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<∞}