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Discrete Mathematics

GATE CSE 2015 Set 3 · Q23

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Suppose UU is the power set of the set S={1,2,3,4,5,6}S = \{1,2,3,4,5,6\}. For any T∈UT \in U, let ∣T∣|T| denote the number of elements in TT and T′T^{\prime} denote the complement of TT. For any T,R∈UT, R \in U, let T∖RT \setminus R be the set of all elements in TT which are not in RR. Which one of the following is true?

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Solution

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Official answer: D) ∀ X ∈ U ∀ Y ∈ U (X Y = Y' X')

Discrete Mathematics

Let us analyze the given options:

  • Option (A): ∀X∈U(∣X∣=∣X′∣)\forall X \in U (|X| = |X^{\prime}|) is False. If X=∅X = \emptyset, then ∣X∣=0|X| = 0 while ∣X′∣=∣S∣=6≠0|X^{\prime}| = |S| = 6 \neq 0.

  • Option (B): ∃X∈U,∃Y∈U(∣X∣=5,∣Y∣=5 and X∩Y=∅)\exists X \in U, \exists Y \in U (|X| = 5, |Y| = 5 \text{ and } X \cap Y = \emptyset) is False. By the principle of inclusion-exclusion:

    ∣X∩Y∣=∣X∣+∣Y∣−∣X∪Y∣≥5+5−6=4>0|X \cap Y| = |X| + |Y| - |X \cup Y| \ge 5 + 5 - 6 = 4 > 0

    Hence, XX and YY cannot be disjoint.

  • Option (C): ∀X∈U,∀Y∈U(∣X∣=2,∣Y∣=3 and X∖Y=∅)\forall X \in U, \forall Y \in U (|X| = 2, |Y| = 3 \text{ and } X \setminus Y = \emptyset) is False because not all subsets in UU have cardinality 22 and 33.

  • Option (D): ∀X∈U,∀Y∈U(X∖Y=Y′∖X′)\forall X \in U, \forall Y \in U (X \setminus Y = Y^{\prime} \setminus X^{\prime}) is True: Using standard set identities:

    X∖Y=X∩Y′X \setminus Y = X \cap Y^{\prime}
    Y′∖X′=Y′∩(X′)′=Y′∩X=X∩Y′Y^{\prime} \setminus X^{\prime} = Y^{\prime} \cap (X^{\prime})' = Y^{\prime} \cap X = X \cap Y^{\prime}

    Since both sides simplify to X∩Y′X \cap Y^{\prime}, the equality holds for all X,Y∈UX, Y \in U.

Therefore, (D) is the correct option.

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This Discrete Mathematics previous year question is Q23 of the GATE CSE 2015 Set 3 paper. Find more GATE CSE PYQs on Discrete Mathematics in Engineering Mathematics, or browse all GATE CSE PYQs.

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Discrete Mathematics in GATE CSE

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GateAI solution cardGATE CSE 2015 Set 3 · Q23 · MCQ

Suppose U is the power set of the set S = {1,2,3,4,5,6}. For any T ∈ U, let |T| denote the number of elements in T and T' denote the complement of T. For any T, R ∈ U, let T R be the set of all elements in T which are not in R. Which one of the following is true?

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Independent practice explanation verified by the GateAI team. GATE is conducted by the IITs; question text follows the official paper.