Can A be a subset of C if it's disjoint from B?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around set theory, specifically the relationship between sets A, B, and C. The original poster seeks to prove that if A is a subset of the union of B and C, and A is disjoint from B, then A must be a subset of C.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the implications of the conditions given, particularly focusing on how to demonstrate that elements of A must belong to C. Questions arise about the validity of certain statements and the logical flow of reasoning.

Discussion Status

Several participants provide insights and clarifications regarding the proof structure. There is an ongoing examination of the logical steps needed to exclude the possibility of elements belonging to B, with some participants refining their wording and reasoning as the discussion progresses.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of the conditions A ⊆ B ∪ C and A ∩ B = ∅ in the proof, questioning how these constraints affect the relationships between the sets.

iHeartof12
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Let A, B and C be sets.
Prove that if A[itex]\subseteq[/itex]B[itex]\cup[/itex]C and A[itex]\cap[/itex]B=∅, then A[itex]\subseteq[/itex]C.

My attempted solution:
Assume A[itex]\subseteq[/itex]B[itex]\cup[/itex]C and A[itex]\cap[/itex]B=∅.
Then [itex]\vee[/itex]x (x[itex]\in[/itex]A[itex]\rightarrow[/itex]x[itex]\in[/itex]B[itex]\cup[/itex]x[itex]\in[/itex]c).

I'm not sure where to start and how to prove this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
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Suppose [itex]x \in A[/itex]. The goal is to show that this implies [itex]x \in C[/itex].

Since [itex]x \in A[/itex] and [itex]A \subset B \cup C[/itex], it follows that [itex]x \in B[/itex] or [itex]x \in C[/itex]. Can you exclude one of these possibilities?
 
Since A[itex]\bigcap[/itex]B=∅, x[itex]\in[/itex]A or x[itex]\in[/itex]B.
Thus x[itex]\in[/itex]A, x[itex]\notin[/itex]B and x[itex]\in[/itex]C.
Therefor A[itex]\subseteq[/itex]C.

Is that a good way to show how to exclude the possibility of x[itex]\in[/itex]B?
 
iHeartof12 said:
Since A[itex]\bigcap[/itex]B=∅, x[itex]\in[/itex]A or x[itex]\in[/itex]B.
Thus x[itex]\in[/itex]A, x[itex]\notin[/itex]B and x[itex]\in[/itex]C.
Therefor A[itex]\subseteq[/itex]C.

You have the right idea, but the wording is a little unclear. The following is not true: "Since A[itex]\bigcap[/itex]B=∅, x[itex]\in[/itex]A or x[itex]\in[/itex]B."

How about the following:

Suppose [itex]x \in A[/itex]. The goal is to show that this implies [itex]x \in C[/itex].

Since [itex]x \in A[/itex] and [itex]A \subset B \cup C[/itex], it follows that [itex]x \in B[/itex] or [itex]x \in C[/itex]. However, [itex]x[/itex] cannot be in [itex]B[/itex], because if it were, then we would have [itex]x \in A \cap B = \emptyset[/itex], which is impossible. Therefore...
 
Ok I think I get it tell me if I worded this correctly:

Suppose [itex]x \in A[/itex] and [itex]A \cap B = \emptyset[/itex]
Since [itex]x \in A[/itex] and [itex]A \subset B \cup C[/itex], this means that [itex]x \in B[/itex] or [itex]x \in C[/itex]. Consequently, [itex]x[/itex] cannot be in [itex]B[/itex], because if it were, then we would have [itex]x \in A \cap B = \emptyset[/itex], which is impossible. Therefore [itex]x \in C[/itex]. Thus [itex]x \in A[/itex] implies [itex]x \in C[/itex] so it follows that [itex]A \subseteq C[/itex]
 
iHeartof12 said:
Ok I think I get it tell me if I worded this correctly:

Suppose [itex]x \in A[/itex] and [itex]A \cap B = \emptyset[/itex]
Since [itex]x \in A[/itex] and [itex]A \subset B \cup C[/itex], this means that [itex]x \in B[/itex] or [itex]x \in C[/itex]. Consequently, [itex]x[/itex] cannot be in [itex]B[/itex], because if it were, then we would have [itex]x \in A \cap B = \emptyset[/itex], which is impossible. Therefore [itex]x \in C[/itex]. Thus [itex]x \in A[/itex] implies [itex]x \in C[/itex] so it follows that [itex]A \subseteq C[/itex]

Looks good to me.
 
ok thank you for your help
 

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