Symbol for Removing an Element from a Set: What Is It?

[Shaybay92]

My lecturer used a symbol in class that represents an element being removed from a set to form a new set. Does anyone know what this symbol is?

 

[HallsofIvy]

There is no standard symbol for that specific operation but your instructor is free to define one. What symbol did he use?

 

[Shaybay92]

Well that was the issue, I don't remember what the symbol was, I thought it was a standard.

 

[CRGreathouse]

$$\setminus$$ or \ is probably the most common; - is sometimes used instead.

 

[HallsofIvy]

The "\" crossing out a figure meaning it has been removed- erased if you like.

Often, you will see something like "^" directly over a symbol to mean it has been removed.

 

[CRGreathouse]

The "\" crossing out a figure meaning it has been removed- erased if you like.

Often, you will see something like "^" directly over a symbol to mean it has been removed.

Oh. I meant like $\{1,2,3,4,5\}\setminus\{2,3\}=\{1,4,5\}$.

 

[adriank]

If that's not it, perhaps you could draw the symbol here and see if any matches come up.

Or draw the symbol and show us.