Set Theory Symbols
List of set symbols of set theory and probability.
Table of set theory symbols
Meaning /
Symbol Symbol Name Example
definition
A = {3,7,9,14},
{} set a collection of elements
B = {9,14,28}
A = {x | x∈ ,
| such that so that
x<0}
objects that belong to set A
A∩B intersection
and set B
A ∩ B = {9,14}
objects that belong to set A A∪B=
A∪B union
or set B {3,7,9,14,28}
A is a subset of B. set A is {9,14,28} ⊆
A⊆B subset
included in set B. {9,14,28}
proper subset / strict A is a subset of B, but A is {9,14} ⊂
A⊂B subset not equal to B. {9,14,28}
{9,66} ⊄
A⊄B not subset set A is not a subset of set B
{9,14,28}
A is a superset of B. set A {9,14,28} ⊇
A⊇B superset
includes set B {9,14,28}
proper superset / strict A is a superset of B, but B is {9,14,28} ⊃
A⊃B superset not equal to A. {9,14}
set A is not a superset of set {9,14,28} ⊅
A⊅B not superset
B {9,66}
2A power set all subsets of A
power set all subsets of A
Meaning /
Symbol Symbol Name Example
definition
A={3,9,14},
both sets have the same
A=B equality
members
B={3,9,14},
A=B
all the objects that do not
Ac complement
belong to set A
all the objects that do not
A' complement
belong to set A
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A and
A\B relative complement
not to B
B = {1,2,3},
A \ B = {9,14}
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A and
A-B relative complement
not to B
B = {1,2,3},
A - B = {9,14}
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A or B B = {1,2,3},
A∆B symmetric difference
but not to their intersection A∆B=
{1,2,9,14}
A = {3,9,14},
objects that belong to A or B B = {1,2,3},
A⊖B symmetric difference
but not to their intersection A⊖B=
{1,2,9,14}
a∈A element of set membership A={3,9,14}, 3 ∈ A
A={3,9,14}, 1 ∉
x∉A not element of no set membership
A
(a,b) ordered pair collection of 2 elements
set of all ordered pairs from
A×B cartesian product
A and B
Meaning /
Symbol Symbol Name Example
definition
the number of elements of A={3,9,14},
|A| cardinality
set A |A|=3
the number of elements of A={3,9,14},
#A cardinality
set A #A=3
infinite cardinality of natural
aleph-null
numbers set
cardinality of countable
aleph-one
ordinal numbers set
Ø empty set Ø = {} A=Ø
universal set set of all possible values
natural numbers / whole
0
numbers set (with zero) 0 = {0,1,2,3,4,...} 0∈ 0
natural numbers / whole
1 numbers set (without 1 = {1,2,3,4,5,...} 6∈ 1
zero)
integer numbers set = {...-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,...} -6 ∈
= {x | x=a/b, a,b∈ and
rational numbers set 2/6 ∈
b≠0}
real numbers set = {x | -∞ < x <∞} 6.343434 ∈
= {z | z=a+bi, -
complex numbers set 6+2i ∈
∞<a<∞, -∞<b<∞}