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A is a subset of B (denoted ) and, conversely, B is a superset of A (denoted ). In mathematics, a set A is a subset of a set B if all elements of A are also elements of B; B is then a superset of A. It is possible for A and B to be equal; if they are unequal, then A is a proper subset of B.
A set function generally aims to measure subsets in some way. Measures are typical examples of "measuring" set functions. Therefore, the term "set function" is often used for avoiding confusion between the mathematical meaning of "measure" and its common language meaning.
For example, the intersection of the x-axis and y-axis in under addition is the trivial subgroup. More generally, the intersection of an arbitrary collection of subgroups of G is a subgroup of G. The union of subgroups A and B is a subgroup if and only if A ⊆ B or B ⊆ A.
The expressions "A includes x" and "A contains x" are also used to mean set membership, although some authors use them to mean instead "x is a subset of A". [2] Logician George Boolos strongly urged that "contains" be used for membership only, and "includes" for the subset relation only. [3] For the relation ∈ , the converse relation ∈ T ...
A mathematical symbol is a figure or a combination of figures that is used to represent a mathematical object, an action on mathematical objects, a relation between mathematical objects, or for structuring the other symbols that occur in a formula. As formulas are entirely constituted with symbols of various types, many symbols are needed for ...
However, the definition of maximal and minimal elements is more general. In particular, a set can have many maximal and minimal elements, whereas infima and suprema are unique. Whereas maxima and minima must be members of the subset that is under consideration, the infimum and supremum of a subset need not be members of that subset themselves.
While the empty set is a standard and widely accepted mathematical concept, it remains an ontological curiosity, whose meaning and usefulness are debated by philosophers and logicians. The empty set is not the same thing as nothing; rather, it is a set with nothing inside it and a set is always something. This issue can be overcome by viewing a ...
A three-dimensional plot of an indicator function, shown over a square two-dimensional domain (set X): the "raised" portion overlays those two-dimensional points which are members of the "indicated" subset (A). In mathematics, an indicator function or a characteristic function of a subset of a set is a function that maps elements of the subset ...