Problem Set

Elementary Algebra
I.

Write TRUE if the statement is correct. Otherwise,

write FALSE.

1. For any two sets A

2. If A B X , then

and B ,

A )(B/ A )
.
( A B ) B =

X .

3. ( ) = .
4. If A and B are disjoint sets, then so are A B and B A.
5. There are sets A and B for which A B and A B = .
6. If A (B C), then A B or A C.
7. If A, B, and C are sets then A (B C) = (A B) (A C).
8. If A is a finite set, then the number of elements of A is
always less than the number of subsets of A.
9. If E is the set of even counting numbers and O is the set of
odd counting numbers, then (2, 1) E O.
10.
If S = { , a ,b ,c }, then { } is an element of S.
11.
All sets are disjoint with the empty set.
12.
If A B is an infinite set, then both A and B are
infinite.

II.

Solve the following problems. Show all necessary

solutions.

1. Let A = {a, b, c, d, e}, B = {a, e, i, o, u}, and C = {e, f, g, h,

i}. Find (A B) (B C).

2. Let the universal set U be {1, 2, 3, , 20}. If S = {2, 4, 6, 8,

10, 12}, E = {3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18}, and T = {15, 16, 17, 18,
20}. Find (S E T).
3. Let the universal set U be the set of all prime numbers less
than 20, A = {x | x is a prime number greater than 10}, and
C = {3, 19}. Find A (B C).
4. Aldo cut a long piece of bamboo into four pieces. The second
piece was one-third of the first piece, the third piece was
one-third of the second, and finally the fourth piece was onethird of the third. If the smallest piece was 2 dm, how long,
in inches, was the bamboo before it was cut?
5. Marvin is 10 % taller than Homer, and Homer is 10 % taller
than August. How much in percent is Marvin taller than
August?
6. Which is largest, a = 248 , b = 336, c = 524?
7. When 3n is divided by 7, the remainder is 4. What is the
remainder when 2n is divided by 7?
8. If the sides of a cube are tripled, what percent of the original
volume is the new volume?
9. If

12
1
x
5
2

value of
10.

9
and 3 y 2 , what is the largest possible

x y
x+ y ?

3
2
How many positive factors does 62 ( 63 +63 +63+1 ) + 1

have ?
11.
Which is smaller, A = (2015)(2014)(2013)(2012)(2011)
or B = 20135?
12.
Given T = {1, 2}
(a) If P is the set of subsets of T, give all the elements
of P.
(b) Write the set
R = {(A, B) | (A, B) P P such that A
and B are disjoint}
using the roster or enumeration method.
13.
Jolly can do a job alone in 8 days. After Jolly has worked
for 3 days, Happy joins Jolly and together they can complete

the job in 3 more days. In how many ways could Happy have
done the job alone?
14.
Give the set of subsets of A = {a, {b, c}}.
15.
Two numbers are in the ratio 3 : 5. If 60 is added to both
of them, their ratio becomes 15 : 17. What are the two
numbers?
16.
The sum of the digits in a certain two-digit number is
11. If the number is reversed, the number is increased by 27.
Find the original number.
17.
Josephs father is now twice as old as he is. Sixteen
years ago, he was four times as old. How old is Joseph now?
18.
In a small locality, every family subscribes to
newspaper A or to newspaper B. If 30 families subscribe to
newspaper A, 40 to newspaper B, and 10 to both
newspapers. How many families are there in this locality?
How many localities subscribe only to newspaper A?
19.
How many positive integers are divisible by 3 or 5?
20.
A group of 102 students took examinations in Math,
Chemistry, and English. Among them, 92 passed Chemistry,
75 English, and 63 Mathematics; at most 65 passed
Chemistry and English, at most 54 Chemistry and Math, and
at most 48 English and Math. Find the largest possible
number of students who could have passed all three
subjects.
21.
Let
U = {x | x is a natural number less than 15}
A = {x U | x is an odd number}
B = {x U | x is an even number}
C = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
D = {4, 5, 6, 7, 8}
E = {7, 8, 9, 10, 11}
F = {11, 12, 13, 14}
Find
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

AB
B\(A C)
(C D) (E F)
[(B E) (A F)]

(e) (C D)\(A\E)
(f) (D E) (C F)
22.
List down all the subsets of {1, 2, a, b, 3 containing 3
elements}
23.
List down all subsets of the set { , { } , {{ } } }.
24.
Find the number of positive integers not exceeding 300
that are divisible by 4 or 6.
25.
Find the number of three-digit positive integers that are
divisible by 2, 3, or 5.
26.
Convert
(a) 26 m/s2 to yd/min2
(b) 0.34532 acre to in2
(c) 67.67 gallons to cm3
(d) 0.98 dL/ft2 to in3/m2
(e) 98.99 cm3/s to ft3/day
27.
Evaluate
(a) 6 + 5{43[1-2(97)]}
(b) (x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-z)
(c)

45
1
1
1
1
2014 1
1
1 1
10
2
3
4
2014
2

{( )( )( ) (

5
1+
8

(d)
III.

1
1

1+
1+

1
1+

1
1

)}

6 {5[43 (12)]}
66

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following sets is not equal to the others?

(a) {n | n N, n is neither prime nor composite}
(b) {real numbers whose product with itself is itself}
(c) { 1 }
(d)

x
{ x

| x R\{0} }

For number 2, the symmetric difference of two sets A and B is

defined as

A B = (A B)\(A B)

2. Which of the following is an element of Z Q?

(a) 3.141592653
2
(b)
(c)
(d)

3 + 7i