup B')'##
It indicates the same area.
Is there a way to simply this. Like the way fractions get simplified or algebra gets simplified
 
lioric said:
What I mean is for instance ##A \cap B## is equal to ##(A' \cup B')'##
It indicates the same area.
Is there a way to simply this. Like the way fractions get simplified or algebra gets simplified
Yes, essentially one can use much of the apparatus of boolean algebra/logic to describe what you are talking about. So because "intersection" corresponds to "+" and union corresponds to "." ... they should be enough to describe any possible "areas of intersection" for arbitrary finite number of sets n with A1,A2,A3,...,An.

But several other operations should be enough too.
 
There are many identities within set theory that can give you different representations of the same area. I believe that the smallest parts of the Venn diagram are traditionally referred to as the conjunction (connected by 'and') of the main sets A, B, C,... , A', B', C',...
 
To expand a bit on the last post if we had five "atomic propositions" ##a,b,c,d,e## then an expression like:
##(a\cdot b \cdot c \cdot d \cdot e)+(a \cdot b \cdot c \cdot d \cdot e')+(a \cdot b' \cdot c' \cdot d \cdot e)##
would change to [replacing the lower-case letter case letters to upper-case to highlight them as sets]:
##(A\cap B \cap C \cap D \cap E) \cup (A \cap B \cap C \cap D \cap E') \cup (A \cap B' \cap C' \cap D \cap E)##

And, for example, any identity has a counter-part in propositional algebra (and vice versa). For example:
##A \cap B= (A' \cup B')'##
changes to following equivalent in propositional expression/equation:
##a \cdot b= (a' + b')'##
 
There are many ways to simplify these expressions, and there is not always a unique shortest way to describe a set. The one from the post above can be simplified to:
$$(A\cap B \cap C \cap D) \cup (A \cap B' \cap C' \cap D \cap E)$$
using the rule
$$(X \cap Y) \cup (X \cap Y') = X$$
 
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mfb said:
There are many ways to simplify these expressions, and there is not always a unique shortest way to describe a set. The one from the post above can be simplified to:
$$(A\cap B \cap C \cap D) \cup (A \cap B' \cap C' \cap D \cap E)$$
using the rule
$$(X \cap Y) \cup (X \cap Y') = X$$

Could you tell me which topic of mathematics teaches these. Or subtopics
I would like to brush up on them
Thank you very much
 
lioric said:
What I mean is for instance ##A \cap B## is equal to ##(A' \cup B')'##
It indicates the same area.
Is there a way to simply this. Like the way fractions get simplified or algebra gets simplified
Yes. Look up De Morgan's Laws -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Morgan's_laws
 
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You would be opening some boxes: Cantor, Zermelo, Frankel, Gödel, Russell, Euler, Boole -- searching on any of those names would lead to a sea of set-theory results -- I think that you would do well to look at Cantor's diagonal argument en route to getting a feel for the territory.
 
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Thank you all for your help
 

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